Capital of the state of Sabah, Kota Kinabalu is a port on the seafront, close to both glorious beaches and glorious nature. In the distance, the peak of the mighty Mt Kinabalu has watched over both this lively city’s expansion and destruction – from a fishing village called Api-Api, to Jesselton in 1899, under colonial rule, to its destruction in the closing stages of World War II, to its final incarnation as KK in 1967, it’s been quite a ride!

KK makes up for its few historical sights with bags of energy and lots of authentic local life. The waterfront is the place to be, where you’ll find a marina and golf course not far from the traditional wet market, wooden fishing boats and hawker stalls selling snacks that are a delicious fusion of flavours bought here by migrants from around Asia. While its nice to explore the city awhile, Kota Kinabalu is the perfect base for jungle adventures, and the gateway to tropical paradise, with an array of beautiful beach resorts close by – it is an absolute must on your holidays to Malaysia!    

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