Kinabalu Park - a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Kinabalu Park covers an areas of approx. 750 square kilometres. It is world renowned for the amazing mix of flora and fauna you will find in Kinabalu Park and on the slopes of Mount Kinabalu.The botanical diversity it is home to is remarkable. Around 6,000 plant species occur in Kinabalu Park - this includes the following:
- More than 1,000 species of orchid
- Over 600 species of fern (more than the entire continent of Africa)
- Over one third of all the islands' pitcher plants
- Over 600 species of butterfly (60% of Borneo's total number)
- As many as 1,000 moth species
- Over 320 bird species
- The many rivers that originate from the mountain are home to over 40 species of fish
- 78 species of amphibian and 112 species of reptile. The majority are fund at lower altitudes where temperatures are warmer.
- Find the world's largest butterflies and moths on the lower slopes
- The upper slopes are home to the Kinabalu Giant Leech (which reaches lengths of 12 inches) and the Kinabalu Giant Earthworm (which reaches lengths of 28 inches)
Below 1,000m you will find lowland dipterocarp forest, where you find the great concentration of species. Above 1000m in elevation the montane forests start. The montane forests are constantly cloaked in moisture from permanent mists and cloud and have cooler temperatures. With further increases in altitude you continue to see changes in species composition. Above 2200m mists blanket the forest for much of the day. At this altitude you find a growth in mosses, liverworts, lichens, rhododendrons, orchids and pitcher plants. Above 3300m tress give way to shrubs - this is the sub alpine zone. Strong winds and torrential rain stops the majority of plants surviving above 3700m.A visit to Kinabalu Park is a must if you want to experience some of the amazing flora and fauna of Sabah, Borneo. If you are interested in a trip to Kinabalu Park, independently or as part of a tour, the please contact the Borneo Dream team.
