Maliau Basin Conservation Area, Sabah

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About Maliau Basin Conservation Area

Maliau Basin Conservation Area is the remains of a huge crater in Sabah. Touted in tourism marketing as the "Lost World of Sabah", the Maliau Basin covers an area of 588 sq km (bigger than Penang Island). It is located in the Tongod district, which is within the Sandakan Division on the eastern part of Sabah.

The Maliau Basin boasts a rich variety of flora and fauna. This includes 1800 species of plants, 270 species of bird, 82 species of mammal and 30 species of amphibian. There are also 1,800 species of pitcher plants and 80 species of orchids in Maliau Basin. As there are no roads going into the area, the only way to reach the place is by trekking through the forest. There are about 70 km of walking trails in the conservation area, and an observation platform at the Camel Trophy Camp. One of the attractions is Maliau Falls, which is a three-day return journey.

In the News

21 December 2009: The Maliau Basin is being assessed to see if it can be nominated as a possible UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Getting there

Like Danum Valley, the Maliau Basin Conservation Area is administered by the Sabah Foundation (Yayasan Sabah). To visit it requires a permit from the foundation. This can be arranged through a tour operator (contact Innoprise at tel: 088 243245).