Crocker Range National Park

Keningau

144 kilometers away from Kota Kinabalu is the Crocker Range National Park (CRNP), situated in the Crocker Range, Sabah. The Crocker Range Park is located 13 kilometers from Keningau town, approximately 25 minutes away by car. 

The Crocker Range was designated to be a forest reserve in 1968. In 1984, Crocker Range Nature Park was then established in order to protect the water catchments area which was supplying clean drinking water to the West Coast and the interior of Sabah. It was renamed Taman Banjaran Crocker (Crocker Range Park) in 1996 and is managed by the Sabah Parks. 

Located in the heart of Crocker Range Park, the newly developed Sabah Park’s facility which opened in February 2004 is ideal a place for meetings, camping, jungle trekking and outdoor educational activities. Among the attractions to found in the Crocker Range Park are the Rafflesia sites, trekking courses, and camping ground. 

The rising concern for protecting its rich biodiversity and rare species of flora and fauna had been the prime propellant in the initiative to gazette it as a national park. 

Tariff	Malaysian	Others
Entrance Fee	RM3.00 per person	RM10.00 per person
Camping Ground	RM20.00 per person
Chalet	RM60.00 per room	RM100.00 per room
Hostel (18 years below)	RM10.00 per person
Hostel (18 years above)	RM20.00 per person

The Crocker Range Park is open daily from 08:00am to 17:00pm.

Getting ThereThe bus to Keningau can be taken at the long distance bus station near Merdeka Field (to reach Keningau bus station). Schedules for departure are at 7a.m, 8.am, 10p.m, 12p.m, 1p.m, 2p.m, and 5p.m; the bus fare to Keningau is RM16 per person. 

Visitors can also take the taxi from Kota Kinabalu to the Keningau Taxi station for RM120 per taxi. 

From the Keningau bus station/ Keningau Taxi station, visitors would have to take another taxi to reach the Crocker Range station. One way fare is RM40 per taxi. However, all prices are estimated and are subject to change.

Further Information:Please contact the Crocker Range Park (Head Station Keningau) at +6019-809 8683 or fax to +6087-330924.

View Larger Map

Source: http://www.sabahtourism.com/sabah-malaysian-borneo/en/destination/122-crocker-range-national-park/

Read More

The Regatta Lepa Colourful and Excitement

Every year in April there is a water festival held in Semporna, a small town in the eastern coast of Sabah, called The Regatta Lepa, one of the major important events in our National Tourism Calendar.

This year, the 20^th Regatta Lepa will be held from 26^th – 28^th of April 2013 and the event attracted thousands each year. “Lepa” means “boat” is believed to be originated from the Pa'alau Bajau people who live in Bum Bum Island and used by fishermen along the coast of Semporna.

The unique lifestyle and festival is celebrated by the Bajau Laut ethnic community, the major dwellers in Semporna. The Bajau Laut people are seafarers at heart and well known for their Lepa, which is the traditional single-mast sailing boat used in their daily lives.

colourful Lepa

Nowadays, the practice of this traditional lifestyle is slowly dispersing with modernity. Few modern Bajaus use the Lepa today as many of them migrated to the mainland. Nonetheless, Lepa remains a symbol of tradition and a precious legacy for the Semporna Bajau community.

With the change of time, the Lepa might not be used in the same way as it used to be but the Lepas will never be forgotten for yet another year as the symbol of pride of the Bajau people and a cultural heritage.

The Bajau seafarers' proud maritime heritage came alive in this annual festival of Regatta Lepa, featuring their boats, the Lepa with participants dancing at the helm of their boats, decorated with bright colour sails known as sambulayang and tapis (small triangular flags).

The sleepy Semporna town comes to life as the colourful sails take to the sea to compete for the prize of the most beautiful Lepa! The highlight of the event is the sail-past of the Lepa, each boat decked with smiling dancers and lively musicians, hoping to be crowned `Most Beautiful Lepa' - the grand prize of this much-anticipated water festival.

Every Lepa family has their own or daughter beautiful girl welcoming visitors with graceful igal-igal dance, a traditional dance of the Bajau.

beautiful girl welcoming visitors with the traditional igal-igal dance

The Regatta Lepa is not just a water festival, in fact the whole town of Semporna has a carnival atmosphere, what with the various concerts staged, and so many stalls set up to promote or sell products and services to the population, visitors and tourists that have certainly swelled manifold.

Further Information

Organiser : Semporna District Office
Venue : Semporna, Sabah
Contact Person : A.M Ibnu Haji A.K baba
Telephone : 6089-781518, 6089-781663
Fax : 6089-781472
Email Contact : AmIbnu.Baba@sabah.gov.my
Event Website : http://www.sabahtourism.com

Source:http://blog.tourism.gov.my/the-regatta-lepa-colourful-and-excitement/

Read More

The Regency Jerai Hill Resort

Business or leisure travellers will find The Regency jerai Hill Resort a perfect choice as we are strategically located in the heart of Jerai Hills ! Centralised between Old and New Town, we are easily accessible to most commercial addresses and tourist spots. Set amidst towering limestone outcrops and flourishing greenery, The Regency Jerai Hill Resort is a sprawling 5-acre haven located 1,200 meters atop Kedah's highest peak, Mount Jerai. The Resort boasts 75 luxurious chalet-type rooms from where guests can marvel stunning views of the seemingly infinite scenic plains and nearby islands. Whether you're looking to unwind, or partake in a pleasurable outdoor activity, the resort is a welcoming change to the stress-drenched soul of city dwellers. With its tranquil surrounding and crisp cool mountain ambience, this 4-star highland retreat truly is a breath of fresh air.

The Regency Jerai Hill Resort, Hotels and You – while in Jerai, we offer cosy comfort at affordable price. This premier hill-top Resort is accessible via road from the North-South Expressway. Express buses, outstation taxis and the train(Keretapi Tanah Melayu) have regular services to Alor Setar, Kedah's capital city. There is also a public bus service which frequents the foothills of Mount Jerai from Alor Setar every 45 minutes. For those who wish to fly, Malaysia Airlines, Air Asia & Firefly offer daily flights to Kedah's capital city, Alor Setar. We invite visitors to fully utilize our hassle-free limousine service which offers guests the flexibility to be greeted either from Alor Setar or the foothills of Mount Jerai.

The Journey

The journey from Alor Setar to The Regency Jerai Hill Resort takes approximately 45 minutes, through visitors will be pleasantly surprised at how short the drive feels. With the seemingly boundless paddy fields in an array of vibrant greens and yellows, as if guiding visitors to its proud zenith that is the Gunung Jerai, and the lush angsana trees decorating the roadsides, the journey becomes all too easy. Every now and again, visitors are able to spot clusters of traditional Malay houses, perched strongly on wooden stits; a convivial change from the concrete jungle of the city. And even before the word 'weary' could be uttered, there it is, standing tall in all its glory, the misty peak of Gunung Jerai. This awe-inspiring vista is just a snippet of what is to come during your retreat atop the gem of Kedah.



View Larger Map

Read More

Kenong Rimba Park

Covering an area of 121 sq kilometres in the Kenong Valley, Kenong Rimba Park lies in the south-west of Taman Negara. Within the park are some magnificent limestone caves. The sense of tranquility and quiet solitude are broken only by the chirping of birds and the cascading waterfalls.

Each limestone cave is situated about half an hour's trek from each other. The most striking is the Gua Batu Tinggi, which resembles a dug-out boat. The Sungai Kenong River passes though this cave. Local folklore has it that the cave was formed when a boat carrying the Kings messenger from Pekan was turned into stone. This cave is approximately 122 to 152 metres above sea level. Here you can find a variety of plant life that includes orchids, fig trees and epiphytes.

Read More