Attractions in Malaysia

Location

The Rafflesia Information Center is little-known center located just under two hours south of Kota Kinabalu. It is probably the best place to view the rare rafflesia flower while in Sabah, if not, in all of Southeast Asia.

Overview

The center only opens from 8am to 3pm from Monday to Saturday. Thus, the timing of your visit is crucial. The center has enough plots and documented flower buds to increase your chances of viewing a rafflesia. With or without catching a rafflesia in bloom, the center is a great beginning point for exploring Sabah's exquisite Crocker Range National Park. The Crocker Range National Park has a lot to offer but is less visited as compared to the Kinabalu National Park. The steep terrain in the park is home to a diverse array of life and is usually given a miss by the crowds during Borneo's high season.

The Rafflesia is one of the rarest and strangest flowers in the world. It is undeniably the largest you can find in the world as it weighs up to 22 pounds and the looks quite alien-like. It is actually a parasite which can be hosted by only one vine in the world. Rafflesia is only found in Sumatra, Java, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo and the Philippines. The flower smells like rotting meat near the end of its life cycle to attract flies and other insects. The flower blooms only for three to five days. The chance of seeing one blooming will require some luck and good timing.

Accommodation at the center is available at the Crocker Range National Park. The accommodation is dormitory style so be ready for some bunk beds. Sabah has so much to offer and so much to explore. A visit here would be wasted if it was just a short one. Do consider extending your stay to fully immerse yourself in the beauty of Sabah. Accommodations in Sabah are more than you can imagine. So do not worry about not having a place to stay.

Transport

It will take two hours from Kota Kinabalu to reach Tambunan. You can get on any bus from Merdeka Field at Kota Kinabalu signed for Tambunan. The center is directly on the main Penampang-Tambunan road. You will need to tell the driver that you wish to stop.