The Lost World Of Maliau Basin

One of my favorite place of visiting is the Maliau basin also known as the "Lost world of Maliau Basin" for the past 15 years as a guide i have seen places in Sabah that is tranquil and full of wildlife. My recent visit to the Maliau falls was about 2 months ago and was as it was 10 years ago. Wild buffalo and bearded pigs roam across the beaten road frequent. I was with 2 of my client who was from the USA and wanted to experience the outdoor rainforest's.

The 1st time i was hear was in 1993 when we where to build a trail up the ridges for research our camp site was an A frames and the road was hell..from than on i frequent to Maliau basin eather on tour or on call by
the Sabah nature society as a staff member. I was glad and lucky to be one of the first hew at that time to enter a place that is not known to may people.

The trip took 5 days and 4 nights from one camp site to another camp site along the trek we bump in to gibbons swinging along the trees and making calls. Trekking takes a minimum of 5 hours a day from camp site to camp site leeches was not a problem for mate and sherry as they where quite comfortable with them. Getting in to the area is as challenging as doing the trek itself a 4x4 land cruiser is the best option to make your way from Kota Kinabalu to the Maliau Basin Conservation area. The road is muddy and gravel i normaly use a fully equipt all terrain 4x4 for this trip, as most vehicle will never make it in to the camp site with standard build 4x4 out of the showroom. there has been many cases standard 4x4 blow a radiator or smashed gear box on the way in and friends tells me that all you need is a 4x4..my answer....ya sure any 4x4 can make it in.....NOT. Wildlife is abundant but timing is important as deers, wild buffalo and other land mammals will scatter from the sound of vehicles.

If you ever come to Maliau there is a few trail you might want to consider not taking.....nowadays i take the ginseng trail rather than the camel trophy trail...the ascend is hell to camel trophy so plan your trek before you come.

Most of the day trekking we mad good time, mat and sherry was fit,fast and in good health which mad us happy since it was not a drag. On the 3rd days we set off headed for the Maliau falls located 3 hours hike up ridges and down streams. we even came across a wild pigs bones along a stream took a few photo's and continued the hike. Nat was happy about the hike as we cross the bambangan ridge the view was incredible you could see the Maliau basin rim from hear. I m glad for the 5 days in Maliau mate and sherry had a good time i know me and the rangers did as always.

Food...one thing about maliau basin you gotta cook on your own....there is no restaurant, ala carte, buffet, wine or anything any city boy would find so you must be prepared to eat the basic food. Rice, Vegetables and more vegetables...lucky for me i usually carry army ration it was the best mat and sherry didnt mind so much as the biol in the bag was your basic rice,vegetable, meat,corn and bread to name a few.

Maliau basin was only discovered in 1947 by a pilot but no major expedition was organized to the area, not until 1988 from than on it was known as the Lost World.It is one of the few remaining untouched wilderness places on earth.

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