Another unique eco-tourism destination for you to explore in Sabah.

Take a leisurely boat cruise along the Garama River to look out for the curious-looking Proboscis Monkey with its over-sized nose and pot belly. They usually hang out in small groups that consist of a dominant male and four or five females. Feeding on leaves and seeds, they go from tree to tree and are best sighted during the day or late afternoons. These animals are only found on the island of Borneo.

This tranquil setting of mangroves, palms, scrubs and secondary forests also attracts other wildlife like Macaques, the rare silver Leaf monkey, flying foxes, birds and water buffalos.

The cruise lasts for 1 ½ hours and ends as the sun sets and daylight fades into dusk.

There are a few riverside refreshment places along the Garama River serving up local dishes and refreshing drinks.

Located on the Klias Peninsula is the Klias Wetland, a Mangrove Forest Reserve. With the bizarre-looking proboscis monkey gaining as much popularity with the tourists as the orang utan, the Klias Wetland with its large proboscis population is fast becoming the latest ecotourism destination in Sabah.

These tree-dwelling animals normally hunt for food in the evenings so many boat cruises depart the Kota Klias jetty at around 3.00pm.Other riverside residents that may be spotted are macaques, crocodiles, moniter lizards, tree snakes and birds such as the eagle.

Back on the jetty, enjoy a natural light show when hundreds of fireflies put on a glowing performance for your benefit.

A town located in the Interior Division of Sabah, it is home to the Kadazan or Dusun Tatana community as the largest single ethnic group. Kuala Penyu is located on the Klias Peninsula, which was originally covered with mangrove swamp forests. Administratively, this district is divided into three parts—Sitompok, Bundu and Menumbok..

It is one of the gateways to Pulau Tiga National Park, where Survivor: Borneo was set. Kuala Penyu is also famous for its beaches, especially Tempurung beach, Sawangan beach and Sungai Labuan Waterfront. Sungai Labuan, as the name implies was taken from the name of a river flowing in the heart of Kuala Penyu.

"Pesta Rumbia" is a special celebration for "Sago" trees which are only planted widely in the district. This festive season targets to promote " sago" as traditional food and multi purpose product with full of nutrition. See calendar at Sabah Tourisme Board for more info for Pesta Rumbia-Kolampiar.something different what i learn before

Looking for some serious wet and wild fun? Then get ready to strap on your life jacket and safety helmet to brave the raging Padas River for some rafting adventure.

With cutesy names such as Merry-Go-Round and Scooby Doo, don’t judge the rapids by their names as each of the seven swollen rapids will ultimately challenge your survival (and paddling) skills to the very core. The tumble of this Grade III to IV river is guaranteed to put even the biggest adrenaline junkie’s heart in his mouth.

This exhilarating excursion covers a distance of 30 kilometers—making it the longest rafting route in Borneo by far. Padas River has also been rated to have some of the best and safest rapids in South East Asia. It is suitable for rafters aged 12 to 55.

When not screaming over whiplashes of water, take the time to drink in the beauty of unadulterated nature at its best. With chirping birds and scrims of majestic trees engulfing the river, Padas white water rafting should be high on your list of nature-adventure must-dos in Sabah.

At the end of the journey, you’ll feel quite warrior-like for your feat in conquering the Padas rapids. Three cheers for courage!

Private Thomas Leslie Starcevich enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in April 1941. In December 1941 he joined the 2/43rd Battalion, 24th Brigade, 9th Division in Palestine.

In April 1945, the 9th Division left for Borneo in the closing months of World War 11. There in Beaufort town and with his unit under fire from the enemy, Starcevich displayed tremendous bravery when he twice approached enemy fire, rushing forward and firing from his Bren gun. With the enemy machine-gun posts knocked out, his ‘B' Company was able to continue their assault.

Thomas L. Starcevich was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery and on 28th August 1947, he received his Victoria Cross medal at Western Australia where he eventually returned to farming. He is buried in the Esperance Public Lawn Cemetery, Western Australia.

After the War, the road where the action took place was named Victoria Cross Road by the local townsfolk and a memorial stone was erected along it. It is located just near the present-day Beaufort Police station. The inscription on it reads ‘In June 1945, on this hill, by his valour and disregard of danger, Private L.T Starcevich of 2/43rd Battalion A.I.F (Australian Imperial Forces), routed the Japanese defenders.'

One of Sabah's hidden treasures, Weston Wetland is a eco retreat getaway for the nature-lovers. Weston has not only the largest and best-preserved river mouth wetland in North Borneo, it also boasts of having one of the most complete collection of mangrove plant species in South East Asia. The whole wetland (reaching into lower part of Kuala Penyu) is roughly the size of Singapore.  Due to its sheer size, Weston wetland's landmass has the most varied water, soil and other environmental conditions, thus allowing diverse mangrove plant species to exist. 

Weston is richly blessed with nature's wonderful creatures. The Borneo-only proboscis monkeys charm their visitors with their characteristic big bellies and overhanging bulbous noses. And interestingly enough to note that the ancestors of Borneo once thought that it was precisely because of these overbearing features, that the proboscis monkeys looked so much like the Europeans and so named them Orang Belanda, the Dutchmen. Despite being protected by the local law, proboscis monkeys are facing the real danger of extinction due of indiscriminate hunting and the loss of their natural habitats to human use.  

Macaque monkeys, silver hair langur, monitor lizards, mangrove snakes, eagles and all kinds of water birds, smooth otters and mud skippers turn the wetland into a fantastic daytime safari destination. One of the emotional climaxes of any visit to Weston must goes to the incredible spectacle of  thousands upon thousands of flying foxes crossing the golden evening sky, darkening it, as they fly back to their roosting areas. 

There are also two highly different water villages here - two communities: the Bisayas' and the Bruneian Malays'. The first one is right in the thick of the vast wetland while the other at the waterfront of the Weston town.