Book cheap flights to Kota Kinabalu

The region of Sabah experiences a moderately warm climate all year round, so you can visit any time! To avoid the heavy rainfall, plan to visit between January and April when the west coast region of Kota Kinabalu becomes drier. The city is famous for its festival season occurring in July, when you can see colourful pomp and ceremony adorning the city streets. Visitors flock to the city during July so be sure to book accommodation a few months in advance. Early May brings the Sabah Fest – a celebration of music, theatre and food representing the various ethnic groups in the region. Take advantage of low-season hotel specials from October to March and catch a glimpse of the orangutans in their natural habitat!

South African Passport holders do not require a visa to visit Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, for up to 90 days. You do need to ensure your passport is valid for 6 months after your return date, and that you have 3 blank pages available for entry stamps.

Kota Kinabalu is rated as an extremely safe city. There have been no known incidents of major crime against locals or tourists and bag-snatching and pick-pocketing are very uncommon. The local people seem to have a peaceful and friendly disposition and will happily assist you if need be. Nonetheless, be aware of your surrounding and personal possessions and do not flash expensive items. Walking around is perfectly safe, during both day and night. It is not uncommon for people to leave their belongings on the beach while they go swimming, just keep your eyes and ears out.

You do not require any vaccination for this city, or Malaysia in general. Due to questionable food hygiene standards, you may want to get vaccinated against Typhoid and Hepatitis A. It is safe to eat at any restaurant as long as there is a DBKK (municipal council) rating or visible health card on the premises. If you choose to eat at a street food stall, check where the water is coming from, as unboiled tap water is not safe to consume. Should you be in a Malay or Indian café, the customary teapot/ kettle on the table is not for drinking, but for washing hands.

Set amidst a plethora of rainforest landscapes and pristine beaches, you’ll be spoilt for choice with accommodation options exuding an atmosphere of tropical paradise!

Most of the hotels and resorts are located along the beach and harbour with easy access to the pier-side restaurants and open-air fish markets. In the city you’ll find many hostels and lodges catering towards backpackers. Most of the mid-range hotels provide shuttle services around town and to-and-from the airport.

Hop across the bay and stay on one or two of the islands close by! Manukan is a popular island among tourists and offers all sorts of water sports and fun activities for the whole family. For a more private spot, the smaller island of Mamutik and Sapi are equally as rich in marine life and water activities, with ample accommodation.

Experience a magical night under the stars by camping on Mamutik Island. Camping gear is available for rent on most islands, once you’ve received permission at the reception points.

The best way to see this coastal paradise is with the warm wind blowing through your hair! Scooter rental is very popular and affordable, with options to rent for a couple of hours or a few days. Prices usually include helmets, raincoats and a map, and if you’re unsure of the routes, the operator will happily help to plan your itinerary.

Taxi services are fairly new to the island, so you have a choice between Uber and GrabTaxi services. To travel within the city centre, hop on a City Bus (marked green and yellow). These buses operate along four routes and can often get very crowded. If you’d prefer to self-drive, car rental is easily available at the airport and around the city.

Since the city centre is relatively small, you can easily walk from one side to the other in 30 minutes. Be aware of wayward traffic when crossing the streets.

For the mandatory island-hopping experience, there are many speedboat services operating between Jesselton Point Jetty and the popular islands within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.