Exploring waterfalls in Sabah, adrenaline rush for adventure seekers

 

Participants scaling down one of the eight cascading waterfalls in the Monggiland route.
-Pic courtesy of Sabah Tourism Board

KOTA KINABALU: Exploring waterfalls or canyoning along hiking trails in Sabah is high on the checklists for many adrenaline junkies.

What used to be an obstacle for people commuting along jungle trails, hikes including waterfalls, are now becoming a popular itinerary across the state.

In Kelawat, Tamparuli such an activity is attracting many to its trails, particularly the 40m high Monggiland cascades, known for its canyoning route among enthusiasts.

The Monggiland Waterfall Eco-Tourism initiative was first opened by the community in 2019, featuring a trail loop that descends down a hill, past village farms and houses before leading them to forest routes where the waterfalls are located.

It was gaining traction but the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 put a damper to efforts to promote the community tourism attraction in the area located some 60km north of here.

On Saturday, Assistant Tourism, Culture, and Tourism Minister cum Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai flagged off about 100 hikers to mark the relaunch of the Monggiland Waterfall Eco-Tourism initiative.

Hikers get to see eight different waterfalls of Bermusim, Tutuhunon, Munduk Sirung, Pangoh, Nagas, Monggiland, Taralasak and Dupil in the area.

Monggiland Waterfall Eco-Tourism chairman Rubby James said the Taralasak and Dupil cascades were the latest to be discovered and he estimated that there are at least 20 hidden waterfalls in the forest.

"People come here to experience hiking, navigating down the Monggiland waterfall, and taking a refreshing dip in the pool. For more easy canyoning, they can do it at Nagas waterfall, which is about 60 feet tall.

"Foreign travellers had also come to explore the Monggiland trail in 2019. However, just as it was beginning to gain traction, we had to close the trail because of the pandemic," he said.

Since the trail's reopening in August of last year, Rubby, who is also a member of the Mountain Search and Rescue (Mosar) team, noticed the increasing number of visitors.

Meanwhile, Joniston said Sabah's abundance of hiking opportunities made it an ideal destination for eco-tourists and adventurers.

He added that the Monggiland hiking route was a welcomed addition to the area as the trail is connected to other established paths such as the Murug Turug waterfall trail.

"Hiking is growing in popularity, and the Sabah Tourism Board have been making efforts to promote it because of the revenue it could potentially bring to the local community.

"While we encourage outdoor exploration, we must also make sure our travellers feel comfortable and ensure they have access to facilities like restrooms and shelters along the hiking trails," he said.

-nst online.