Kinabalu National Park

People mostly think of the rainforests and montane forests of Borneo in terms of orangutans, orchids, pitcher plants and the epic and sickly sweet smelling Rafflesias, the world's largest flower, and home to a hugely diverse range of plant and animal life. Humid corridors between towering trees teem with exotic birds, animals and insects, and it can almost be an intoxicating, overwhelming experience. The Kinabalu National Park lies like a dense foggy blanket on and around the slopes of the massif, South East Asia's highest, and with its varied elevations, from the montane and rainforests around the base to the alpine meadows near the summit, it's an excellent place to see the diverse range of Borneo's endemic plants and animals. The most unique of these include several carnivorous species—Kinabalu giant red leech and Kinabalu giant earthworm. Near the park headquarters is an orchid garden and the Poring Hot Springs, which was established by Japanese soldiers during the war.