Sayap Substation

A quieter, lower-elevation substation on the north side of Kinabalu Park, about 40km from park HQ as the crow flies but a 2.5-hour drive by road. Sitting around 1,000m, well below the cloud forest at HQ, it protects some of the most beautiful forest in Sabah and has become known among visiting mammal-watchers for an exceptional range of squirrels — a disused road climbing from the office, with one large fruiting tree about 200m up, is the go-to spot. Camera trapping by 1StopBorneo has also turned up Hose's civet and Kinabalu ferret badger here, and night walks (now limited to two hours under tightened park rules) regularly produce binturong and masked palm civet. It's just as good for herping and insects — Bornean horned frog and Sabah Pit Viper are both quite common. Most trails are steep, narrow and slippery, so the old road is the easier option for casual visitors.