Tunku Abdul Rahman Park is a group of five islands just off Kota Kinabalu, made a marine park in 1974. The islands, including Manukan, Sapi and Gaya, have white beaches, clear water and coral reefs. Boats leave from the city jetty every day. Visitors snorkel, swim, dive and try water sports, and some islands have resorts.

The Kota Kinabalu City Mosque stands on the shore of Likas Bay in Sabah and was opened in 2000. It is built on an artificial lagoon, so it appears to float on the water. Its design follows the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, with a blue and gold dome and four minarets. It can hold about 12,000 worshippers and is lit up at night.

Mount Kinabalu in Sabah is the highest mountain in Malaysia, rising to about 4,095 metres. Its summit is a granite plateau with jagged peaks, the highest being Low's Peak. Climbers take two days, staying overnight at Laban Rata before reaching the top at dawn. The mountain lies in Kinabalu Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its rich plant life.

The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre near Sandakan was opened in 1964 to care for orphaned and injured orangutans and return them to the wild. It lies in a forest reserve. At feeding times, visitors watch from platforms as orangutans come down from the trees. A nursery and the nearby Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre are also open.

The Kinabatangan River is the longest river in Sabah, about 560 kilometres long. Its lower reaches are one of the richest wildlife areas in Malaysia. Boat trips from the village of Sukau look for proboscis monkeys, orangutans, pygmy elephants, hornbills and crocodiles along the banks. The best times are early morning and late afternoon.

Danum Valley is a conservation area in Sabah protecting about 440 square kilometres of lowland rainforest that has never been logged. It is one of the richest forests in Borneo. Wild orangutans, gibbons, clouded leopards and many birds live here. A field centre and a lodge offer guided walks, a canopy walkway and night drives.

Sipadan is a small oceanic island off Semporna in Sabah, rising from a seabed about 600 metres deep. It is often named among the best dive sites in the world. Its coral walls are home to huge schools of barracuda and jacks, many sea turtles and reef sharks. Only a limited number of divers are allowed each day, and no one may stay overnight.