Nature enthusiasts will definitely take pleasure in spending a day at the Kipandi Butterfly Park, located at Kampung Kipandi, Moyog—situated approximately 36 kilometers away from Kota Kinabalu city via the Penampang-Tambunan road.
The gorgeously scenic park is surrounded by the hills of the Crocker Range. Lying at 700 meters altitude, it is rich in entomofauna. Over 100 species of butterflies have been recorded in this park; among the recorded species are the Troides Brookiana (Raja Brook’s Birding), Troides Amphrysus (Golden Birding), and the Papilio Karna (Peacock’s Swalloe Tails).
The insectariums has over 800 butterfly specimens and over 1, 800 species of beetles which include many endemic species that are only found in the Crocker Range, such as the Cyclommatus Chewi. Special enclosures have also been constructed to house some of the rare and endangered species of Sabahan orchids and pitcher plants. This project is a joint collaboration with the Sabah Wildlife Department.
Plants have been saved from trees that were felled in land clearing for agricultural and developmental purposes. To date, there are as many as 400 species of native orchids, 28 species of Hoyas, and 5 species of Lipstick flowers Aeschynanthus and medicinal plants.
The park also initiates a free educational guided walk program for school children. This program is aimed at raising the awareness of the younger generations regarding the precious entomofauna of Sabah.
The Kipandi Butterfly Park is open daily from 9am to 4pm, the best time to spot butterflies are between 9am to 11am.