Tamu Kudat

The tamu (market) in Kudat is a great opportunity to discover local produce and unique handicrafts. The tamu is a flurry of sights, sounds and smells, bustling with traders and buyers hoping to get a good bargain! In Kudat, the tamu is known for its local-grown vegetables, dried fish, tropical fruits and edible seaweed.

Be sure to check out the Rungus handicraft, particularly their intricate beaded work and handwoven Tinohian cloth. When in Kudat, make a trip to Tanjung Simpang Mengayau , The Tip of Borneo. This is the meeting point of the South China and Sulu seas, with a rich historical and cultural background. The dramatic vista of the endless sea and blue skies will take your breath away.

Held on

Tuesday & Wednesday

Opening hours

Most ‘tamu' operate as early as 6am and close by 2pm

Getting There

Kudat is 190km from Kota Kinabalu and the journey by road will take approximately 3 hours. You can take a bus from the City Bus Terminal (North) for RM18.00 per person (one way). The return ride will depart from the same drop off point in Kudat. Inform your bus driver of your destination. The bus runs from 7:30am to 5:00pm.

Maranjak Longhouse Homestay

The Maranjak Longhouse Homestay is located near Tinangol, not very far from the main road leading to Kudat.

Maranjak Longhouse Homestay is wholly made out of traditional materials such as split bamboos for walls and nipah palm leaves for roofing. The longhouse is fully furnished in traditional style with traditionally-styled dining table, rooms, lightings, as well as in terms of the food that are being served. It’s a perfect getaway stay for those craving for a truly atavistic cultural experience.

The Maranjak Homestay Longhouse can accommodate an estimated of 30 to 40 people at one time. Besides the truly traditional atmosphere, visitors will also have a wide set of things to do such as fishing in the river, jungle trekking, sightseeing in the herbal botanical garden, crab catching, and monkey watching.

Visitors will also be able to get a taste of seven different local wines which are served at night. Besides the wining experience, visitors will also be entertained with traditional Rungus dance and serenaded by performances of traditional musical instruments after dinner.

Here, visitors too will be able to take a close look at how beaded accessories are made and how intricate Rungus tapestries are woven—all done by women dressed in beautifully ornamental traditional Rungus costumes.

Getting There 

The Maranjak Homestay Longhouse is situated approximately 98 kilometers from Kota Kinabalu (2.5 hours away by road).

There are several means of transportations that visitors can choose in order to get to Maranjak Longhouse Homestay; namely buses, taxis and rented cars.

Kudat Golf Club

It has been in existence since the early 1900s and is acknowledged as the first golf club in Sabah. The early nine-hole golf course, now called the second nines, is located in the heart of Kudat town. Naturally wooded and matured, this 3075- metre course is challenging in its own way, being surrounded by buildings, roads and houses.

Since mid-2002, the new nine-hole course (the first nines) 3005 metres, has been opened for play giving Kudat Golf Club an 18-hole golf course of 6080 metres. This non-buggy course faces Marudu Bay and features large water hazards and numerous bunkers throughout.

It is complemented by the Marina Resort which offers good accommodation and F&B outlets. There is also a driving range.Contact rent-a car companies for self-drive

Green Fees (18 holes)

Weekdays : RM100.00

Weekends and Public Holidays : RM150.00

Kelambu Beach

For beach lovers who opt for a more reclusive and less mainstream beach vacation, Kelambu Beach is the ultimate place to be.

Though less known, Kelambu Beach is indeed one of the best beaches in Sabah with its clear aquamarine sea and beautiful white sand engulfed by astounding verdant islands.

The inviting clear waters offer a variety of activities such as speed boating, water skiing, swimming, and snorkelling. The wonderful beach, on the other hand; is a perfect spot for family picnics, romantic strolls by the beach, seashells collecting or simply to enjoy a gorgeous sunset.

On the way to Kudat, be sure to make a detour to Kelambu Beach where you can sit back and delight in the beauty of nature’s best!

Kampung Sumangkap Gong Factory

Less than one hour away from Kampung Gombizau is the Sumangkap village (92 kilometers and 2 hours drive away from Kota Kinabalu) which is famous for its gong making cottage industry.

The gong is the most important Rungus musical instrument which is played during festivities and grand occasions such as weddings. The gongs that are sold in Kampung Sumangkap vary in sizes—visitors can expect to find tiny souvenirs ones with different shapes and unique designs (price ranging from RM25 to RM37) as well as large ones that can reach up to 2 meters wide in diameter.

For large groups of visitors, the villagers of Kampung Sumangkap will often hold cultural performances in the Kampung Sumangkap Community Hall where the kulintangan (a set of different sized gongs producing different sounds) is to be played.

Here, visitors will also have the opportunity to witness the method of gong making by the professional gong makers in the village. The gong factory is open daily including public holidays from 8.30am to 5.30pm.

Tariffs

Entrance fees charged are as follows:

Adults (12 years and above) – RM5

Children (6 to 12 years old) – RM3

Children (below 6 years old) – Free of charge

Getting there

To get to Sumangkap village, from Kota Kinabalu visitors can take a bus headed in the direction of Kudat. Buses to Kudat can be taken from the Terminal Bas Jalan Padang from 7.30am to 5pm daily. Bus fare would be approximately RM18 per person, please communicate with the bus driver or bus conductor regarding the drop off point.

As an option, visitors can also take a taxi from Kota Kinabalu from the taxi stand located next to Merdeka Field and arrange with the taxi driver regarding the desired drop off point. Approximate taxi fee is RM300 per taxi/way.

Those choosing to drive can do so by renting a car from a verified car rental company.

Gombizau Honey Bee Farm

Gombizau Honey Bee Farm is located in Matunggong, a sub-district 43 kilometers south of Kudat town, where one of the economical activities for the village community is honey bee farming. There are over a hundred bee cages in the bee farm.

Founded over ten years ago, this bee farm produces honey both for the consumption of the local people as well as to be sold in bottles for those who are akin to the sweet taste of raw honey.

For many generations, the people of Kampung Gombizau has been consuming raw honey as it is believed and has been proven to possess remedial properties; other than being able to lend its superior taste to food when used in cooking.

Here, visitors will be able to observe how a bee farm is managed. They will often get a taste of raw honey straight from the honeycomb. Other than that, there are also rubber trees planted at the bee farm. Therefore, visitors can also witness the traditional method of rubber tapping and rubber rolling. 

Tariffs 

Entrance fees charged are as follows:

Adults (12 years and above) – RM5
Children (6 to 12 years old) – RM3
Children (6 years and below) – Free of charge

Getting There
From Kota Kinabalu, take a bus heading to Matunggong or Kudat (From Terminal Bas Jalan Padang), bus fare per person is approximately RM18. Buses are available from 7.30am to 5pm. Do communicate with the bus driver/ bus conductor regarding the drop off point.

On the other hand, visitors can also choose to take a taxi from the Kota Kinabalu Taxi Station (near Merdeka Field) for approximately RM300 per taxi/way. Otherwise, rent a car from authorized car rental companies.

The Tip of Borneo - Tanjung Simpang Mengayau

This dramatic headland is situated in the northern-most tip of BORNEO, the third largest island in the world, after Greenland and New Guinea. It is located in the Kudat Peninsula, about three and a half hours (or 215 kilometres) drive from Kota Kinabalu City.

Simpang Mengayau means 'lingering junction' as it is here that the South China Sea lingers and meets the Sulu Seas flowing from the east ... Enjoy the stunning view. The sunsets and full moons are just beautiful ... The Pulau Kalampunian lighthouse is a reminder of treacherous coastline and past shipwrecks. On the left is the beautiful beach of Pantai Kalampunian.

It's a lovely easy stroll to the flagpole, the Globe and the rocky outcrop that forms the "Tip of Borneo".

Facilities:

There is a cafe, souvenir shop and washrooms.

Admission is free.

Getting there (from Kota Kinabalu)

You can go by taxi, self-drive or with a tour agent. Four-wheel drives and saloon cars with permits are stationed near the Indian Restaurant opposite the Health Clinic in Kampung Air. Four-wheel drives can take between 7-8 passengers at RM20.00 - RM25.00 per pax return, while saloon cars take up to 4 passengers and charge RM240.00 for a return trip to Simpang Mengayau. Check with the Car Rental services for their charges.

Extra information

Day trips are offered by local tour operators. Rates start from around RM 250.00 which will include a tour to the Honey Bee Farm at Kg. Gombizau, the Gong Factory at Kg. Sumangkap, a visit to a Rungus Longhouse with lunch and The Tip of Borneo