Tip of Borneo in Sabah
The Tip of Borneo in Sabah, or Simpang Mengayau, is located in the Kudat district and is a must-visit place when travelling around Sabah. Here, you will see the best of the South China Sea and Sulu Sea, divided by the tip.
Tip of Borneo in Sabah
A drive from Kota Kinabalu City will take about three and a half hours, while it is much better to spend a night at one of the resorts along the way or around the Kudat area if you are going by yourself.
The Tip of Borneo is also called Tanjung Simpang Mengayau in Malay, but it is more commonly known in English if you are a traveller wanting to visit this place.
Apart from this location, there are various local places to visit, like the Gombizau Honey Bee Farm, Kampung Bavanggazo (Rungus Longhouse) and Kampung Sumangkap Gong Factory (Factory making traditional brass drums).
All these tourist attractions are on the way to the tip; therefore, they are usually included in most general tour packages from Kota Kinabalu.
 |
| The iconic Tip of Borneo monument. |
While at the Tip of Borneo, your driver would park at the main car park, and you must take a short walk to the lookout point. The walk is about 200 meters, and it is best to take your time.
There are a few huts with some interesting information about the place, and you will see the most prominent icon, the bronze globe. Information on this is shared in English and Malay; this is one of the main photo stops.
A small barricade at the tip prevents people from going to the edge, which can be dangerous. If you are bringing children, please supervise them here.
 |
| Tanjung Simpang Mengayau information. |
The main car park has a small kiosk restaurant serving local Malaysian food and drinks, which is sometimes open, possibly on weekends or school holidays. Therefore, it is recommended to bring your own drinks just in case.
There are several guesthouses and resorts located nearby with rooms facing the sea. Some of them are local homestays, which contribute back to the community. Don’t worry; the prices are local and not hiked up because this place is a tourist attraction.
The best time to visit the Tip of Borneo is in the mornings. If you come late, the blistering sun can get to you; therefore, it is advised to bring an umbrella, hat or sunshade. And sunscreen if needed.
Most people would make a day trip here as you can cover all the attractions and be back in Kota Kinabalu by evening.
For those planning a few days around here, it would be a fun place to ride or cycle if you are a biker or cyclist. Some homestays offer bicycle rentals or tours, and you can check with them.
 |
| Kalampunian Beach is just before the Tip of Borneo. |
A beautiful unspoiled beach nearby called Kalampunian Beach offers a lovely stretch of white sand. This beach at the Tip of Borneo is well worth it for anyone who loves quiet beaches.
Kudat is one of the smaller towns in Sabah and is mainly dominated by the local Rungus people. If you have time, visit the Kudat market to explore and sample some unique local Rungus Food.
On Sundays, a Tamu (Local Market) sells all kinds of local produce in the main town area, and this is to be noticed if you love to explore. Kudat is also home to some unique northern Sabah food, so check around for this.
 |
| One of the very local budget homestays or accommodations at Simpang Mengayau. |
 |
| One of the simple resorts at Simpang Mengayau. |
How to Go to the Tip of Borneo?
Generally, you need to rent a car and self-drive here. Driving takes about three to four hours, and using Google Maps is relatively easy.
When I visited in June 2023, I rented a car from Kota Kinabalu and took a nice slow drive here. I started my journey at about 5.00 AM to arrive by about 9.00 AM. I explored the place and even did birdwatching at Kudat when I was here.
If you do not drive, the alternative is to take a tour package from any of the tour counters in Kota Kinabalu, as they will offer day trips here. Please enquire at the tour desk or at the Sabah Tourism office.
Conclusion
For those planning on spending a night here, there are a couple of beach besorts with beachfront views and several homestays available, which are reasonably priced just before the Tip of Borneo in Sabah.
You can book them through any popular booking website or even via Air BnB. Alternatively, you can ask some tour agents to assist you with this.
Share this content:
0 comments