Harvest Festival (Pesta Ka’amatan)– 30 and 31 May annually
One of the well-known festival in Sabah is Pesta Ka'amatan
or Harvest Festival which begins on the first of May and celebrated throughout
Sabah. In Asian cultures, rice is regarded as an important staple food
therefore majority of native Sabahans consider rice to be more important than any
other food item.
Kota Belud “Tamu” (Open Market)– early October annually
The picturesque town of Kota Belud is positioned
approximately 70 kilometres from Kota Kinabalu. Renowned as one of Sabah’s scenic and culturally diverse districts, Kota Belud is popularly known among locals as
the ‘Land of the Cowboys of the East’.
This exceptional town is a fusion of different
cultures and customs and is home to the Bajau Muslims, the Kadazan Dusun and
Irranun mores. For hundreds of years Kota Belud has played a vital role as
Northern Borneo’s cultural centre.
Mari Mari Cultural Village – open daily except Mondays
Situated amidst a remote forest setting in Kionsom, Inanam, Mari Mari Cultural Village is away from the hustling and bustling city.
Mari Mari Cultural Village offers glimpses into the lives of Sabah’s rich culture with its distinctive houses, costumes and traditional skills of five major Sabah’s ethnic groups; the farmers and traders Dusun and Rungus, the hunters and fishermen Lundayeh, the cowboys and sea gypsies Bajau, and the famously feared warrior tribe Murut.
This tour offers you the opportunity to see and experience the culture and lifestyle of the indigenous ethnic groups of Borneo in the olden days.
Kota Kinabalu City Mosque (Likas Floating Mosque) – open daily
This majestic mosque boasts similar features to the Nabawi Mosque in Medina. The man-made lagoon which surrounds it gives a serenely gorgeous and dramatic look to the mosque on a full moon night.
The Kota Kinabalu City Mosque is open for the public to visit; however, all visitors are required to register with the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque Tourism Management.
When visiting the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque, visitors are required to abide to the following rules:
- Dress appropriately. Whether you are visiting outside or entering the mosque, all visitors are required to cover up and dress modestly.
- All visitors are required to show respect to the place and act politely.
- All visitors must abide by the rules set by the City Mosque including observing the off-limit areas.
- No food and drinks are allowed in the City Mosque area.
- All visitors must always be mindful not to pose or act in an inappropriate manner when taking photos or videos.