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Set at an elevation of about 1,067 metres on the west side of Kinabalu, the
sub-ranger station of Sayap is often called the other side of the mountain”. The
main aim of the station, which was established in 1991, was to control illegal
logging and hunting on the western boundary.
Sayap lies about two hours drive from Kota Kinabalu in good weather with a four
wheel drive vehicle. To reach it one must first drive north to the small rural
town of Kota Belud, by-passing the town of Tuaran with its colourful Sunday tamu
or market. After about 15 minutes the road crosses the Sulaiman River which
empties into the huge mangrove inlet of Tasik Sulaiman. Above the patchwork of
hills and fields, the mountain stands clear, with no electricity poles or wires
to bar the view, its long eastern ridge running down to the left. It is another
15-20 minutes to Kota Belud.
Kota Belud is a good place to stop for coffee and the fried Indian pancake, roti
canai, eaten with or without egg in a local coffee shop. It is also the last
place to buy petrol or diesel and any other basic supplies.
  There are signs to Sayap at all the junctions but some are small and easy to
miss so drive slowly. About 30 kilometres from Kota Belud, the little kamupung
of Sayap is reached at an elevation of about 1,000m. Six km beyond Kampung Sayap
the Park boundary is reached and the vegetation changes abruptly, the road now
lined with forest trees for the last few minutes drive to the Sayap station on
the Kemantis stream above the Wariu river. The station consists only a small
office and quarters for the Park staff where the road stops and there is nowhere
for visitors to stay overnight unless they bring tents and their own camping
equipment.
Sayap’s elevation means that the vegetation here is mainly hill-dipterocarp
forest with a fair scattering of oaks, chestnuts and figs. Occasional fruit
trees such as wild mangosteen, durian and pangi occur. Aroids, ferns gingers and
other herbaceous plants are also common in the humid riverbank environment.
Bird and butterfly watching are both regarding pastimes at Sayap, though the
mammal life is poor – probably a result of illegal hunting in the past by people
living outside the boundary.
 A well developed trail network has been established around the station and the
Wariu River, many of the trails starting from this abandoned road. All trails
are well signposted and times given allow for fairy leisurely walking, but some
of the descents to the Wariu River are extremely steep. |
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