The Taman Pertanian Sabah - the Sabah Agricultural Park - near Tenom extends over 1,500 acres and is amongst the most interesting botanical gardens in the world. Though maybe not located within easy reach, those fond of orchids, tropical fruit and other trees simply must take time to visit the park, which with its recent upgrades provides educational and recreational facilities for both local and foreign visitors. The park is fully integrated into the Agricultural Research Station, a centre for Agricultural and Rural Technology recognised throughout the world.

Getting There Lagud Sebrang is ca 15 km from Tenom Town, some 200 km from Kota Kinabalu. The road leading to the park is sealed throughout and takes some three hours by car. The journey is a scenic one, first winding its way through the mountainous Crocker Range, then passing the quaint Tambunan Valley with its traditional Kadazandusun villages and then over Keningau to Tenom. One can also travel by road from Kota Kinabalu to Beaufort, and then onwards by train through the Tenom Gorges along the Padas River.

Native Orchids This Centre is well known and recognised worldwide as the major centre for its Borneo Orchids collection. It has 400 out of the 1,500 orchid species identified in the island of Borneo including some rare and endangered species such as the Elephant Ear Orchid (Phalaenopsis gigantea), Rat Tail Orchid (Paraphalaenopsis labukensis) and Paphiopedilum sanderianum, a species of slipper orchid found in the wild only in Sarawak. Petals of this slipper orchid can grow up to 50cm long.

Living Crop Museum More than 400 plant species of economic value are planted systematically and based on their use: medicine, spices and condiments, beverages, fibres, fruits and perfume plants. This section is especially exciting during the fruiting season as visitors have the opportunities to try some truly exotic wild species, as well as introduced tropical fruits.

The perfume section of the Crop Museum highlights scented plants that can be used to create an aromatic garden or produce a variety of products. Flowers of the Kenanga plant are reputed to be an important ingredient in producing the signature scent of internationally well-known perfumeries.

Planning Your Tour The Taman Pertanian Sabah offers a unique Tour Package that is knowledge oriented, but at the same time also recreational. To get the best of experience at the Park, it is wise to plan your tour. There are five types of tour trails that the Park recommends visitors to choose from, and one can opt for guided or self guided tours. The tours take from an hour to two and half hours and brochures for each trail are available at the Park’s information centre.

Trail 1: The Charms of Taman Pertanian Sabah Humans have always been fascinated by flowers. This trail takes you through the Ornamental Garden which consists of 21 beautifully landscaped smaller gardens, each depicting its own theme. The Ornamental Garden will surely fulfill your every expectation! The gardens include the Bougainvillea Courts, Ixora Garden, Lily Glade, Hibiscus Garden, Cactus Garden, Shrub Garden, Oriental Garden, Carnivorous Plant House, and Hoya Garden to name a few.

Trail 2: The Climax of Taman Pertanian Sabah Stroll along the Pesiaran Pelangi, blessed with nature’s most beautiful blooms plus a panoramic view of Lake Rundum to the North and Lake Sapong to the South. You may choose to ride on the tram starting at the Park Restaurant. The first stop is the Evolution Garden where you can observe a collection of plants and their adaptations; then the journey continues to the Hybrid Orchid Garden and the Model Garden. As a climax to your visit do not miss the opportunity to drop by the Native Orchid Centre and see for yourself the 400 species of Borneo Orchids, the best collection in the world. The tram will take you back to the Park Restaurant.

Trail 3: The Grandeur of Taman Pertanian Sabah This trail portrays the world of plants and animals. While strolling and enjoying the beautiful plants and flowers at the Ornamental Garden take the opportunity to cross the hanging bridge that takes you to the Camping Island at Lake Melalap. Stop by the platform at Lake Sapong to observe the various species of free-living aquatic plants, fishes and birds. Do not miss the opportunity to see the Lake Side Garden and most of all, the Giant Water Lilies in Lake Sapong. Further down is the Animal Park where various commercially interesting animals, such as poultry, ostriches and deer are reared and studied.

Trail 4: The World of Plants This trail covers most plants found at the Taman Pertanian Sabah. The trail starts from the Arrival Hall and heads towards the Pesiaran Perdana. Here you can see the beauty of landscaped gardens using the variegated Pandanus to Canna, Sealing Wax Palms and the Golden Gem. Along the Stream Garden you can observe how the banks of a river are naturally landscaped according to this particular ecosystem. A man-made rainforest plot and fruit orchards awaits you afterwards. Your trail ends at the restaurant.

Bee Centre The Bee centre is recognised as one of the best Bee Research Centres globally and has attracted research interests from Europe. Of the nine bee species recorded in the world, five of them are found in Sabah and four of these species lives around the park.

Germ Plasm Collection The germplasm collection of ginger, bamboo and palm is known to be among the best in the Asian region. The collection of Borneo ginger is probably the best in the world with nearly 100 species grown here. The palm collection highlights useful and ornamental palms such as sea coconut, oil palm and sago palm. An interesting plant in the bamboo collection is the guardia bamboo from Peru, said to be structurally the strongest of all bamboos.

Ornamental Gardens There are 21 ornamental gardens, all beautifully landscaped in various garden settings and landscaped with exotic plants. Amongst the gardens are the Bougainvillea Court, Ixora Garden, Hibiscus Garden, Cactus Garden, Shrub Garden and many more. Exploring these Gardens will give you ideas of various plants that are useful to landscape your own garden.

Evolution Gardens This section shows how plants evolved from the primitive to the modern era, and depicts their extraordinary ability to adapt to the changing environment of their habitats.

Hoya Gardens With a collection of about 25 types of Hoya this is one of the best Hoya Gardens in Malaysia. Hoya, also commonly known as “wax plant” because of its waxy appearance, is of significant horticultural importance in countries such as Europe, America and Australia. Most of the Hoya in this Park are endemic to Borneo.

Trail 5: The Garden of Eden Ever dreamt of the Garden of Eden? The Living Crop Museum is a garden created to give you a chance to see, touch, smell and learn the uses of over 400 species of plants used by man. This garden is divided into five sections according to how the plants are used: scented plants; spices and condiments; commercially viable plants; fruits and nuts trees; and medicinal plants. If you are lucky enough, you may get to taste some of the fruits and nuts. The trail starts from the Arrival Hall and ends at the restaurant.

VISITING SCHEDULE & GUIDED TOURS
Visiting Days :Tuesday - Sunday (9am – 4:30pm)
Closed :Mondays (except Public Holiday)
 

For further information, please contact us at SabahTravelGuide.com or:
The Manager,
Sabah Agricultural Park,
WDT 28, 89909 Tenom

Sabah, Malaysia

Tel: (6)087-737952
Fax: (6)087-737571

Email: agripark@sabah.net.my
Park web: www.sabah.net.my