Waterfalls of the Maliau Basin

State Sabah
LocationThe Maliau Basin
Coordinates N04 48' E111 50'
Water SourceRivers
Waterfall ProfileVertical Falls
AccessibilityTrekking

The Maliau basin is sometimes called "The Lost World of Sabah". It was discovered in 1947 from the air, but it was only in 1988 that a first expedition visited the region. Until now only 30 % of the basin has been explored. Trekking in this part of Sabah is a serious adventure. You need permission from the Yayasan Sabah and a guide. But it is worth the effort, unspoilt nature and beautiful waterfalls will be your reward.

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Satellite view from the Maliau Basin

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Several placec are so steep that ladders are needed.

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Great care is requiered, especially after rain.

A trip to the Maliau Basin takes several days, you will stay overnight in a number of camps and you must be prepared for long jungle treks under sometimes difficult conditions. For detailed information, download this Maliau trip report, prepared by Gabriel Chong.

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The powerful Giluk fall can be reached from the Camel Trophy Camp

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View from the top of the fall

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A very spectacular sight

The largest and most famous falls in the area are the Maliau Falls. In total, it has seven tiers but you only see the 5th & 6th tier from the ground. They can be reached by a 1.5 hour trek from the Lobah Camp

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The spectacular Maliau falls

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A picture for the album!

Two more falls in the region are the Giluk fall and the Sabender Fall. The Giluk fall can be combined with the Takob-Akob fall, whereas the Sabender fall is a 1 hour trek from Ginseng Camp.

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The powerful Takob-Akob fall

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The lovely Sabender Fall

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A well deserved shower under Sabendar Falls after a long trekking

The pictures on this page are courtesy of Gabriel Chong, the Chin Family, Stefan Kolb and Lau Nai Kwong. More information can be found on the websites of Gabriel and Yian Tze

You are welcome to send a comment about The Maliau Basin to the webmaster. Click here

Nowadays you need a permit for many waterfalls. General information here
Present situation for The Maliau Basin : No information available

Waterfalls can be dangerous ! Always take care about your safety

Visitor Comments


Al Z Boe 25-04-2011
Care for some info on how much is cost to get there, lodging, porter and how long minimum stay. Is there a package for it? Thx.
Winda Logie 09-05-2007
Did u guys stayed overnight?