Beaufort is a provincial town just over 60 miles from the Malaysian capital of Kota Kinabalu. Tourists arriving in Kota Kinabalu can reach Beaufort by road or rail. Beaufort isn't quite the tourist attraction that the capital is, but still has attractions of its own. Since there's not much to see within the city itself, Beaufort make an excellent home base for seeing many of Sabah's popular attractions.

Beaufort District

Like the rest of Malaysia, Beaufort is subject to yearly monsoon rains. The citizens of Beaufort have adapted to these rains and the floods they cause by building shops in their main shopping district off the ground. When the floods come and the streets flood, Beaufort takes on the appearance of an eastern Venice. The city has a weekly market called a "tamu" every Friday and Saturday. People visiting the market can buy locally grown green oranges and other fresh produce, or try a bowl of Beaufort mee, a noodle dish served dry or in a soup.

Garama Wetlands

The Garama Wetlands are an example of ecotourism in Malaysia. This area is home to some rare animals that are found only in Borneo. The best way to see the wetlands is to take a cruise along the Garama River. Tour companies like Traverse Tours ( arrange river tours of the wetlands that begin about 15 miles outside of Beaufort in Kampung Garama. Along with the lush plant life, you'll see animals like the proboscis and silvered leaf monkeys, flying foxes and water buffalo. Cruises generally last about an hour and a half.

Klias Wetlands

The Klias Wetlands to the east of Beaufort is another place where tourists can experience the country's unique wildlife. The wetland is a mango forest reserve that's home to the large-nosed proboscis monkey and orange orangutans. Since these animals are most active in the evening, cruises through the wetlands generally start in late afternoon. The other reason that a nighttime cruise is so appealing is the fireflies. Hundreds of them flutter about in the sky, creating a natural light show.

Palau Tiga National Marine Park

Fans of the show "Survivor" will recognize the nearby Pulau Tiga Marine National Park. Located off the Klias Peninsula, it takes approximately a half hour to reach Palau Tiga by boat. The park is made up of three islands: the larger Palau Tiga, and the smaller Kalmpunian Besar and Kalampunian Damit (also called "Snake Island"). Palau Tiga is crisscrossed with trails that lead hikers to various points of interest on the island. Kalmpunian Besar is an ever-changing island, as the coral fragments it's made of shift position during the monsoon winds. Kalampunian Damit got its nickname because it is a breeding ground for amphibious snakes.

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