Malaysia welcomes the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

Malaysia welcome Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow, and from there they will move on to the rainforested eco-adventure destination of Sabah, Borneo, as part of their Diamond Jubilee tour to celebrate 60 years of HM Queen Elizabeth’s reign. As well as attending state functions and talks in Malaysia, the Royal couple will visit iconic tourism sites such as the Petronas Twin Towers and the KLCC (Kuala Lumpur City Centre). They will also experience Malaysia’s adventurous side when they visit Sabah in the rainforests of Malaysian Borneo. Home to the Danum Valley Conversation Area, Sabah’s largest protected lowland rainforest boasts one of the richest conservation areas in the world with 43,800 hectares of pristine and undisturbed tropical flora and fauna. This pristine rainforest is also home to more than 340 species birds, 124 species of mammals, 72 species of reptiles, 56 species of amphibians and a staggering 200 species of plants per hectare. Top attractions in Sabah also include the state’s most famous icon Mount Kinabalu reputed to be the highest peak in South East Asia at 4,092 metres high, Sipadan (a world-famous dive destination) and the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Sandakan. Visitors from the UK have been coming to Malaysia due to the long history between the two countries as trading partners, with British control in the 18th and 20th centuries prior to the incarnation of the Federation of Malaya in 1948 followed by full independence in 1957.