SOME say coffee is the gasoline of life and in Sabah, there is no other coffee that is “livelier” than the renowned “Kopi Tenom” (Tenom Coffee).Tenom is one of the major coffee producing areas in the State, hence, it has been dubbed as “Sabah’s coffee capital”.
Sabah Agriculture Park has a wide range of exotic flowers and fruits. – Photo: STB
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And if you are a coffee lover, a visit to a local coffee factory is a must when you are in Tenom.
One such place is the Fatt Choi Coffee Factory.
Visiting the factory gives visitors the opportunity to learn about how coffee is procured and produced from hand-picked coffee beans to final products packed in colourful packaging.
Cool, refreshing nature view is something visitors can expect in Rundum Highlands.
Founded in 1983, Fatt Choi Coffee has grown into one of the prominent coffee producers in Tenom.
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Situated not far from the factory is Fatt Choi Coffee Cabin – an expansion from its coffee production.
For a better view of Tenom, visitors can hike up a short hill at the Fatt Choi Coffee Cabin.
The cabin is an ideal place for retreat and there is also a seven-minute trail walk up the “The Dawn of Tenom” to enjoy the sunrise and bliss on top of the hill.
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Visitors can also get a closer look at the coffee beans as some of the trees were planted nearby. The coffee planted here are of the Robusta variety.
And when you are in need of a boost after the walk, the tfc café at the Cabin serves a variety of coffee beverages – from the regular caffe latte to the innovative sparkling americano.
The coffee beans planted in Tenom are of the Robusta type.
Aside from coffee, another attraction in Tenom is the Sabah Agriculture Park.
The Park is part of the 1,500 acres of the Agriculture Research Station, Lagud Sebrang.
A refreshing cup of sparkling Americano to cool off the body after the hike
With its rich biodiversity, the Park has a magnificent collection for indigenous and introduced plants species. It is also a conservation centre for the native Orchids of Borneo.
The Park also provides a great trekking ground as well as nature walks and jungle activities.
Fatt Choi Coffee Cabin is also a favourite spot for wedding or pre-wedding photography.
Some of the areas in the Park worth visiting is the Native Orchids where at least 350 species of orchids are being kept here, including many rare and endangered species such as the Elephant Ear orchid, the Rat-tail orchid and not forgetting the many species of Slipper orchids many of which are endemic to Borneo.
A panoramic view of the lush greenery of Tenom.
Another interesting spot to visit in the Park is the Crop Museum and the Plant Evolution and Adaptation Garden.
The Crop Museum is an eight-acre living museum of crop plants where there are some 400 species of plants systematically planted according to their uses.
The Plant Evolution and Adaptation Garden offers visitors an opportunity to see how plants adapt to the environments, from pond-life to semi-arid habitats.
Accommodation and camp is available for overnight guest.
Tenom is also considered the unofficial capital of the Murut community, whose most important festival, the annual Kalimaran Festival, is held.
Visitors can learn more about this ethnic group at the Murut Cultural Centre which is located in Kampung Pulong.
The Cultural Centre houses an impressive gallery which displays many artefacts such as jars, gongs and traditional designs of the indigenous Murut inhabitants. If you are up to testing your jumping skills, one can even try the traditional wooden trampoline, locally known as Lansaran.
Another attraction in Tenom is the Rundum Highlands where it was developed by the local Murut Tagol community.
Located about 78km from Tenom town, the highlands offer fresh air, cooling weather and serene nature view to visitors.
Do not forget to pack along a sweater and warm up the night with bonfire as the weather up there can drop up to 12 degrees Celsius, especially at night time.
At the moment, there is no public transport connecting to the interior village. However, four-wheel-drive transportation can be pre-arranged with the Rundum Highlands village tourism community.
* This article is brought to you in collaboration with Sabah Tourism Board (STB).
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