Brought to you by Shangri-La
Rasa Ria Reserve, a 64-acre nature reserve situated in Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort & Spa, relaunches this October with new adventure and cultural experiences. Established in 1996 to protect and educate visitors about Malaysia’s Sabah culture and indigenous animals and flora, the expanded innovative recreational proposition enhances the reserve’s conservation and education programme.
Rasa Ria Reserve boasts distinct experiential activities to encourage residents and hotel guests to explore, engage and connect with the abundance of wildlife. The protected 64-acre nature reserve is nestled within Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort & Spa’s 400 acres site which is watched over by Sabah’s iconic Mount Kinabalu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is home to long-tailed macaques, western tarsiers, bear cats and the famous huge-eyed slow loris, plus over 60 species of birds, 100 species of butterflies, pangolins and a wide spectrum of native plants.
Guests are now able to choose from a variety of new and enhanced experiences in the nature reserve including the creation of a Discovery Centre which educates wannabe explorers about the indigenous wildlife and plants through interactive exhibits. Constructed with environmentally sustainable materials and designed to capture the essence of the rainforest the Discovery Centre sits at the heart of Rasa Ria Reserve and is the gateway to the reserve’s unique trail system that covers five miles of walks through the tropical jungle. Six walking trails individually showcase a different side to the tropical jungle from entomology to herbs, native, adventure, wildlife and canopy, offering up to two hours per walk of exploration, learning and fun.
A new natural rain watering hole enhances the local wildlife’s habitat as well as provides the perfect look-out spot in which to see nocturnal animals including the adorable pangolin. Set in the midst of the Rasa Ria Reserve, the watering hole encourages local wildlife, which roam freely across the 64-acre reserve, to feed and drink allowing guests to get close to a multitude of creatures thus creating a truly magical experience.
The Ria Lookout summit platform with views of Mount Kinabalu has been extended and doubled in size to offer more guests the chance to experience the early morning sunrise hike. Serving continental breakfast on the summit deck, guests will have stunning views across the Tambalang River and Shangri-La’s very own 18-hole championship golf course, Dalit Bay Golf & Country Club. For those who want a wedding breakfast with a difference, couples can now enjoy an intimate celebration for up to 20 guests.
Youngsters love Rasa Ria Reserve with perennial favourites like Ranger for the Day allowing children to feed animals and help the team monitor flora and fauna whilst learning about the jungle. To add to the experience for mini adventurers, the handcrafted Rasa Ria Playground, inspired by the reserve, offers children the ultimate place to run wild. Home to play sculptures which represent some of Sabah’s famous wildlife, net tunnels with zip line, tree trunk climbing zone, large basket swing and a sandpit for mini-archaeologists to go hunting for dinosaur bones.
Book a stay at Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort & Spa for 3 nights and enjoy the ‘Closer to Kota Kinabalu’ package, offering guests access to Rasa Ria Reserve, daily buffet breakfast and return airport transfers. Offer includes a jungle walk, night tour, ranger experience and adventure playground. Available until 23 December 2018.
