Kiharo Waterfall, nature's haven

 

Walking under leafy fruit trees, where the sun light shines through, making dappled shadows on the ground has a certain charm to it. The serenity is perfect; almost an epitome of tranquility. Accompanied by the warbling of birds and calls of forest inhabitants, one can bask among the beauty of nature to one’s heart’s content.

Visitors to the Kiharo Homestay, sited at Kg Polod, Kiulu, can expect to enjoy this ambiance as soon as they arrive. There, a cluster of four bamboo structures are sited on the gentle slope of the hillside. Made with these traditional materials, the structures are reminiscent of the days of yore, with its simple architecture. They are reminders of the Dusunic homes of a bygone era where all building materials are sourced from the jungle. Except for the zinc roofs, house frames, walls, floors and furniture are all made from wood and bamboo, materials available nearby. The carpentry is meticulously fine so that the two houses stand prettily on their wooden and bamboo stilts.

Two of the buildings serve as bedrooms while one serves as a kitchen. There is also a roofed platform nearby, meant to be a lookout.

The first structure serves as a bedroom that accommodate four people at any one time. There are two single beds and of course an expanse of floor that can accommodate two mattresses or sleeping bags. The other structure has two rooms and can accommodate four people. However, it can comfortably squeeze in another two people on the floor with extra mattresses or sleeping bags.

The structures stand near the bank of a bubbling clear river with several stage of waterfalls, sweeping down smoothed rocks and boulders. This river has a long source up-hill, where tributaries from other water source meet in various junctions. Since they flow through primary jungle, they are not overgrown with undergrowth.

These are the attractions in the homestay, the bubbling river and waterfalls, the invigorating cool air and living as close to nature, as possible. At night, one can look up to the sky and enjoy the twinkles of stars, while being serenaded by the calls of nocturnal birds and insects.

However, there is more to Kiharo Homestay/Waterfall than its offering of a rustic lifestyle, according to owner Elen  Gusin, as there are fruit trees of various kind around the establishment.

“There are bambangan (Mangifera Pajang) trees here, cempedak (jackfruit), langsat (Langsium) and rambutan planted around the homestay. They were planted through the years so they have been bearing fruits for a while,” she says, adding that she has also developed part of the ten-acre land for paddy cultivation.

Those who visit the place during the fruit seasons will surely enjoy the various fruits, which also include those from the wild.

This place is about an hour and a half leisurely drive from Kota Kinabalu, the State Capital.