Sabah in March

Sabah sits just north of the equator, so forget about distinct seasons — it's more about wet and less wet. March through August offers your best shot at clear weather, with July and August being particularly dry. This matters most if you're climbing Mount Kinabalu or diving at Sipadan, where visibility can drop during heavy rains. The northeast monsoon hits from November to February, bringing daily downpours that can wash out roads to remote areas like Maliau Basin. But here's the upside — fewer crowds and lusher rainforests. Wildlife viewing actually improves during drier months when animals gather around water sources. Orangutans at Sepilok are active year-round, but you'll have better luck spotting them during feeding times in clearer weather. For diving, March to October offers the calmest seas, though Sipadan's resident schools of barracuda and hammerheads don't follow weather patterns.