Set at an elevation of about 1,067 metres on the west side of Kinabalu, the sub-ranger station of Sayap is often called the other side of the mountain”. The main aim of the station, which was established in 1991, was to control illegal logging and hunting on the western boundary.

Sayap’s elevation means that the vegetation here is mainly hill-dipterocarp forest with a fair scattering of oaks, chestnuts and figs. Occasional fruit trees such as wild mangosteen, durian and pangi occur. Aroids, ferns gingers and other herbaceous plants are also common in the humid riverbank environment.
Bird and butterfly watching are both regarding pastimes at Sayap, though the mammal life is poor – probably a result of illegal hunting in the past by people living outside the boundary