If the aroma and full-bodied taste of the famous coffee planted by the Murut tribes (Men of the Hills) is not enough to keep visitors active and awake during their stay in Tenom, then perhaps a trip to Beaufort for some extreme white-water rafting in the Sungai Padas or diving in the nearby islands of Sipadan and Lankayan can wake up the senses. If an extreme water sports item doesn't appeal to one's tastes, visiting the jambatan (block houses) in its nearby town Sandakan can be a worthwhile activity to do during the day.
In addition to the several attractions that Tenom has for the adventurous, it is frequently dubbed as one of Sabah's most scenic interior town with the range of Crocker as its backdrop. At the town's center, among the things to see is the Antonom Memorial which is a statue of the Murut chief Ontoros Antonom who led the Rundum Revolt against the British in 1915. The others are Tenom Orchid Center and Murut Cultural Center.
Visitors who want to taste the more bucolic environs of Tenom can visit its hilly part where a number of Murut longhouses are found. Tourists can mingle with the natives as they exhale through their blowpipes during the Pesta Kalimaran, an annual festival held within the Murut community, or simply dance in the lansaran (wooden platform built on bamboo springs), a popular pastime in the village.
Not far from Tenom is the village of Tomani tribe renowned for its rock carvings of huge distorted faces on huge boulders. From here, visitors can get to the Sabah Agricultural Park which houses a native orchid center, a living crop museum and a fine collection of flora and fauna in its Animal Park and Evolution Garden.
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