Get closer to nature in this Sabah town while supporting a local collective
In partnership with Ministry of Rural and Regional Development
If you are researching places to visit in Ranau on a day trip, chances are you will come across Sosodikon Hill, one of the newest attractions and a hidden gem in the area. Located at Kampung Kauluan, Kundasang, approximately a 15-minute drive from Kundasang Town, Sosodikon Hill derives its name from the Dusun word, “sodik”, which refers to a type of trap. Back in the 1950s and 60s, the hill used to be a hunting ground where villagers would set up their sodik to catch squirrels and birds.
Today, Sosodikon Hill has become increasingly popular as a short hiking destination because of its easy, child-friendly 800m trail that takes less than 15 minutes to complete. At the peak of the hill is a wooden platform where visitors can rest and enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the verdant Kampung Kauluan. Sosodikon Hill is managed and maintained by Koperasi Sosodikon Ranau Berhad (KOPSODIK) – a co-operative that’s wholly managed by the villagers of Kampung Kauluan. Established in 2021, KOPSODIK was initiated to encourage sustainable living and self-sufficiency amongst its villagers.
Empowering local communities with Desa Lestari
In 2022, KOPSODIK was nominated by the Malaysia Co-operative Societies Commission (SKM) to represent Sabah to vie for grant assistance from the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW). After being selected, they took home a one-time grant worth RM750,000 under the Desa Lestari (sustainable villages) Programme. Since being awarded the grant, KOPSODIK has done its best to develop Kampung Kauluan as an emerging ecotourism destination. Like many rural areas in Malaysia, Kampung Kauluan has experienced high youth migration due to the limited available opportunities to make a living back home. With Sosodikon Hill as the main ecotourism attraction, the village’s youths now have the chance to thrive as entrepreneurs, auto mechanics and tour guides.
In addition, KOPSODIK also aims to empower its women and encourage financial independence. In addition to being full-time homemakers, the women of Kampung Kauluan also have the opportunity to become entrepreneurs, homestay managers and caterers. Set amidst the picturesque hillside with its refreshing mountain air, crystal clear rivers and Mount Kinabalu as a backdrop, Sosodikan Hill makes an excellent destination for camping, admiring sunflowers, jeep tours and ATV riding. All of these activities are managed by members of the KOPSODIK co-operatives themselves and revenue from tourism is put towards the village community.
