About 35 kilometres northeast of the city, the Mari Mari Cultural Village recreates the traditional longhouses and daily life of Sabah's five main indigenous groups: the Kadazan-Dusun, Bajau, Murut, Lundayeh, and Rungus. Guided tours last about two hours and move through each community's dwelling, with demonstrations of food preparation, traditional blowpipe use, fire-starting, rice wine brewing, and dance.
It is a staged experience rather than a living community, but the guides are drawn from the communities they represent and the information is genuine. The Murut longhouse with its traditional jumping platform — used to store paddy out of reach of animals — is the most architecturally striking structure. Book in advance as group sizes are limited and tours run at set times.