Rafflesia and the Pokémon flower connection
The corpse flower of Malaysian Borneo
Words and photos by journalist Kim Juyoung | Jigu Byeol Sigoljwi
I went to see the real-life Rafflesia flower made famous by Pokémon
A plant adventure on the island of Borneo, Malaysia
Hi everyone, I’m freelance journalist Kim Juyoung. I also share my travels on social media under the nickname Jigu Byeol Sigoljwi.
While planning this trip to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, there was one place I absolutely had to visit: the Tambunan Rafflesia Conservation Centre, where you can see Rafflesia, the flower widely known as the largest bloom in the world.
A lot of people recognize “Rafflesia” as a Pokémon character, but surprisingly, not many realize it’s also a real flower that exists in nature.
I was the same when I was younger—I thought it was just the name of a Pokémon character. But after seeing the actual flower in Borneo with my own eyes, my perspective completely changed.
As someone who studied biology, this was one of those species that always felt like a must-see at least once in my life.
So I cleared a day from my Kota Kinabalu itinerary and rode out to Tambunan with a friend by car.
About an hour from Kota Kinabalu
A journey into the jungle
The Tambunan Rafflesia Conservation Centre is about an hour’s drive from downtown Kota Kinabalu.
The road follows the Crocker Range, and the whole drive is wrapped in the deep, saturated green that feels so distinctly Bornean.
At some point, even the internet signal started to disappear.
It really felt like I was slowly leaving civilization behind.
And honestly, that made it even better—it was the moment I realized I was truly heading somewhere wild and rare.
The Tambunan Rafflesia Conservation Centre in Malaysia isn’t just a tourist stop. It’s an actual protected area.
It’s managed by the government, and you can’t enter without a guide.
Entrance fee and guide cost
After registering on-site, you drive a bit farther and then begin the jungle trek. When I visited, the fees were:
Foreigner entrance fee: RM15
Foreigner guide fee: RM100 for up to 5 people
That was the pricing system in place.
RM stands for Malaysian ringgit. At first, I thought, “That’s a decent amount just to see one flower.” But after going, I completely understood why.
Rafflesia is incredibly rare, and its blooming window is very short.
Finally seeing Rafflesia
What the real Rafflesia flower from Pokémon actually looks like
We had been walking through the jungle for a while when the guide suddenly said,
“It bloomed today.”
We had gotten seriously lucky.
Rafflesia is not the kind of flower you can see whenever you want.
Its blooming period is short, and it’s hard to predict exactly when it will open.
And then I finally saw it in person.
Honestly, my first thought was…
“Wow… it looks like a pizza.”
The mix of red and brown patterns was so bold and striking. It was far more overwhelming in real life than in photos.
The one I saw was much bigger than my hand and surprisingly thick too. According to the guide, even larger species can be found in the Kalimantan region of Indonesia.
Does Rafflesia really smell that bad?
One of the biggest questions people have is the smell. Rafflesia is often nicknamed the “corpse flower” because it gives off a rotting-meat scent to attract insects.
But the one I saw didn’t smell nearly as strong as I expected.
I’m guessing that depends on the stage of bloom and the species. The guide did say that some flowers, when they’re at their peak, can smell pretty intense.
So rather than feeling like a “pretty flower,” it came across as something much more primal and wild.
A living flower and a dying flower
Seeing the timing of life all at once
What made this visit especially memorable was that I got to see not only a living flower, but also one that was already dying.
The red flower was still alive, while the one that had turned black had already reached the end of its life. What really stayed with me was seeing a new bud growing right beside the dying bloom.
One life ending
Another life continuing
Back in Korea, I don’t think I had ever looked at a flower this deeply. But standing in the middle of the Borneo jungle in front of it, I couldn’t help feeling strangely philosophical.
Why is this flower so rare?
One of the most interesting things the guide explained was this: Rafflesia is not artificially planted from seed. Human interference can disrupt the ecological balance, so they preserve it exactly as it exists in the wild.
That’s why the flowers were scattered in different locations.
At first I wondered, “Why not gather them all in one place?” But leaving them untouched in their natural habitat is actually the most important part of conservation.
That’s what makes the Tambunan Rafflesia Conservation Centre in Malaysia feel so meaningful—it’s not a display space, but a real conservation site protecting biodiversity.
The jungle trek is harder than it looks
To be honest, the trail is pretty rough.
There are muddy sections, rocky paths, and the humidity is intense. I went fully covered in long sleeves, arm sleeves, and a hat, and that turned out to be a very good decision.
Thankfully, you can rent boots there.
One surprising thing, though: I didn’t need sunglasses at all.
Once you’re inside the jungle, the trees block most of the sunlight.
If you want a different kind of experience on your Kota Kinabalu trip…
I’ll be honest—it’s not the easiest place to reach.
This is not a relaxed city-sightseeing course like central Kota Kinabalu. But if you’re interested in nature, ecology, or rare plants, I can’t recommend it enough.
The Tambunan Rafflesia Conservation Centre in Malaysia
meant much more than just the title of “the world’s largest flower.”
The humidity of the jungle, the smell of wet earth, the sound of insects, the towering trees, and a flower that blooms for only a brief moment—it all came together and felt like stepping straight into a nature documentary.
If you’re planning a trip to Kota Kinabalu, spending one day going deep into Borneo’s natural landscape could become one of the most unforgettable parts of your trip.
Lowest airfare from South Korea to Kota Kinabalu
Written by
Book-loving travel blogger and YouTuber Jigu Byeol Sigoljwi
Thank you for reading.
I’ll keep uploading my travel videos on YouTube, so stay tuned—and happy travels, everyone.
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