Tanjung Simpang Mengayau, Historic cape at northern tip of Borneo, Kudat, Malaysia.

Tanjung Simpang Mengayau is the northernmost tip of Borneo, in Kudat District, Sabah, where the South China Sea meets the Sulu Sea. A park-like ground holds a Malaysian flag pole and a large bronze globe, opened in 2004, embossed with a map of Borneo and inscriptions marking the tip at 7 degrees north and 116 degrees east. The cape forms part of the Kudat Peninsula, built of the Early Miocene Kudat formation of sandstone and mudstone.

During the Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties, merchant ships encountered treacherous conditions near this cape, with many vessels wrecking on the rocks. These incidents made the location a notorious hazard along ancient trade routes across Asian waters.

The name comes from the Rungus language and recalls how indigenous people defended their coastline against pirate attacks over centuries. This linguistic heritage reflects the deep bond between the local communities and the surrounding waters.

The site lies roughly 215 kilometers from Kota Kinabalu via paved roads with gravel sections, and the journey takes about three hours by vehicle. Visitors should be prepared for the long drive and check local weather conditions before making the trip.

The bronze globe's raised rim carries the words "THE TIP OF BORNEO" and "TANJUNG SIMPANG MENGAYAU", and records that Datuk Musa Hj. Aman, Chief Minister of Sabah, officiated the landmark on 10 July 2004. Inside the rim, a relief map of Borneo is labelled with the South China Sea, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, Sarawak, Kalimantan, Java Sea and the Equator, beside a compass rose.