Tawau Hills National Park

Tawau Hills Park

Tawau Hills Park
A Sanctuary For Tallest Trees in the World
... just 30 minutes drive from Tawau Town center...

TAWAU'S TALLEST TREE
A TREASURE TO THE WORLD

"We were surprised when the scientist told us that the world's tallest tropical rainforest tree is here. To us it is like a treasure to Tawau. Even though some years ago, this area was known as a logging district, we still have a treasure for future generations"

Tawau Hills Park manager Ariffin Johari
told BERNAMA on 6th August 2010

This tropical tree is only 900 meters from Tawau Hills Park's Office.

The park has constructed a natural trial for visitor to see this tallest tree in Malaysia (the Tallest TROPICAL TREE in the world). Along the trial visitors breath the fresh forest air, view the lush greenery of various plants in this protected forest and, if you are lucky, see the friendly Red Leaf Monkey that live in this protected jungle.

Walking on the mountain trial you may be allured by the sound and sight of cool mountain streams that tumble downslope as frothy waterfalls and cascades.

Sabah's tropical frequent rains results in streams that flow consistently throughout the year. Where layers of hard rock occur and water unable to cut downward to the same extent they have in softer surrounding rock, the result is often a sharp precipice and a waterfall. Throughout Tawau Hills Park each valley has a system of branches, streams and rivers that provides natural beauty and pleasures.

I always enjoy hiking to a waterfall or just listening quietly to a stream and observing the creatures living in these cool waters. Water splashing over mossy rocks seems to evoke a response in people as though they were drawn to it by some ancient instinctive attraction.

Row, row, row your boat,

Gently down the stream.

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,

Life is but a dream.

This is an nursery rhyme I learned in primary school from my American Peace Corps English teacher many many years ago. Today as I watched this water gently flow downstream and ponder the past, life is indeed but a dream.

There is nothing very special at the entrance of Tawau Hills Park. To see the real Tawau Hills Park you will need to jungle trekking into the forest to see the beauty of this place.

From Tawau town, take a cab of 30 minutes drive to get there. Entering this park is actually walking into the oldest virgin forest in the world. In a good day you might be lucky enough to see some small animals in the jungle.

After trekking of about 1 hour you will arrive Hot springs in this park. Or just less then 30 minutes walk you come to touch with your own fingers the Tallest Tropical Tree of the world -- and tie a wish ribbon with a wish.

Tawau Hills National Park is located in south-eastern Sabah and is bounded by the Ulu Kalumpang Forest Reserve on the northern side and Mount Andrassy Forest Reserve on the south. The eastern and western sides are bordered by agricultural lands mainly cocoa and oil palm plantations.

The terrain within the park is quite rugged and hilly with three main peaks in the form of extinct volcanoes namely:

1) Gunung Magdalena (1,310 m asl)
2) Gunung Lucia (1,189 m asl)
3) Gunung Maria (1,067 m asl)

Both Gunung Maria and Gunung Magnalena are off-limits to the public, but a jungle trail is being constructed to Gunung Lucia for hiking of the public.

The southern perimeter contains some of the last remaining non-swampy land under primary forest in Sabah. Seven important rivers with water catchment areas are confined largely or entirely within the park boundary. They are :

1) Sungai Tawau (the main river in the park)
2) Sungai Kinabutan in the centre
3) Sungai Mantri
4) Sungai Balung in the east
5) Sungai Merotai Kanan,
6) Sungai Merotai Kecil and
7) Sungai Junap (a tributary of Sungai Merotai Besar) in the west.

From Tawau, one can further venture to Maliau Basin- the lost world of Borneo. Be well prepared mentally and physically to take up this challenge. This is one of the few remaining areas virtually untouched by man - not just in Sabah and Malaysia, but in the whole World!.

Taman Tanah Rendah (Lowland Garden) Lush dipterocarp forest vegetation and lianas cover the lower regions giving way to thick damp mossy forests as the altitude gets higher and temperatures get cooler. The variety of plant life found within Tawau Hills Park include Agathis, Mountain Ru, Tree ferns, different species of orchids and begonia. More...

Cool streams of mountain water meandering through a lush tropical forest and waterfalls and into .......... our drinking cups.

The water we drink comes from here.

The lush area of 27,972 hectares forests of the Tawau Hills Park serves as an important water catchments area for Tawau and Semporna. The area was gazette by Malaysian Government in 1979 as a National Park to protect the natural environment with its unique flora and fauna and to ensure an uninterrupted water supply for the region.

This park is the water catchments area for five major rivers in Tawau - Sungai Tawau, Sungai Balung, Sungai Merotai, Sungai Kalumpang and Sungai Andrassy.

This makes Tawau Hills Park the main water supplier to three districts in the Sabah's East Coast - Tawau, Semporna and Kunak that have almost one million population.

The source of life giving water of one million people comes from here. So PLEASE do not destroy our forests.

Bird Breeding Centre
Tawau Hills Park

Tawau Hills Park's Hidden Treasure
BUKIT GELAS WATERFALL
AIR TERJUN BUKIT GELAS

The Park Headquarters comprises :
1 - Park office
2 - Nature trails to waterfalls
3 - Nature trails to hot springs
4 - A Chalets and two Hostels
5 - Restaurants 6 - Staff accommodation

Hot Springs - Mother Nature's very own spa - the Hot Springs, where you can ease your tired muscles and weary bones while luxuriating in the therapeutic warmth of the 'geo-thermal' pool. More on Tawau Hot Spring ...

Macaques, creamy white leaf monkeys, giant tree squirrels, civet cats and leopard cats inhabit the park's dense primary forests. Borneo's largest wild cat - the clouded leopard, though rarely seen is not uncommon. It preys on smaller mammals such as rats and even bigger wild pigs. Other inhabitants of the harmless kind include hornbills and pheasants and the slow-moving forest tortoise. More...

Cool streams meandering through a lush tropical forest setting and waterfalls cascading excitingly into frothing rocky pools down below, make it an ideal location for picnics and refreshing dips away from the stress and strains of everyday life. More...

Accommodation in Tawau Hills Park
1 hostel and 2 jungle lodges are available for visitors. The campsite can accommodate 500 to 1000 campers. More...

Rugged volcanic terrain cover the natural landscape, in sharp contrast to the neatly cultivated plantations of oil palm, cocoa and rubber on the flat coastal plains.

• PLANNING AN ITINERARY
There are also jungle trails for those who wish to explore the forest, study its varied plant life at closer range and, maybe be fortunate enough to spot its shy inhabitants.

For something more challenging, climb the Bombalai Hill. At 530 meters above sea level, it offers a sweeping panorama of the plantations, Tawau town in the far distance and the Sulawesi Sea on the horizon.

• HOW TO GET THERE

The park headquarters at the southern boundary is merely 24 kilometers away from Tawau. Visitors have to make their own transport arrangements to the park which is accessible via a maze of some rather rough roads but that's part of the adventure!

USEFUL INFORMATION

The following information generally applies to all parks in Sabah

Park Regulations Visitors are advised to observe the Park's regulations while in the Park. Under the Sabah Parks Enactment of 1984, it is an offence to: -

• kill, capture, disturb or remove any animal, nest or eggs.

• remove, damage or set fire to any vegetation or any object of geological, historical or scientific interest.

• introduce any outside plant or animal.

• deface or write on any rocks, trees or buildings.

These regulations protect the Park for your benefit, the benefit of your children and for future generations.

Favorite weekend outing spot of the local people.... More photo

A newly completed sealed road leads to the park passing through Oil palm and cocoa estates.

Tawau Hills Park lies 24 km NW of Tawau and was gazette to protect water catchments resources for Tawau Town and the Semporna Peninsula. At least 7 major rivers in Sabah originate here. The Tawau River flows through the middle of the 27,972 ha park and forms many natural deepwater pools and waterfalls, for example, the Table Waterfall.

The Park Headquarters comprises an office and staff accommodation. There are chalet, hostels and a restaurant operated by KOKTAS, the Sabah Parks staff cooperative. Nature trails lead to waterfalls and hot springs.

The terrain is hilly with two prime elevations - Gunung Magdalena ( 1310 meters) and Gunung Lucia ( 1201 meters). Bombalai Hill (530 meters) is a landmark with the remains of a crater.

Lowland dipterocarp forest dominates. Above 1,000 meters, thick damp mossy forest takes over. Orchids, epiphytes and forest herbs grow in abundance. The mengaris tree - notorious for its beehives - is common here. Animal life is varied ranging from Long Tailed Macaques and the Red Leaf Monkey to cats, hornbills and pheasants.

Tawau Hills Park is being developed as a field lowland research centre, particularly in tropical wildlife research. Among the facilities to be constructed are the research exhibits and laboratory building, an aviary and animal enclosure, canopy walkways and observation towers. Currently there are permanent ecological transects and plots and a lowland garden featuring wild orchids and other herbs and plants. Research projects include those on primates and hornbills.

The Tawau Hills National Park was gazette in 1979 and comprises 27,972 ha. Located 24 Km from Tawau town, this area is accessible by road and the Park Head Quarters are located at the entrance of the park. The highest point of the park at 1310 m is Gunung Madalena. The park offers picnic areas, a vast camping site, and chalets, and is very popular with Tawau local residents on weekends.
More...

NOTES ON THE FLOWERING PLANTS OF TAWAU HILLS PARK, SABAH
http://www.arbec.com.my/xpdc/tawau.htm

Sabah's Hidden Treasure	http://www.thingsasian.com
Destination	http://www.sabahtravelguide.com
Gunung Mulu	The Mulu Cave in Miri

HEAD OFFICE ADDRESS:
SABAH PARKS
LOT 3, BLOCK K,
SINSURAN COMPLEX,
88800 KOTA KINABALU, SABAH.
TEL : (6088) 211881 / 212508 / 212719
FAX : (6088) 221001 / 211585
E-mail: info@sabahparks.org. my
MAILING ADDRESS :
SABAH PARKS BOARD
P.O. BOX 10626,
88806 KOTA KINABALU,
SABAH, MALAYSIA.

March 18, 2011 02:01:10 AM

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