Beachcombing Tunku Abdul Rahman

checking out a school of fish while waiting for boat #26 to take us to the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park

When in Kota Kinabalu, be sure not to miss out on visiting the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. Made up of 5 islands, the park is spread out a little under 5,000 hectares, where 2/3 of the area is water. The islands are around 3-8 km from Kota Kinabalu and may be reached through the boats/ferry that are anchored at the terminal in downtown KK's Jesselton Point. 

the Mamutik and Sapi tour  lasted 6 hours and cost MYR 54 for 2 adults and a child

Visiting the place is so uncomplicated. Drop by the ticketing area at Jesselton's Ferry Terminal. There are several windows of various tour groups that offer almost the same tour rates. If you intend to visit all 5 islands, show up before 8 am to get the maximum amount of time. The boats don't necessarily have to be filled up to leave, so waiting shouldn't be an issue. 

no nonsense disclaimers and reminders, it takes about 20 minutes to reach your destination. expect to be wet and expect the boat ride to not always be smooth sailing

Rates vary on the amount of islands that you would want to visit. And upon arrival at anyone of the islands, expect to pay environmental fees/person. As a guide, here's a list of the islands and a brief description of each:

fast boat + rough waters=wearing a life vest at all times we even brought one for MAX just in case they didn't have one his size..which we were right to assume

Gaya Island - the largest island in the park at 15 sq. km, it's the closest island to KK. It's been a forest reserve since 1923. It also houses a 5 star resort known as the Gayana Eco Resort as well as the Bunga Raya Island Resort. The coral reefs in the area are said to be in excellent condition.

our first look at the islands

thinking of staying overnight? they've got really pretty chalets for rent at Manukan

Conservation and other park fees

Manukan Island - Second largest island in the park (and 1 of the 2 islands we visited), it's got a great coastline, perfect for beachcombers and also makes a great diving site a bit off shore. 

the various species found at the island

The island is the most developed among the 5. It houses chalets (for those who would want to check in at the island instead of downtown KK), a clubhouse, decent public bathrooms, restaurants, convenience/souvenir shops and a diving center. 

welcome to the fab island of Manukan

The island also houses recreational facilities (swimming pool, football field, volleyball court, and hiking trails). 

food and beverage choices and prices at one of the food joints at Manukan

a lot of these food items were in accordance to Halal and most were spicy. Luckily, fried chicken is readily available wherever we go

the dining area was just a minute away from the water :)

Food selections were quite plentiful in the island, and basic toiletries and even towels, in case you left yours, are readily available. You could rent goggles, a snorkeling set and straw mats too. Expect to pay a refundable deposit on top of the rental rates in nearly everything. FYI: Keep the receipt to get your money back. 

the dive center

As for souvenirs, I did make a mistake of buying some of them here though. They are thrice the price compared to the ones at the night market. 

they were the size of saucers! the water  at this area was up to my waist.

Manukan's shore. Expect rocks, corals and shells after the white sand. crocs sandals were appreciated.

The island house a diverse amount of fishes, that are easily seen near the shore. A lot of them swam with us, which was just sooo cool!

water was super calm near the shore. Here's MAX enjoying the water without worries while I snorkel

waiting for our boat to pick us up and bring us to Sapi

Mamutik Island - smallest island of the group, it nonetheless, offers great beaches and coral reefs. It's got a 3 bedroom rest house for rent and has the basic facilities and a jetty.

so happy at Sapi!

Sapi Island - "Cow Island" has one of the nicest beaches among the 5. 

you could the conservation fees ahead of time for all your island tours through any one of the tourism booths you'd see upon arriving at any one of the islands

On top of that, it's got a lush forest inhabited by a species of monkeys known as macaques (soooo do not advise petting them). While at Sapi, I also saw a huge monitor lizard (near the changing rooms and toilet area) that was about 4-5 feet long (tail and all). 

double check if it's jellyfish season. saw these signs at Sapi

Lizards and monkeys aside, the water was pretty calm, clear and perfect for snorkeling. A variety of fish can be seen underwater, as near as 4 feet from the shore. 

flying high at Sapi

The water was so clear that one had only to look down without a mask, to see the fishes.

our new Sapi friends

Sulug Island - the farthest and most underdeveloped, it's the perfect place for those seeking solitude.

tired but totally stoked on the beauty of Tunku Abdul Rahman

There were a lot of people, both local and foreign, in the islands that we visited. Despite that, we never felt that we were in each other's faces as there was room enough for everyone. Oh, and do bring cash. There are no ATMs in Manukan. Bathrooms were combined male/female facilities, though stalls do have doors.

the bathroom

a last look at Sapi

We seriously enjoyed our Tunku Abdul Rahman Park visit. Would love to see the other islands in the future. The Malaysian Government has done a good job preserving the area, despite the occasional litter from the park's visitor's.

From TMW, may all your wanderings be better than ours!