Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tawau Hills Park
Hemmed in by agriculture and human habitation, this small reserve has forested hills
rising dramatically from the surrounding plain. The
park
(admission RM10)
is intended to
protect the water catchment for settlements in the area, but not before most of the access-
ible rainforest had been logged. Much of the remaining forest clings to steep-sided ridges
that rise to 1310m Gunung Magdalena.
If getting into the Maliau Basin or Danum Valley feels like too much of an effort, con-
sider Tawau Hills a user-friendly alternative. The forest here may not be as primevally
awesome, but it's still impressively thick jungle, and the trails are quite easy on your feet.
On a clear day the Tawau Hills Park's peaks make a fine sight.
The first trail leads along the Sungai Tawau (chattering with birds like a Disney movie
when we attempted it) for 2.5km to
Bukit Gelas Falls
that, when not swarmed with
school groups and tourists, is perfectly picturesque. Another track leads 3.2km to a group
of 11
hot springs
that are frankly as impressive as anything you'll see in Poring; locals
believe the
ubat kulit
(skin medication) water has medicinal properties. If the above
doesn't appeal, you can always take a quick 30-minute walk to
Bombalai Hill
(530m) to
the south - the views from here are also quite rewarding.
There's accommodation at
Tawau Hills Park
(Taman Bukit Tawau; 089-918827/
768719, 019-800 9607; camping/dm/chalet RM5/20/200)
. Rates are lower on weekdays.
Both dorms and chalets are utilitarian, and there's not much reason to stay here unless you
can't stomach a night somewhere else. If you want to camp, you'll need to bring all of
your own equipment.
Tawau Hills is 28km northwest of Tawau. A taxi will cost about RM30 to RM40.
Maliau Basin Conservation Area
In the minds of most travellers, and certainly the entire marketing division of Malaysia's
tourism board, Sabah is associated with wild adventure. But while there are many wild
stretches of Sabah, this state has also been heavily impacted by logging, oil palm and, on a
smaller scale, suburban sprawl.
This pocket of truly untouched, Eden-as-God-made-it wilderness remains. Hemmed in
by mountains, separated by distance and altitude and expanse, the Maliau Basin Conser-
