| Sabah could offer its rich flora and
fauna as well as adventure tourism packages like water rafting, jungle
tracking as well as observing wildlife in Kinabatangan. Spend an idyllic holiday in paradise face to face with an orang utan or nesting sea turtle, explore virgin rainforests, relax in a chalet perched over a coral reef, experience some of the world's top dive sites, and see caves where edible birds' nests have been gathered since antiquity, all within easy distance of a capital city? More about edible birds' nests. All these treasures, and more, are found along Sabah's East Coast. Less than an hour's flight from Sabah's capital, Kota Kinabalu, is the town of Sandakan and Tawau Sandakan is the gateway to the famous Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary, Turtle Islands, and Kinabatangan wetlands. One of the richest and most accessible wildlife regions in all of Southeast Asia, the Kinabatangan is home to a plethora of birds and animals like the unique proboscis monkey, found only in Borneo. Tawau is a town of eco-treasure. The complex beauty of the lowland rainforest
can be discovered from the comfort of a lodge set in the heart of the Danum
Valley Conservation Area, reached via the town of Lahad Datu. Set amidst rich
agricultural lands, is Tawau, the Cocoa Capital of Asia. To the north of Tawau
is the coastal town of Sempoma, where people once known as Sea Gypsies come to
town and the call of the sea draws divers from all the world. |
| For the true diving enthusiast, the island of Sipadan, located off the east coast of Sabah, needs no introduction. Praised by the internationally renowned diver and filmmaker Jacques Cousteau as one of the best diving spots in the world, Sipadan is the only oceanic island (meaning not connected to the continental shelf) in Malaysia rising 2,000 ft (600 m) on a limestone pinnacle that "mushrooms" out near the surface. The abundant and stunning marine life will thrill and amaze you no end. |
| The rainforests in Tawau Hills Park are some of the
oldest in the world. Exotic flora and fauna abound. Wild orchids of every
imaginable hue. Pitcher plants that gulp down insects and flies. And of
course, there's the rafflesia, the largest flower in the world. Jungle
trekking here is an opportunity of a lifetime to marvel at rare flora and
fauna. Take a river boat ride and catch the unique Proboscis monkey with its long pendulous red nose calling out to its mates. But the star of the rainforest here is undoubtedly the orang utan, also known as the "wild man of Borneo". You will find them swinging through the forest in Sepilok, the world's largest orang utan sanctuary. Sepilok is only 30 minutes drive from the east coast town of Sandakan a 4 hours drive from Tawau. In this sanctuary, orang utans that have been abandoned by their mothers, or were formerly in captivity, are rehabilitated until fit enough to be returned to the wild. Watching these charming and entertaining mammals during feeding time is a sheer delight. |
| What kind of people live in the land of eco-treasures?
All kinds, colours and creeds. Sabah has a population of about 2
million comprises over 30 different races speaking over 80 local dialects.
The beautiful thing is all these diverse ethnic groups live together
harmoniously while at the same time preserving their own culture,
traditions, festivals and customs, to make Sabah a multiculturally exotic
experience unlike any other. The largest ethnic group, the Kadazans/Dusuns, make up about a third of the population. These are the prosperous agricultural rice producers of Sabah, although in recent times, many have found success in modem professions. They are well known for their unique customs that feature female priestesses called "bobohizan" presiding over still practised ancient rituals. The Bajaus are skilled fishermen as well as good rice cultivators. They are also experts in rearing ponies and water buffaloes. Dubbed "The Cowboys of the East", they are renowned for their horsemanship. Catch them every Sunday and on festive occasions at the picturesque Kota Belud "TanuT when they deck up in their resplendent traditional costumes riding brightly decorated ponies. |
| Deep in our hearts, we all dream of a tropical haven.
Pure, green, pristine. At the same time, unspoilt and untouched by the
problems of modem life still. Welcome to Tawau, the land of eco-treasures. where you dive into some of the world's best underwater wonderlands. Where you also meet some of the friendliest, warmest people in the world. And join in their colourful festivals and traditions that will take you back centuries. If you yearn for the exhilarating sense of adventure, Tawau is the perfect place for jungle trekking, cave exploration, or deep sea diving. Your taste for exotic culture will be more than sated by the numerous ethnic customs and celebrations which include living in longhouses and the potent rice wine called "lihiing" or "hiing". You can of course just laze all day on a secluded beach or tee off in a championship golf course in any of the many world-renowned holiday resorts. Sabah sits at the tip of largest island. Its coastline of 1,440 km (900 miles), washed by the South China Sea on the West and the Sulu Sea and Celebes Sea on the East, tha encloses an inland area of 74,000 sq. km. (29,400 sq. miles). |
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Tawau Location |
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History and Introduction Tawau was founded in the 1893 due to its strategic location as a harbour town. The town was famous for being the port that exported tobacco, cocoa and palm oil. As the timber industry boomed, Tawau became one of the main ports that exported timber to the international destinations. Infrastructure and Facilities Tawau harbour serves the region as a major water transportation outlet for exporting commodities such as palm oil, cocoa and timber to the international markets. Tawau Airport only handles domestic flights. Places of Interest Baturong, Segarong and Tapadong are caves around Tawau where birds' nests are being harvested as chinese medicinal delicacies. Baturong, Madai and Tapadong are historical sites where ancient civilisation remnants were discovered. Vital Population Statistics (1991 census)
Source: Yearbook of Statistics Sabah, 1999 |
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