Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 April, 2023 10:10:35 AM

Places of Interest in Tawau District  >  BUKIT GEMOK


PUSAT SEJADI BUKIT GEMOK
Bukit Gemok Recreational Forest Park
TAWAU, SABAH, MALAYSIA
BUKIT GEMOK HILL, Sabah


The park is now reopened after closed for two years in 2020-2021 because of Covid-19. Visitors are lesser now and facilities need to be upgraded (such as shortage of pipe water supply that affected the hygiene of the public toilet).

Further Contact
Tawau District Forestry Office

+60 89 761 833
+60 89 761 835
+60 89 761 863


 

Bukit Gemok Recreational Forest Park

Bukit Gemok Recreational Forest Park
Hutan Rekreasi Bukit Gemok Tawau
 

Contact :
Tawau District Forestry Office
Telephone: +6089-7618 333 / 761 835 / 761 863


Bukit Gemok
Bukit Gemok
Road to Tawau Hills Park 4Km away
Old Palm trees over 25 years
Ground cleared from old palm trees for re-planting


Tawau solid waste disposal project

PROJEK MENAIKTARAF TAPAK PELUPUSAN SISA PEPEJAL DI BUKIT GEMOK, TAWAU, SABAH
myprocurement.treasury.gov.my/

PROJEK MENAIKTARAF TAPAK PELUPUSAN SISA PEPEJAL DI BUKIT GEMOK, TAWAU, SABAH

TAWAU; SEPTEMBER 8, 2019 (Sunday) -

The first solid waste disposal project on Sabah's East Coast at Bukit Gemuk, Tawau Town which ie 1 Km away, started  operational in December 2019.

The project would assist in the management and treatment of solid waste in the Tawau district at a capacity of over 150-tonnes a day.

The 470 units of the Merotai People's Housing Project which is 9 km from Bukit Gemok was completed in December 2018 is under MPT.


10 Km from Tawau
 

Gemok Forest Resort is situated 10 km from Tawau. This forest resort consists of a small hill named Gemok Hill. Sharing the boundary of this hill is a palm oil and cocoa plantation owned by a private company.


This forest resort was developed in the early 1990’s, basic facilities such as rest tents, wash rooms and trails have been installed. These facilities will be increased and maintained to cater for the needs of visitors. The trails cover the perimeter and peak of the hill. They also allow for activities like jogging and the appreciation of the resort’s natural beauty.


The natural forests in Gemok Hill are protected. Various commercial timbers can be found here. Wild plants such as the forest orchid can also be seen. On top of Gemok Hill, one can see the panoramic beauty of the city of Tawau. Besides offering Gemok Hill climbing as one of many sports activities, the breeze and the sacredness of this forest resort can sooth the mind of any visitor.



Insects in Bukit Gemok Park


In this  park chances are you'll see more insects than you've ever seen in your life.



Protected natural forests of Bukit Gemok Hill

The natural forests in Gemok Hill are protected. Various commercial timbers can be found here. Many wild plants such as the forest orchid can also be seen.

Sabah Forestry Department has develop forest recreation and education centres throughout the State of Sabah. Bukit Gemok is only one of the many Forest Recreational Sites developed and managed by Sabah Forestry Department

 



Natural Life around Bukit Gemok

The rare and threatened Chinese Egret has wintered recently near Bukit Gemok


There are few species of hornbills frequently fly from other nearby forests to rest in Bukit Gemok

Wildlife Research in Sabah : Many research on wildlife resources has taken place in Sabah. Both local and international researchers cooperate with Sabah Wildlife Department which is responsible for guiding wildlife research and issuing research permits.
Sabah Wildlife Department has close cooperation with many different stakeholders in research. One of the most important partners is University of Malaysia Sabah (UMS), with which the department has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding on wildlife research.

Some of the wildlife research issues which the Sabah Wildlife Department gives high priority are:
Resource inventories and monitoring, which include research on distribution and population dynamics of plants, and animals.


Some of the animal species given priority are species such as Asian Two Horned Rhino, Asian Elephant, Tembadau, Orang-utan, Proboscis Monkey, Eustarine Crocodile, False-Gharial, Clouded Leopard, Sun Bear, all sea turtles and Dugongs.


Functional aspects, which include research on ecosystem dynamics and relationships, e.g. impact on wildlife of landscape fragmentation, ecological carrying capacity of tourists in protected areas, ecological corridors.


Management oriented research, which include research and development of standards, techniques and technologies that will improve planning and management of natural resources by the department, e.g. buffer zones, participatory management, ecological impact assessment.

There is still plenty to discover and investigate in Malaysian forests.


Alsomitra macrocarpa
The winged seed of Alsomitra macrocarpa


Photo above : This seed, commonly found in Bukit Gemok, has a clever structure to help glide through the air. This seed's wing span measured 5.5 inches. Alsomitra macrocarpa is the biggest winged seed.

Alsomitra macrocarpa
Wind Dispersal Of Seeds in Malaysia
The winged seed of the tropical Asian climbing gourd Alsomitra macrocarpa is remarkable. The entire seed has an average wingspan of 5 inches and is capable of gliding through the air of the rain forest in wide circles. This seed inspired the design of early aircraft and gliders.

The wings are very thin film with wrinkles help the seed pick up lift when flying at a low speed. The seed is located toward the front from the center, which makes a perfect centroid for gliding through the air.
The climbing gourd plant Alsomitra macrocarpa is native to the Sunda Islands of the Malay Archipelago, produces one of the largest winged seeds up to 5 inches wide inside a football size club-shaped gourd. The football-sized gourds hang from a vine high in the forest canopy, each gourd packed with hundreds of winged seeds.

More about the Flora of Bukit Gemok


Marine Police Force, Tawau Base
Marine Police Force, Tawau Base
View of Bukit Gemok from Marine Police Base of Tawau.


Bukit Gemok Recreational Forest Park
View of Bukit Gemok with surrounding forest cleared for private oil palm plantations.

The forest were cleared last century for the first batch of oil palm which were being cut down for replanting as seen in above image.

Gemok Hill once had very rich wildlife. In the last century, the calls of gibbons were common, and so were sambar deer, elephants at the foothills and orangutans up on the trees. But, gradually gradually forest around the hill being cut down by greedy politiciants in the name of economic development. The hill today is surrounded by developed lands, these animals are not present in Gemok Hill any longer.
Town people can seen long-tail macaques, squirrels, short-tail macaques, wild boars and barking deer, although the numbers are quite low. There are more bird species, including a few species of hornbills, as they can fly from other nearby forests.

Masjid Kampung Indah


Bukit Gemok Recreational Forest Park


Administration
Administration


Information Center



Canopy walk in Bukit Gemok Park


Titian Silara, 231 meters long, 2nd longest in Sabah. It hangs from tree to tree on the top of Bukit Gemok providing visitors a good view of Tawau town.


Hiking Trials
Hiking Trials

George Mais Trail


Picnic Shelter
Picnic Shelter


House
House


Camping
Camping


Cafeteria
Cafeteria


Shower
Shower


Toilet
Toilet


BBQ
BBQ


Picnic Shelter
Picnic Shelter


Playground
Playground


LOCATION MAP OF TAWAU FOREST DISTRICTLOCATION MAP OF TAWAU FOREST DISTRICT
LOCATION MAP OF TAWAU FOREST DISTRICT


Bukit Gemok Recreational Forest Park


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