Accommodation in Tawau Hills Park

Thursday, March 20, 2025 09:37:33 PM

Tawau Hills Park > Accommodation in Tawau Hills Park

Accommodation in Tawau Hills Park

Nestled within Sabah’s lush rainforests, Tawau Hills Park offers a range of accommodation options for travelers seeking to immerse themselves in nature. Whether you’re a budget backpacker or a family looking for comfort, the park caters to diverse needs with its rustic yet charming facilities.

Tawau Hills Park blends affordability with untamed beauty, making it a must-visit for nature enthusiasts. Plan ahead, pack light, and embrace the adventure!

Accommodation Options:

1. Camping Ground
- Details: Bring your own tent and camp under the stars. The site accommodates 50–100 campers, ideal for adventurers.

2. Mountain Lodge
- Location: Km10.55 trail to Mount Lucia.
- Features: Equipped with kitchens, bathrooms, and piped drinkable mountain stream water.

3. Bombalai Jungle Lodge
- Location: Near the park entrance.
- Details: Offers 9 rooms with four single beds each. Perfect for hikers seeking proximity to trails.

4. Magdelena Chalet
- Features: A private, air-conditioned cabin for families, surrounded by rainforest.

Booking & Reservations
Reservations can be made via:
- Koperasi KOKTAS Sdn Bhd: Tel/Fax: +60 89-768719.
- Local tour operators or international platforms.

1) Mountain Lodge at Km10.55 trail to Mount Lucia

The hostel has piped drinkable stream water available for drinking and washing. The stream water comes from a nearby mountain stream behind the lodge. It has a sweet taste and the local staff drink the water directly without boiling.

2) Bombalai Jungle Lodge at Park HQ

Bombalai Jungle Lodge - Though named as BOMBALAI but the hostel is not on Bombalai Hill but conveniently located at walking distance from the Park entrance.
Overnight visitors can put up at Bombalai Jungle Lodge. The LODGE has 9 rooms each with four single beds.

3) Magdelena Chalet - at Park HQ

For family, the Magdalena Chalet is a unique and private cabin perfectly suited for family vacations to escape the everyday world with a world beautiful scenic rain forest in Tawau Hills Park.

This is an air-conditioned chalet but most visitors do not need one with air conditioning as it's very cooling in Tawau Hills Park at night.
Though named as MEGELENA, but this chalet is not located highly on Mount Megelena (15Km away) but conveniently at the park recreation compound.

Dining

The Canteen provides snacks, cold drinks, and simple meals (noodles, rice). Note: It’s a small facility, not a full-service restaurant.

Transportation

- From Tawau Town: 24 km (30-minute drive). No public buses; use taxis or Grab.
- From Tawau Airport: 45 km (1-hour drive). No public buses; use taxis or Grab.

Tips

- Pre-arrange return transport, as rideshare availability is limited.
- Campers: Prepare leech repellent and sturdy gear for jungle trails.

Fauna and Flora Around Your Rooms

Tawau Hills Park offers an immersive natural retreat where visitors can wake up to the morning calls of exotic birds and wind down to the serenade of nocturnal creatures. Whether enjoying a tranquil forest walk or simply listening to the rainforest’s natural orchestra, guests are sure to leave with unforgettable memories of this tropical paradise, painted in shades of green, gold, red, and violet.

Within a one-kilometer radius, guests can encounter a diverse array of flora and fauna that make this park a haven for nature enthusiasts.

Fauna
The park is home to fascinating wildlife, including Long-Tailed Macaques, Leopard Cats, Civet Cats etc, which may be spotted near the forest edges. Birdwatchers can admire Hornbills, Pheasants, and Kingfishers, while the nearby ponds attract frogs and forest tortoises. A variety of insects, including Long-Horned Beetles and colorful dragonflies, thrive in the area, adding to the vibrant ecosystem.

As dawn breaks, the rainforest awakens with a symphony of sounds—the rhythmic calls of hornbills echoing through the treetops, the distant chatter of macaques, and the melodic whistles of kingfishers near the rivers. In the evening, the jungle transforms once again as cicadas fill the air with their buzzing chorus, frogs begin their deep, resonant croaks, and the occasional rustle of leaves signals the movement of nocturnal creatures like the Leopard Cat or Civet Cat.

Flora
The surrounding forests feature towering Dipterocarp trees, with the park being home to some of the tallest tropical trees in the world. The forest is alive with lush green foliage, from the deep emerald leaves of towering trees to the soft moss carpets covering the ground. Among the striking plant life, visitors can find the Mengaris tree, known for its beehives, and the stunning Tiger Orchid (Grammatophyllum speciosum), the world's tallest orchid, with bright yellow petals splashed with deep maroon spots.

The park’s orchids and wildflowers add bursts of color, from the vivid purple and pink hues of the Elephant-Ear Orchid to the delicate white and red blossoms hidden among the undergrowth. Wild forest berries and strawberries offer bright red and deep blue tones, a visual treat as well as a food source for local wildlife. Along the trails, enormous fern fronds in rich green shades and trees with golden-brown winged seeds create a stunning contrast against the darker rainforest backdrop.