Mt. Lucia

The Tawau Hills Park (under the direct jurisdiction of the Sabah Parks) is promoting their mountain climbing expedition to Mt. Lucia FREE OF CHARGE. Their FREE offer is inclusive of climbing permit, hostel stay at 10.55KM mark and climbing certificate.

However, guide and porters are at optional charges. Considered as tougher than Mt. Kinabalu due to its natural terrain.

At the starting portion of the trial is the opportunity to visit the world's second tallest tropical tree standing at a height of 88.32 metres.

The promotion for Mt. Lucia Expedition is in conjunction with the Tawau Hills Park Biodiversity Expo from 6-9 December, 2012.

Contact Tawau Hills Park Administration at +60 89 925 719 and +60 89 918 827 or visit www.sabahparks.org.my for more details.

Gunung Lucia, at 1,240 m above sea level, is one of the several landmarks within Tawau Hills Park. It is 13.25 km of uphill jungle trekking from Park Headquarters.

Mountain Hostel (Lucia Camp) is at 10.55 km for night rest for the next morning summit conquest.

From the same Mountain Hostel Km10.55, Gunung Madgelena is 4 km further away on a west ward trial.

These two mountains share the same trail for 90% of the hike, and visitors to both mountains use the same Mountain Lodge (Lucia Camp) for overnights.

Muddy and slippery climb right after 2 km.

The the 3 Km stretch of Kerangas Forest has 2 resting huts:
Resting Hut at 6 Km
Resting Hut at 8 Km

When you see a huge rock wall with hanging mosses blocking the trail, you know you are near (200 meters) to reach the summit of Mt. Lucia. Do not worry about climbing over the huge rock. The trail is just at the let side of the rock for you to continue.

Cost to climb Mount Lucia :

a guide is 40 ringgit per day,
a porter is 4 ringgit per kilo to the hostel or 5 ringgit per kilo to the Mt. Lucia peak.

Over 600 bird species have been recorded in Borneo. The balcony of Mountain Lodge Km10.55 is an excellent bird watching/photography platform for Borneo birds.

Bird Photo at Tawau Hills Park
Tawau Hills Park bird images provided by the Borneo Bird Club
http://www.borneobirdimages.com/site/tawau_hills_park/photo/all#navigation

Sunday, March 31, 2013 Wong Tsu Shi
The birds of Tawau Hills Park
http://borneobirds.blogspot.my/2013/03/the-birds-of-tawau-hills-park.html

The the 3 Km stretch of Kerangas Forest are 2 resting huts:
1- Resting Hut at Km6
2- Resting Hut at Km8

Last hut of the trail, next resting place is Lodge Km10.55 (Hostel)

Water from these two leafy shallow pools need boiling before drinking. But may not fit for drinking during dry seasons when water level became too low and unclear.

These are the last two huts along the mountain trail. After this is the long expected hostel at Km10.55 where hikers rest for nights and refill water from fresh mountain stream.

Welcome to the summit of Mount Lucia at 1,240 meters
Hiking direction map of Mt. Lucia

There are 3 official distance of Lucia peak from park HQ.

One is 13.25Km as indicated on the landmark on the peak.
Another is 12.30Km as indicated on route map in Kerangas Forest.
On the way is 12.40Km (10.7+1.7Km) as indicated on route sign.

Sabah Park's web page do not indicate any distances.

For hikers, just round the distance up to 13Km will do.