Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Gazetted in 1974, Offers Tropical Islands and Coral Reefs Near Kota Kinabalu

KOTA KINABALU, GAYA BAY, SABAH, 30 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

Coral reefs, forest-fringed shores and island trails await just off Kota Kinabalu.

Its main objective is to protect their fauna, flora, and marine eco-systems. Geologically, the islands are part of the Crocker Range but became isolated from the massif when sea levels rose after the last ice age. The names of the islands are symbolic of their history and early discoverers.

Pulau Gaya (‘big’), Manukan (‘fish’), Mamutik (‘for shell collection’), Sapi (the sound of a mowing buffalo), and Sulug (commemorating the ancestry of the Sulu peoples of Sabah). Initially, the Park covered two islands - Gaya and Sapi. In 1979, the Park’s boundaries expanded to include three other islands : Manukan, Sulug, and Mamutik.

The administrative centre of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park is in the Manukan island, however each of the five islands had its own administrative offices. Open a card for a closer look, without leaving the page. Confirm access, permits and applicable charges with the park before travelling. Fees may vary by activity and visitor category.

The “Kuraman Scuba Diving Fee” listing needs confirmation with the park before it is used to plan a Tunku Abdul Rahman diving visit. Pulau Manukan is the Park's second largest island and the most developed. Shaped like a crescent, it is one and a half kilometres long and a third of a kilometre wide in the middle.

The best beach is on the eastern tip of the island and has good snorkelling to the south and east. The Sabah Parks Headquarters are located on Pulau Manukan. Nature trails are available for those who want to explore the island. The smallest island, Mamutik is also nearest to the mainland. Easy access makes the roughly triangular island very popular. Rocks line one side while sandy beaches fringe the others.

Just 200 metres wide and half a kilometre long, Sapi is one of the more popular islands with 5 kilometres of nature trails. A sand bank links it to Gaya. At low tide, it's possible to wade between the two islands. At 15 square kilometres, Pulau Gaya is the largest of the five islands. On its eastern corner is a village which lies outside the park.

From a height of 300 metres in the centre, the land slopes down to secluded bays and sandy beaches. Gaya's popular Police Beach fringes the large semi circular Bulijong Bay in the north. Coral reefs surround the forested island and is ideal for snorkelling and diving. There are 20 km of marked trails including a plank-walk across a mangrove swamp. Sulug is the furthest from the mainland.

It's a rocky island less than 200 metres across. A long sand spit facing east drops sharply near an extensive coral reef. Remoteness makes Sulug a favoured swimming spot. Explore the park boundary and locations. This map is not a navigation aid for hiking or boating. Discover reef fish, corals and the smaller creatures that bring the underwater landscape to life.

Sabah’s coral reefs are home to some of the largest, most varied communities of marine life on earth. Apart from their biological significance, these reefs fringe a number of exotic islands which have become important centres for marine research and conservation. These include the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Pulau Tiga, the Turtle Islands, the Tun Sakaran Marine Park and Pulau Sipadan Park, under the jurisdiction of Sabah Parks.

The excellent diversity of life on Sabahan reefs extends to echinoderms. There are five major divisions - sea stars, brittle stars, featherstars, sea urchins and sea cucumbers. All echinoderms display the pentagonal theme although this may not beobvious on the outer surface. There are seven phyla of marine worms comprising over 20,000 different species. They live in a wide range of habitats.

Some burrow into living or dead corals, some hide beneath crevices, while others dwell more permanently on other reef inverterbrates such as sea cucumbers and sea stars. Sponges have existed since Precambrian times, some 600 -700 milion years ago. They are efficient filter feeders feeding on the smallest microscopic organisms. Bacteria is their major source of nutrition. They have unusual biochemical properties and are frequently toxic to other organisms.

They feature in medical research, notably in treatment of cancer and other diseases. Soft corals lack a hard limestone skeleton. Like many reef inhabitants, they secrete chemicals that prevent or inhibit encrusting growths. Cancer research scientists are intrigued by this. There is amazing diversity of soft coral. Many of the soft fleshy forms belong to the family Alycyoniidae. Another major group, gorgonians or "sea fans " comprise several families and contain the largest growth forms.

Soft corals seldom have encrusting growths as they secrete chemicals to prevent or inhibit these. Sabah's marine parks are home to a large and diverseassemblage of reef dwelling molluscs. A wide variety of shells, colourful sea slugs and cephalapods can be seen. Hard corals build spectacular reefs. Individual coral polyps secrete calcium carbonate that eventually becomes the matrix of the reef.

Living coral forms only a thin veneer, flourishing on layers of previous generations, over the skeletal remains of ancestors. Hard corals form the nucleus of life on the reef - providing habitats, food, protection, and shelter. Over 200 coral species are found in the waters of Sabah Parks. The vast majority are colonial forms although there are solitary species like mushroom coral (Fungiidae).

Hard corals thrive in clear, warm, shallow seas, requiring bright sunlight for optimal growth. Fishes are the most apparent of the reef's inhabitants. The array of fishes encountered in Sabah's reefs is vast and overwhelming. Visitors can expect an amazing cavalcade of colour, shape, and size.

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