Today, another boat trip was on the agenda. The plan was an island-hopping tour in Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. This park consists of four small islands located 15 minutes off the coast of Kota Kinabalu. The trip starts at Jesselton Point (the tourist boat harbor of Kota Kinabalu), goes past the islands of Manukan and Mamutik, and finally returns to the starting point.
Since we wanted to make the most of the day, we took the first boat at 9:00 AM. Normally, boat service starts at 8:00 AM, but it seems this has been shifted for the off-season. The transfer to the second island was scheduled for around noon, and the return trip was set for 4:00 PM (another hour earlier than advertised). The entire trip cost 110 MYR (approximately €35) for two people, including port and island fees, as well as a diving mask and snorkel. We set off in a small speedboat to the first island. Our group consisted of six people – the two of us, a Malaysian family, and our friendly boat driver. The crossing was quite fast, but since it only lasted 15 minutes, it was manageable even for those prone to motion sickness.
Our destination fulfilled the cliché of idyllic tropical islands in a fascinating way. The island vegetation in Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park consists of a dense primeval forest where various tree and fern species vie for dominance, interwoven with vines and palms of all sizes.
The local wildlife in Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park consists of various birds, which loudly tried to outdo each other by imitating a fire alarm, a monitor lizard species about 2 meters long that can be lured with food, and a type of monkey. Unfortunately, we didn't see the latter, but their cries could be heard from afar.
A white sandy beach stretches towards the sea, inviting visitors to swim and snorkel. A variety of colorful fish can be observed here. The islanders also offer diving equipment and courses.
The islands around the boat docks are well-developed for tourism. Here you can find food, beach equipment, and the usual water sports (banana boat rides, parasailing, fly fishing, etc.). The food consists mainly of fish dishes. However, we only treated ourselves to a refreshing drink in the form of a fresh coconut. Away from the developed area, you can explore the island on small jungle trails. These lead to the unspoiled part of the island, with small, secluded coves. Sturdy footwear is recommended for this.
On the way back, our boat passed a local fishing village. It consists entirely of stilt houses connected by walkways. The settlement, comprising over 300 buildings, also has public buildings such as a market and a mosque.
Having arrived back at the harbor, we were able to admire a picturesque sunset over the island of Mamutik.
