Pulau Sapi Island in Sabah
Pulau Sapi Island in Sabah, one of the five islands that make up the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park and is just a 15 minute boat ride from the city of Kota Kinabalu.
This is one of the most beautiful islands around here and is smaller than Pulau Manukan but the crowd here is much less compared to the neighbouring islands. If you are planning on visiting any of these islands while in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, I would easily recommend Pulau Sapi anytime.
The waters here are clear, shallow and easy to manage for beginners. It is best that you ask your tour operator for the dive contacts to learn or dive here.
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Photographers on Sapi Island |
Apart from the general activities at Pulau Sapi, you can always pretend to be a super model as in the picture above. All you need is a towel, camera and guts the size of the island. Well, why not when the water and sand is beautiful.
These lizards are known as Biawaks or Monitor Lizards that grow up to about six feet in length. If you are lucky, your guide will inform you about this and show it to you.
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Huge monitor lizard on the beach |
On occasion, these monitor lizards may venture close to the tables because of the food. I would advise that you do not try to pat them to let your kids near them. Though they look harmless and slow, they can be a little dangerous in defending themselves.
Usually the island staff would chase them back to the greens when they venture too far out.The main reason for them to appear is that the staff cook the barbecues by the edge of the forest attracting this reptiles.
Again, take pictures but don’t try to pose with them. Their saliva is filled with bacteria while their claws can rip a nasty gash on you. Best option is to keep a 5 feet distance from these prehistoric looking reptiles. Another thing to look out for are the local monkeys or macaques which make the island their home.
These monkeys have a tendency to cart away belongings of guests here. so if you are sitting closer to the jungle, I would highly advise to keep an eye on your belongings.
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Sapi Island Beach |
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Divers and swimmers at Sapi Island in Sabah |
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