Tun Sakaran Marine Park and The Sea Gypsies of Borneo

Tun Sakaran Marine Park 
and
The Sea Gypsies of Borneo

Semporna Island in the east coast of Sabah, Borneo is world famous as a diving destination, especially the Islands off- Semporna - Mabul, Kapalai, Mataking, Pandanan, Sipadan and more... Also, the little islets around Tun Sakaran Marine Park, is now introduced as a photography hotspot for its dramatic natural landscape, the spectacular marine ecosystem, turquoise water of its seas, and the  unique Bajau sea gypsies.

There are small islands of great interest around Semporna with Bohey Dulang being the largest with an area 35,000 ha, it’s an active area of spawning, breeding and growth of marine life, Tun Sakaran Marine Park is a home for a very high biological diversity. 255 species of coral have been recorded indicating the high value of coral biodiversity in this area. 

Sabah Park Jetty at Bohey Dulang island

A great photo opportunity awaits you at the Bohey Dulang hill (requires 45 minutes trekking), it gives a perfect view of the rest of the nearby islands and especially the crater (the remains of volcanic eruption two and a half million years ago) right below it that forms a perfect circle of deep blue-sea out-skirted by coral reefs.

View from the Bohey Dulang hill

The island of Sibuan and Maiga are famous for its beautifully shaped  white sandy beaches   outlined with tall coconut trees.

Sunrise and sunsets amazes you!

The Bajau sea-gypsies

stilt village of bodgaya near bohey dulang island

Bajau sea gypsies are indigenous ethnic group, boat–dwelling, nomadic, oppressed and discriminated, uneducated, worshiping animistic spirits and ancestors, migrating and voyaging throught the seas of Austronesia (Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, etc.) scattered over a vast maritime zone 3.25 million square kilometres in extent, stretching from eastern Palawan, Samar, and coastal Mindanao in the north, through the Sulu Archipelago of the Philippines, to the northern and eastern coasts of Borneo, southward through the Straits of Makassar to Sulawesi, and from there over widely dispersed areas to eastern Indonesia.

They are also the shy, gentle, and depth free divers who can dive to depts over 20 metres and stay there for several minutes on a single breath even at a very young age, and having the simplest life on earth taking happiness from their canoe and vast blue sea. On the other hand, there are these land -oriented sub-group of Bajaus though they prefer to be named as Sama people and evolved into the term Sama-Bajau since they are somehow culturally related.

There is small minority group of Sama-Bajau and Tausug settlers who have been here since 1972, making living out of see weeds farming.

Catch of the day!

They have somehow adapted themselves to settle in stilt houses (which is of Sama style) of no more than 30 families on the coastline of Bodgaya Island just next to Bohey Dulang. Classic photography is the way to capture their unique lifestyle and faces that bear so many expressions. They are shy, proven to have been spending time in one place based from their incapability to understand and speak Bahasa Melayu (they only speak their language) but they surely love to know if strangers come to visit and that’s the time to click your cameras for they will be out to look at you.

home boat with an average of 5 to 8 family members

Dug-out canoes are the common 'transport' available

a family living on a boat and its dried sea cucumber harvested from the seas

excitement of visitors to the island

Simple life with a happy face

white sandy beach and its little rolling waves 

'Angambit' (group fish hunting),  a traditional fish hunting in group of more than 10 people. The outing can last for few days.

Gatherers of the sea returning home...

Fluctuating tides exposes some of the riches of the reeef at Omadal island

A view of the sky from the stilt house of the sea gypsies

Trail of stars of the Maiga island

Fantastic sunset in the Maiga island

Cede and friends

_____________________________________________

Learn the magnificent rich marine ecosystems and unique culture of the oceanic people.

For excursions, contact inquiry@northborneosafari.com

and visit www.northborneosafari.com