If you love marine life and pristine beaches, Selingan Turtle Island should be on your travel list. In this article, we will explore what makes this island a must-visit destination. From witnessing the incredible turtle conservation efforts to enjoying crystal-clear waters and soft sandy shores, Selingan offers a unique blend of nature and adventure.
Selingan Turtle Island is a safe haven for endangered green and hawksbill turtles, situated 40km north of Sandakan in the Sulu Sea. The island is part of the Turtle Island Park, a marine park that was gazetted in 1977 to protect the natural habitat of sea turtles.
Among the three islands that make up the park, Selingan Island is the second largest, spanning an area of 8 hectares. It houses the park’s headquarters, a turtle hatchery, tourist accommodation, and an interesting visitor center.
The first turtle hatchery on the island is one of South East Asia’s oldest turtle hatcheries, ensuring the survival of these remarkable creatures. Mother turtles return to Selingan Turtle Island to laying eggs, and this breeding ground has seen thousands of new turtles hatch over the years.
The island limits visitors to only 38 per night to minimize human impact on the nesting process. Tourists can witness turtles lay eggs every night, offering a unique wildlife experience.
The best time to visit Sandakan Selingan Turtle Island is from July to October, when turtle landings are at their peak. Since nesting turtles emerge after dusk, an overnight stay is highly recommended.
Visitors can watch park rangers collect freshly laid eggs, tag female turtles, and release baby turtles into the ocean. The island operates daily, with only one tour per day, making advance accommodation reserved essential.
Most visitors book private tours or group packages that typically last two days, one night, or three days, two nights. These packages include boat transfer, land transportation, tourist accommodation, and meals.
The journey to Selingan Turtle Island starts at the Sabah Park Jetty, with a 1-hour speedboat ride through the clear turquoise-coloured sea.
Image source: sabahparks.org.my
Green and hawksbill turtles visit Selingan Island yearly to lay their eggs. Female turtles crawl up the beach to search for a nesting site, a process that takes 1-2 hours. A typical egg-laying process results in 40-200 freshly laid eggs, which are then carefully collected by park rangers.
These eggs are transplanted to the turtle hatchery, where they are protected from natural predators and erosion by plastic mesh enclosures.
Higher sand temperatures result in a higher number of female hatchlings, which is crucial for maintaining turtle populations.
Hatchlings take approximately 50-60 days to emerge before being released into the ocean under controlled conditions.
A visit to Selingan Turtle Island offers more than just turtle encounters. Tourists can participate in the turtle egg-laying and hatchling release programme, a key conservation initiative.
For adventure seekers, snorkeling and scuba diving provide opportunities to explore the coral reefs teeming with marine life.
Visitors can take a snorkeling tour around the island or go on day excursions to the nearby Gulisan Islands and Bakungan Kecil Islands, which are also important nesting beaches for sea turtles.
Pulau Bakkungan Kechil is home to bubbling mud volcanoes, one of the few found in Sabah, making it a unique geological attraction.
Nature lovers may also spot the island flying fox, a species of fruit bat often seen resting in the island’s fruit trees during the day.
Image Source: selinganturtleisland.com
The Selingan Turtle Island Chalet provides basic but clean accommodation for visitors staying overnight. The chalets offer tourist accommodation with shared facilities, comfortable beds, and a cafeteria serving local cuisine. Since foreign tourists often visit the island, an English-speaking guide is included in most tours.
Aside from accommodations, the visitor and interpretative center offers educational displays about turtle conservation efforts. The island also features a feeding platform, where visitors can observe local wildlife up close.
Basic amenities like electricity and fresh water are available, but due to the island’s focus on sustainability, facilities remain minimal to reduce environmental impact.
Additionally, the Selingan Turtle Island houses provide shelter for park staff and researchers who work tirelessly to protect the turtles and their habitat.
Turtle Island Park enforces strict conservation policies to protect nesting turtles and their natural habitat. Tourists must adhere to park regulations, such as refraining from using flash photography and minimizing noise disturbances.
The park supports local communities, employs park rangers, and contributes to Malaysian tourism tax to fund conservation programs. By visiting, tourists indirectly help sustain the island’s ecosystem and guarantee wildlife sightings for future generations.
As one of Malaysia’s most significant conservation areas, Turtle Islands Park is actively involved in sea turtle protection initiatives. The park collaborates with marine biologists and conservationists to monitor turtle populations and conduct research on higher sand temperatures and their effects on turtle hatchlings.
Tourists can directly contribute to these efforts by participating in guided conservation programs, where they learn about the egg-laying process, assist in hatchling releases, and understand the challenges faced by green turtles and hawksbill turtles.
Additionally, partnerships with organizations such as the Rainforest Discovery Center and Kabili Sepilok Forest Reserve further enhance the conservation work in the region.
As a tour agency based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, we offer exciting private tour packages to Selingan Turtle Island. Our exclusive packages include:
Contact us for more details or to book your tour today. click here to see our package and itinerary.
For booking inquiries, contact us today and experience the wonders of Selingan Turtle Island. Our travel agency provides a variety of travel packages, including the Mount Kinabalu package, the Danum Valley package, and many others.
A trip to Selingan Turtle Island is an unforgettable experience for nature lovers and conservation enthusiasts. From witnessing mother turtles nesting to exploring the island’s coral reefs and wildlife sightings, the journey offers a perfect blend of adventure and education.
As one of South East Asia’s most significant turtle hatcheries, the island plays a vital role in the survival of green and hawksbill turtles. By visiting, you contribute to marine conservation efforts while experiencing the beauty of Sabah’s clear turquoise coloured sea and natural habitat. Don’t miss out, book your trip today.
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Remarkable Borneo Travel & Tours is a Malaysian tour operator based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. We offer a wide range of affordable and appealing Sabah tour packages, such as Mount Kinabalu climb, Borneo tours, Sabah diving and island packages and Sandakan tours. Our mission is to provide memorable travel experiences that allow our customers to discover the wonders of Borneo.
