must be careful of sea urchins that exist in large numbers beside the corals and rocks. Sapi Island Sapi Island, literally known as "Cow Island" in Malay is just off the south-western tip of Gaya Island. The island features one of the nicest beaches in the park and most popular with tourists for snorkelling and scuba diving. Between 10 am and 4 pm the island gets quite busy with foreign tourists but after the last ferry leaves it becomes a tranquil island with only those staying overnight. It is developed with tourist facilities that includes a jetty, picnic shelters, barbecue pits, tables, changing rooms and toilets. The forest is inhabited by macaques. Camping and campfires are allowed with the permission from the park warden. Sulug Island Sulug is the farthest island of them all. Considered relatively untouched, remote and undeveloped, the island is more popular with foreign tourists who prefer a quiet and tranquil atmosphere. Good reef patches lie along the southern end of the island. During formation, a long sand spit jutting out into the ocean formed a round hill. History In 1882, the British North Borneo Company set up a trading settlement on Gaya Island called Api-Api. The settlement was later moved to the mainland and been named Jesselton after Sir Charles Jessel. In 1968, Jesselton was renamed Kota Kinabalu. In 1974, the major part of Gaya and Sapi islands was gazetted as Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, covering an area of . In 1979, the park was increased to with the inclusion of the three nearby islands of Manukan, Mamutik and Sulug. See also List of national parks of Malaysia External links Tunku Abdul Rahman Park Sabah Parks TARP Watch Marine Ecology Research Centre National parks of Sabah Protected areas established in 1974 Marine parks of Malaysia 1974 establishments in Malaysia