Bukit Tengkorak offers 130m climb, panoramic views and relics from Semporna’s archaeological past
Just 8km from Semporna, a coastal town on Sabah’s south-east coast, archaeology sits alongside everyday life.
This is Bukit Tengkorak, where traces of a Neolithic civilisation, complete with pottery-making and maritime seafaring, were uncovered.
Best of all, visitors who make the 130m climb are rewarded with panoramic views from the grassy hilltop, which forms part of the rim of an ancient volcano.
Getting there is pretty easy, with a short drive from the centre of town.
At the base of the hill sits the Bukit Tengkorak Archaeological Heritage Gallery (open 9am to 5pm), with displays relating the discovery of bones by locals, up to systematic research undertaken from the 1970s.
Though small, the gallery traces Bukit Tengkorak’s historical importance, from a thriving Neolithic pottery-making centre to a key stop along a major maritime trade route 3,000 years ago.
It also whets the appetite for the climb to the summit, now made easier by wooden stairways and rest stops along the trail.
The 500m trek, with steady effort, takes about 30 minutes, rewarding visitors with a long boardwalk that leads to the hilltop.
Beyond the boardwalk, well-trodden paths winding through tall grass lead to rocky outcrops and the edges of the hill.
The views are spectacular, stretching across the Celebes Sea (also known as the Sulawesi Sea) from nearby Pulau Bum Bum − home to the culturally rich Bajau community − to distant islands that are home to world-renowned scuba diving sites.
Grassy hilltops are relatively uncommon in Malaysia.
Intrepid hikers can spend hours exploring the hilltop, clambering over rocks and following the neighbouring ridgeline – a rewarding way to spend an afternoon by the coast.
