SABAH FORESTRY DEPARTMENT

Tower of Heaven (Menara Kayangan), Lahad Datu

Tower of Heaven (Menara Kayangan) is a new tourism facilities attraction in Lahad Datu which was completed in 2011 and launched for public in April 2012. The observation tower rises at 30 meters high built on top of ultramafic coastal forest of Mount Silam at elevation of 884 meters from sea level, the highest point in the Lahad Datu district. The tower is located within the Sapagaya Forest Reserve (Protection Forest Reserve). This gives visitors a perfect and tranquillity scenic bird’s eye view of the Darvel Bay Islands and Lahad Datu Town. The tower also offers the plant and animal enthusiasts good views of the forest and birds of Mount Silam. The Mount Silamis also home to a lovely, small, orange-red crab, identified as Geosesarmaaurantium Ng (Grapsidae: Sesarminae). Interestingly, the expert (Prof. Peter K.L. Ng of the National University of Singapore, 1995) believes that this Borneon endemic species is only confined to Mount Silam in Sabah. Unlike many other crabs, this is a land crab that can be found up to 884 m of Mt. Silam, which is the highest point in the Lahad Datu district. Besides the observation tower, the complex also has natural trails, camping ground, guest house and restaurant (under construction). In 2018, this facility has attracted about 22,824 both local and foreign visitors.