Semporna (GPS: 4.47939, 118.61154) is a small town in the Tawau Division of Sabah. It is located at the tip of the Semporna Peninsula around Teluk Lahad Datu (formerly Darvel Bay), and is the base for trips to world-renowned diving sites such as Sipadan and Tun Sakaran Marine Park.

Semporna was founded by the British North Borneo Company shortly after the establishment of Sandakan around the mid-1880's. The name "Semporna" means "place of rest" in the Bajau language.

Apart from the town centre, which is predominantly Chinese, the majority of the people in Semporna are Bajaus who still live on stilt villages over the water at the edge of town.

Sights in Semporna

Businesses in Semporna

  1. Putri.com (Computer Sales & Service Shop; GPS: 4.469203, 118.599476), Tingkat Bawah, Wisma Sri Astaka, Kg. Bubul Batu 1 ½, Peti Surat No. 500, 91308 Semporna, Sabah; Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 8:00am to 8:00pm, Sun & Public Holidays 8:00am to 1:00pm; Facebook; Contact: 089 781 4239

Getting there

The most common and practical way to reach Semporna is to take a flight to Tawau, and from there, catch a bus to Semporna. A taxi ride from Tawau to Semporna will cost you RM100.

Festivities in Semporna

Pesta Lepa Lepa is a Bajau festival that happens in Semporna every April. The name "lepa-lepa" means "boat" in the Bajau language. This festival includes water sports and beauty pagents. The Regatta Lepa is a sailing competition that includes best-decorated boat, dance performances on boat, sails (called sambulayang) and buntings (called tapis-tapis).

Semporna is on the Map of Sabah

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Please use the information on this page as guidance only. The author endeavours to update the information on this page from time to time, but regrets any inaccuracies if there be any.

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Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.

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