Bako National Park
Location:
A National Park since 1957, Bako offers the perfect introduction to Sarawak’s forests and wildlife. The park covers the northern tip of the Muara Tebas peninsula, an area of 27 sq km. Despite its seemingly small size, Bako contains a wide range of vegetation – swamp forest, scrub-like padang vegetation, mangrove forest, dipterocarp forest, delicate cliff vegetation and more. In fact, at Bako it is possible to see almost every type of vegetation found in Borneo. Bako also contains a rich variety of wildlife and a coastline covered with small bays, coves and beaches. The park has a number of well-marked trails offering interesting walks ranging from short pleasant strolls to serious full-day hikes. Unlike some national parks, visitors to Bako are almost guaranteed to see wildlife. Long-tailed macaque monkeys and silver leaf monkeys are ever present, wild boar are often found rummaging around the park HQ, squirrels and monitor lizards are also common. There is every chance of seeing the rare and unusual proboscis monkeys on trails such as Telok Paku and Telok Delima, particularly if you go late afternoon. You are more likely to see wildlife if you quietly follow the trails and keep listening. For example, you’ll probably hear the crash of vegetation before you are able to locate a proboscis monkey high up in the forest canopy.
Bako’s plant life is both beautiful, and readily accessible. All the trails have a great variety of vegetation, from mighty 80-metre dipterocarps to dense mangrove forest. Carnivorous pitcher plants are found on the Lintang trail.
Bako also has some good white sand beaches that provide perfect resting spots in between jungle treks. Telok Pandan Kecil is perhaps Bako’s best beach. After an hour or so the Telok Pandan Kecil trail comes to a rocky headland. The view down to a beautiful secluded bay, and the thought of a swim in the cool waters, has a magical effect on tired calf muscles. The following 20 minute descent suddenly becomes more enjoyable. All of the beaches are bordered by limestone and sandstone cliffs, and the action of the sea has left some remarkable rock formations, such as the famous Sea Stack.
If you take a stroll at sunset on Telok Assam beach near the park HQ, you will see hundreds of swifts hovering around their nests at the rocks at the far end of the beach. Don’t leave the beach after the sun disappears behind Mount Santubong. Wait another 20 minutes as the sky’s colours often change dramatically, providing a colourful backdrop to the mountain.
Birding in Bako National Park
Highlight species ~ Rufous-backed Kingfisher, Ruddy Kingfisher, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Red-crowned Barbet, Brown Barbet, White-bellied Woodpecker, Black-&-Red Broadbill, Asian Fairy Bluebird, Mangrove Blue Flycatcher, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Abbott’s Babbler, White-chested Babbler, Sunda Scops Owl, Oriental Bay Owl, Buffy Fish Owl & etc.
TIP: Some park accommodation can be booked online.
Address:
Muara Tebas Peninsular
93000, Kuching
Muara Tebas Peninsular
93000, Kuching
Niah Caves
The main cave, Niah Great Cave, is located in Gunung Subis and is made up of several voluminous chambers with high ceilings. The Great Cave lies in a large limestone block, about a kilometre long in general north to south direction and about half a kilometre wide, that is detached from the main Gunung Subis complex, by a valley between about 150 to 200 meters wide. The main Gunung Subis complex rises to about 394[2] meters above sea level at its highest point. The whole "Gunung Subis Limestone Complex" lies some 17 kilometres inland from the South China Seacoast and about 65 kilometres south west of the town Miri. It is roughly heart shaped measuring five kilometres from its northern tip to the south and four kilometres across. The Gunung Subis is surrounded by a low countryside with gentle hills from which the small limestone massiv and its smaller detached blocks rise rather abruptly out of the jungle, some with cliffs over 100 metres high.[3] Though it is not an extensive cave system compared to others in Sarawak, it has been estimated to cover some 10 hectares and the roof rises to about 75 metres above the cave floor in some places.[4] In geological terms, the limestones are part of the Subis Formation. This is dated to some 20 to 16 million years ago during the Early Miocene.[3]
Overview
The huge Niah Caves was gazette as a National Park in the year of 1975. The cave consists of one big cave with the name of (The Great Cave) and several smaller caves including the popular Painted Cave and The Large Chamber or Padang. The Great Cave is easy to access as there are plank walks built for tourists to walk on. While walking all the way into the Great Cave, different species of trees and plants with beautiful tropical rainforest are to be seen around you. Wildlife is to be seen around too such as lizards, butterflies and various kinds of birds flying just above you. If you are lucky, you may spot one or two hornbills.
After you went deep into the Great Cave, you can hear birds chirping and see the bird nests above the corner of the caves. After a back passage of the Great Cave, you lead yourself to The Painted Cave. In the Painted Cave, there are paintings carved all over on the wall of the caves and the ancient burial site of the 'death ship' is in the cave. The 'death ship' is the boat - like coffins that were used to contain the bodies of the dead back in those years. The 'death ship' has been transferred to Sarawak Museum and so what is left to see there is the burial ground of the coffins. If you were to visit the caves during August to December and January to March, you most probably have the chance to experience and watch how the locals collect the birds' nests with very high bamboo ladders. Niah Caves is definitely a perfect place for nature lovers and will work well as a one day trip.
Most visitors make their visit to the Niah Caves as a one day trip. However, if you want to explore more of the caves, there is accommodation offered in the National Park. Well equipped chalets and dorms are up for your selections to spend your nights. You do not even have to worry of your food as there is a cafeteria which offers local and western cuisines. If you want to get some junk food or can food, you can go for a walk in the shopping malls in Miri town. There are quite a number of shopping malls around such as Boulevard Shopping Mall, Imperial Mall and Bintang Mall.
Transport
As Niah Caves is located between Miri and Bintulu, you can take a taxi to the National Park in either city. From Miri, take the bus Suria from Miri Bus Station. The ride is about 2 hours tops. From Bintulu, take also the bus Suria from Bintulu Bus Station. However, the ride from Bintulu will be longer at around 3 hours tops.
