National Parks of Sarawak

Much of the forested areas in Sarawak are still unexplored. However, there are more than 10 national forest parks that you can visit in Sarawak, Malaysia. The most popular and interesting parks are: Gunung Mulu National Park and World heritage site (below) and Bako National Bark (other national parks)

Gunung Mulu National Park Heritage site

    Mulu National Park is considered the 'jewel in the crown' of Sarawak's national parks. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site It is the largest national park, covering 52,865 hectares of primary rainforest, which is dissected by many fast flowing rivers and streams.

The Mulu range is dominated by three mountains - Gunung Mulu (2,376 m), Gunung Api (1,750 m) and Gunung Benarat (1,585 m). However the most spectacular landscape here is hidden underneath the forested slopes of these mountains -one of the largest limestone cave systems in the world, called the Mulu caves (5 million years old).  Mulu is famed worldwide for her numerous caves and unique rock formation.

Mulu offers the adventurous traveller an exhilarating cave experience and rainforest trekking adventure.

     The rugged adventurer can explore the vast cave systems that can take days to venture into, but there are show caves that can be visited on day trips for most casual visitors.

     Most visitors can explore a few caves that are accessible by walking along planks and concrete paths.  A walk leads you through the forest to Deer and Lang's Cave whilst Clearwater Cave and Wind Cave are reached by a longboat up Melinau River, or by following a 4 km nature trail. Spotlights highlight the unique features of the individual caves.

     Besides exploring Mulu's underground world, visitors can trek through the forest, take longboat river trips and guided walks. Trekkers can also step into the trail used by the head hunters of the past.

      However be very sure you are fit and very experienced if you want to trek to the Pinnacles or up to the summit of Gunung Mulu.

Be sure to check out the Mulu Canopy Skywalk. The canopy skywalk at 480 metres is the longest tree-based walkway in the World. You will enjoy this unique opportunity to get closer to the rainforest.

Bookings can be made at the Park Office, Mulu Park. If you are staying outside of the Park then each day that you enter the park you must register and pay the Park Entry Fee.

GUNUNG MULU NATIONAL PARK
Borsarmulu Park Management
P.O. Box 2413,
Miri, 98008 Sarawak, Malaysia
Fax: (+60 85) 792 305
Tel: (+60 85) 792 300 / (+60 85) 792 301
E-mail: enquiries@mulupark.com

 Where to Stay

You can book to stay the Forest Park HQ or stay at Royal Mulu Resort.

Park HQ (Mulu Park) - There are also forest guides available to guide you the various trekking site. The accommodation at Park Headquarters are nestled along the edge of the rainforest near the Melinau River. Guest can enjoy reading at their lounge, swim in the river or laze in the gardens. The Park HQ stay is cheap (great for the budget conscious!) No cooking is allowed - guests takes their meal at the cafeteria there. Accommodations are kampong-styled houses on stilts and built on an open village style concept. Boardwalks connect all the buildings. Housekeeping and Café staff are on duty from 7.00 am to 9.00 pm but Security staff are on duty 24 hours a day. The park has sleeping accomodations of up to 80 people per night. Rooms have coffee and tea making facilities and the hostel has individual lockers that may be rented.

GUNUNG MULU NATIONAL PARK
Fax: (+60 85) 792 305
Tel: (+60 85) 792 300 /+60(85)792 301
E-mail: enquiries@mulupark.com

Royal Mulu Resort is located adjacent to the Park HQ. The Resort accomodations are in the style of ethnic longhouses. Royal Mulu Resort was built on wooden stilts, three metres above the ground. Rooms are linked by a series of wooden walkways. The Resort stands on the banks of the Melinau River, in the midst of the forest.
ROYAL MULU RESORT
CDT62, 98007 Miri, Sarawak
Tel. +60(85)792 388 /+60(85)792 355 /+60(85)792 366
Fax. +60(85)793 399, +60(85)793 377

Royal Mulu Resort rates & booking

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Tanjung Datu National Park - where the forested mountain meets the sea. It has interesting natural features, rain forest and unique coral reefs

Mulu National Park - above

Bako is oldest national park in Sarawak. The gazatted park covers an area of 2,727 hectares and is located at the tip of the Muara Tebas peninsula. It is one of the smallest national park in Sarawak, but one of the most interesting - of unique vegetation and wildlife. Trails allows visitors to track through the forest park.
     Bako is the best place in Sarawak for wildlife experience. Visitors, especially those who stay overnight have countless opportunities to observe and photograph various wildlife.
Bako is also home to approximately 150 rare proboscis monkey of Borneo. Other wildlife seen here includes the long-tailed macaques, silver leaf monkeys, common monitor lizards, plantain squirrel, bearded pigs, mouse deer and otter and the Hairy-Nosed Otter. The largest mammal found at Bako is the Borneo Bearded Pig.

     You can book trips to Bako in Kuching
 

Niah National Park - located on the Sungai (river) Niah, 110 km to the south-west of Miri. The Niah caves is an archaeological site where the oldest modern human remains in Southeast Asia were found (estimated to be 40,000 years old). Apart from the caves, visitors can explore several the tropical rainforests, climb a 400m tall limestone ridge or visit an Iban longhouse located near the park boundary.

Kubah National Park - sandstone park with many waterfalls. Located 20 kilometres from Kuching, it is one of Sarawak's most accessible national parks.Gunung Gading National Park - Mountainous park which is home to the Rafflisia, the largest flower in the world (reaching 1 meter diameter). (Lundu District, southwest Sarawak)

Batang Ai national Park - a beautiful national park, home to one of the world's most endangered species, the Orang Utan and other protected wildlife like the hornbills and gibbons. It is also the water catchment area of a huge artificial lake that stretches up the Engkari and Ai valleys and has the Batang Ai Hydro-Electricity dam.

Lambir Hills National Park is a small park located along the Miri-Bintulu Road, 30km south of Miri Town. This park is rich in forest species and is ideal for researchers.

Similajau National Park - is a strip of land lying on the coast of Bintulu Division (30 km from Bintulu. It has a beautiful coastline of unspoiled white and golden sand and rocky beaches facing the South China Sea

Loagan Bunut National Park - is located in the upper end of Sungai Bunut where Sarawak's largest natural lake is found. The local Berawan fishermen call this lake 'Logan Bunut' (650 ha). The surrounding area is covered with peat swamp forest and mixed Dipterocarp Rainforest. There are numerous bird and animals species found here, such as herons, bitterns, eagle, swallow, stork, hornbills, barking deer, sambar deer, argus pheasant, long-tail macaque,  civet, giant squirrel and gibbons.

Talang-Satang National Park - is the first National Park in Sarawak to consist primarily of a marine area. It has been created for the primary purpose of marine turtle conservation. A permit from the Forest Department is necessary to enter the park. The park is managed as a combination of nature tourism and conservation area.

Rajang Mangroves National Park  - along the shorelines of Central Sarawak, prevents erosion, tidal flooding and salt intrusion and protects beaches and corals. The park is the most complex mangrove areas in Sarawak, harbouring a total of 89 plant species. The park is home to the proboscis monkeys, silvered langurs, small-clawed otters and plantain squirrels. Common birds include white-collared kingfishers and stork-billed kingfishers and contain 76 species of fish and crustaceans.

Maludam National Park - is located in Sri Aman Division, in the Maludam Peninsula, Sarawak. The entire area is a low-lying, flat peat  swamp. The park is critical to the protection of the the only viable population of the red banded langur (Presbytis melalophos cruciger) remaining in the world - one of the world's most beautiful monkeys.

Gunung Buda National Park - located in Ulu Medalam, Limbang Division, it encompasses the Mulu Formation and the Gunung Buda limestone of the Melinau Limestone. The caves in the park are large and geomorphologically related to the Gunung Mulu National Park caves.

For more information on the Forest Parks in Sarawak, checkout:

Forest Department Sarawak website

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