BAKO NATIONAL PARK

30 Mar BAKO NATIONAL PARK – Wildlife in Borneo

Posted at 07:00h in Malaysia, Off the Beaten Track by Wander-lust 0 Comments

The Capital of the Sararawak province has a lot to offer. In this post I will guide you through Borneo’s natural wonders and highlight the magnificent Bako National Park.

The city center of Kuching is a great starting point and from there it’s easy to arrange day treks. From secluded beaches, picturesque coastline of steep cliffs, abundant wildlife, jungle streams, waterfalls, interesting plant life, trekking – all in just 37 km away from Kuching (discover our top five things to do in Kuching).

There are a number of ways of getting to Bako National Park. The most cheap and easy way to get to Bako National Park is by public bus. The public bus (red public bus number 1) takes about 45-60 minutes and costs RM 4 each way with various stops in the city center. Buses leave to and from Bako about every hour, starting from 7AM from Kuching and finishing about 6PM from Bako National Park. Tip! This bus is not always on time, so make sure you arrive a bit earlier.

Your ticket to Bako National Park

Before you enter the park, when you arrive at the Bako Bazaar right in front of the jetty, you need to register at the visitor center deck and purchase your entrance ticket to the park – RM20 per person for foreigners, RM15 for Malaysians – and your boat ticket that takes you at high speed to the the start point of many trails in the park – RM20 per person each way. The only way to reach park headquarters is by boat along the scenic Santubong River. The 20 minute boat ride is already a magnificent introduction to the beauty of Borneo and Bako National Park. Keep an eye out for crocodiles and eagles on the way into the park, it’s all part of the exciting Bako experience when you pass through it!

Jungle Trekking Bako National Park

There are 16 color-coded jungle trails which offer a range of walking and hiking options for the full day. For the adventurous there are various trails with heavy jungle hikes and for those who prefer to take it more easy can choose the more relaxing jungle trails.

One of the best experiences I’ve ever had was during my day trip at Bako National Park. It is a small, breathtaking, beautiful and manageable park, and easy to get to, and even if you are just interested for a day trip, you have a good shot at seeing some pretty unique wildlife and some secluded baches even without tour guide. When you enter the park you will find a notice board that gives you the KM and estimated time of each trail. We chose to do 3 trails which take about 4 hours in total. I must tell you that I’m pretty fit but in the heat I found it quite a challenge.. We did spot macaques, proboscis monkeys, bearded pigs and plenty of colorful butterflies!

TIP! Try to bring your own water and food. There’s a buffet at headquarters, but it’s a bit overpriced and the food is freshly made in the early morning so it will not be as good anymore during lunch.

Trail Bako National Park