Malaysia » Wildlife & Adventure in Borneo

30 Mar Malaysia » Wildlife & Adventure in Borneo

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

As mentioned in my previous post, Kuching in Borneo – the Capital of the Sararawak province – has a lot to offer. You now know your way in the city of Kuching and in this post I will guide you through Borneo’s natural wonders and cultural delights!

Borneo is An absolute treat for nature lovers

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.

BAKO NATIONAL PARK
Transport
There are a number of ways of getting to Bako. 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 3.50 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.

Ticket
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. Keep an eye for crocodiles and eagles on the way into the park, it’s all part of the exciting Bako experience when you pass through it! Bako is a protected area.

Trekking
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.
Get more info here

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

The proboscis monkey in Bako

Bearded pigs in Bako

View at Bako National Park

The Jungle from another angle

The end of the trails Telok Pandan Kecil & Telok Pandan Besar

Needs:
» Camera
» Sun screen
» Mosquito repellent with deet
» Walking shoes
» Hiking pants
» Rain coat or poncho
» Zip lock bags to keep your camera/clothes dry
» Bottles of water

WETLANDS WONDERS
I went on a boat trip to Santubong and Salak river in the hope to see crocodiles and dolphins. We didn’t see any unfortunately, but the trip was still so amazing! We saw proboscis monkeys, a number of eagles and awesome fireflies. We also passed by a traditional Malay fishing village on stilts filled with massive catfish. The local family sell these fish to locals traders and restaurants. Soon the boatman will move into a smaller river in the hope to spot some crocodiles where the boat chugging slowly by the river banks where it’s almost touching the low branches of the mangrove trees. I can tell you, this is very exciting when it’s getting dark and knowing that crocodiles are around you. I hope you have more luck than I did. Next to that we enjoyed the magnificent Borneo sunset.Best time is in the early morning or afternoons. You can book your trip via a travel agency for RM 188.00 per person inclusive Good Service Tax and a tour guide.

Safety first!

Our friendly local Boatman

Malay fishing village on stilts

Breathtaking sunset