NEAR KUCHING IN WESTERN SARAWAK (NORTHWESTERN BORNEO)

NEAR KUCHING

Near Kuching in Santubong there several nice beaches, some interesting limestone formations and a "Living Museum" where ethnic groups from Sarawak put on performances that some people find too touristy and demeaning. Santubong, 32 kilometers miles away, a seaside village known for its swimming and fishing. Damai, on the nearby Santubong Peninsula is Sarawak’s main resort area,

Kuching is the ideal base from which to go explore Sarawak. Nearby national parks include Bako, home of the rare proboscis monkey, Gunung Gading, where giant rafflesia flowers bloom, Kuching Wetlands, which protects a fascinating mangrove ecosystem, Kubah, with its rare palms and orchids, and Semenggoh and Matang Wildlife Centres with their resident orangutans.

Kuching is also the ideal base for visiting longhouses. Local travel agents have a variety of tours, ranging from half-day trips to nearby Bidayuh longhouses, to week long safaris to Iban longhouses on the Skrang, Lemanak and Batang Ai river systems. There are hundreds of Iban and Bidayuh longhouses within easy travelling distance of Kuching. Many travel agents offer “two-centre” packages allowing you to explore Kuching, go on a longhouse trip, visit Bako and the rainforest and then relax on the beach after jungle trekking.

The Santubong Area (35 minutes drive from Kuching) area has a lot to offer the visitor: the rainforest-covered slopes of Mount Santubong, mangrove forests, rivers, near shore waters and mudflats. These different habitats are home to variety of wildlife making Santubong one of the best sites in Sarawak to see a range of wildlife in a natural setting. The Santubong area is one of the best places in Sarawak to see the rare Irrawaddy dolphins, which inhabits rivers, estuaries and shallow coastal areas. On rare occasions finless porpoises and Indo-pacific humpback dolphins are sighted in the waters off Santubong. There are a few interesting coastal villages (kampungs) in the Santubong Peninsula. The most accessible from Damai is Kampung Santubong, a well-kept Malay village at the foot of Mount Santubong. Kayaking and mountain biking are popular activities.

Siniawan Old Town Night Market (20 kilometers away from Kuching) takes place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday is held in Siniawan, a small town in the Bau district with 3,600 people made of Bidayuh (750 families) and Chinese (700 families), followed by Malay (100 families). The Chinese are mostly originated from Guangdong Province of China, and the common dialect spoken is Hopoh Hakka. The mian street is lined with old wooden townhouses, and Chinese lanterns. Over the recent years, the market and the types of food has expanded as the town has embraced the market as a way to boost its economy. Pitcher plant rice, locally called Lemang Periuk Kera is one of the ‘trademark’ foods you can find here along with other traditional Chinese, Malay and Dayak food. The Lui Teh and Ngo Hiang are also recommended.

Getting to Siniawan Old Town Night Market: Bau Transport Company, Bus No.2 will start from Jalan Masjid schedule as follows :- Departure from Kch-Bau : 7:00am, 8:20am, 10:20am, 12:20pm, 1:40pm, 4:00pm, 5:10pm Return from Bau-Kch : 5:45am, 6:40am, 8:40am, 10:20am, 12:00pm, 2:20pm, 3:20pm Bau Transport Company, Tel : 082-763160. The Bus driver will drop the passenger at the main road near to Siniawan Bazaar and the passenger have to walk for another 5 minutes to the Siniawan Bazaar. It would be better to double check at all times with the Bus driver for the correct timing on return to Kuching. Bus fare is Rm3:50 per way. Grab ride sharing service is the only option if you wish to visit the night market, which comes on Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. Fare is +/-RM30 from downtown Kuching.

Jong’s Crocodile Farm (29 kilometers from Kuching) is the world’s first tomistoma breeding farm. It contains over a thousand crocodiles as is particularly devoted to saving tomistoma — also known as the false gharial, Malayan gharial and Sunda gharial — a kind a freshwater crocodile native to Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra, and Java that has a long skinny snout but is not a true gharial. In addition to the crocodiles there are also numerous rare species of birds and animals found only in Borneo. There are also monkeys, leopard-cats, sunbears, bearcats, pheasants, civets, barking deers, sambar deers, turtles, fruit bats, monitor lizards, pythons and hornbills. Getting There: The Crocodile Farm is located about 29 kilometers (18.5 Miles) from Kuching City, just off the Kuching-Serian Highway on the way to Skrang River, Batang Air Resort. It is easily accessible by road, which takes only 20 minutes by car and is a popular stop-over for tourists and locals enroot to their Skrang River Safari. Address: Siburan, 29 kilometers Kuching-Serian Road, 93250 Kuching, Tel: 6082-242790 Opening hours: 9:00am — 5:00pm daily; Crocodile feeding time: 11:00am and 3pm, Website: website:jongscrocodile.com

Sarawak Cultural Village

Sarawak Cultural Village (in Pantai Damai, Santubong, 32 kilometers from Kuching) was set up to preserve and showcase Sarawak's cultural heritage. Known as the 'Living Museum', it is a tourist village with about 150 people living in it that sprawls out over 17 acres. Visitors can see demonstration of traditional daily activities from Sarawak's diverse tribes such as the processing of sago and the making of handicrafts. The villagers wear traditional costumes and also put on dances for visitors.

Nine authentic replica buildings represent every major ethnic group in Sarawak; Bidayuh, Iban and Orang Ulu longhouses, a Penan jungle settlement, a Melanau tall-house, a Malay town house, a Chinese farmhouse and pagoda. Each is staffed with members of their respective ethnic groups, in traditional costume, carrying out traditional activities. Every house has a “storyteller” who is an expert in describing and interpreting traditional cultures and lifestyles.

After touring the village, visitors can enjoy a multi-cultural dance performance in the village’s own theatre, or even take dance, music and craft lessons. There is also a good ethnic restaurant and a handicrafts shop on-site. Other attractions and amenities include; a Sulpture Garden; the Rainforest Music House, with traditional instruments and interactive music workshops; and the Dewan Legenda (Hall of Legends), a creative space complete with dance studio, library, information centre, costume gallery, lecture hall and creativity room. The Cultural Village can host theme dinners and parties, corporate events, seminars and product launches in authentic Iban, Bidayuh, Malay or Orang Ulu style. You can even get married at the Sarawak Cultural Village, in traditional Iban, Malay, Bidayuh or Orang Ulu style.

The village residents provide information on their various traditional cultures and lifestyles. The Iban longhouse has separate rooms placed side by side, all of which open to a long communal hall, used for leisurely activities like wood carving and basket weaving. Guests are often invited to attend nightly ceremonies and drink a potent rice wine, tuak, which the Iban make themselves. Comfortable guesthouses are also available for visitors.

Getting There: By Road: There's no public transport to the Cultural Village, but a shuttle bus leaves the Holiday Inn Kuching at 9 am and 12.30pm, returning at 1.45 pm and 5.30pm. Alternatively, you could charter a taxi for the day or hire a car. The road connection is excellent and the directions are easy. Contact: Sarawak Cultural Village, Pantai Damai, Santubong, P.O.Box 2632, 93752 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia., Tel: (6082)846 108 / (6082) 846 078, Fax: (6082)846 988, Operating Hours: 9:00am — 5:00pm, Website: website: scv.com.my/

Bau: Caves, History and Karst Scenery

Bau (22 kilometers from Kuching) is popular for its two beautiful limestone caves and rock climbing amd was the site of two important historical events. The Fairy Cave takes its name from a stalagmite structure at the entrance that is said to resemble a Chinese deity. Inside, you will notice the great contrasts between the light entering the cave and its shadowy darkness, along with hues of brown and grey of the rocks — highlighted by the rich green of the moss. The rock surface outside the cave is where rock climbers do their ascent of varying difficulties. Another cave is called the Wind Cave, named after the constant cool breeze that blows throughout the cavern. Take the chance to observe the many swiftlets and bats that dwell within this large cave while you relax besides a subterranean stream that runs through the cave.

In terms of history, Bau witnessed many conflicts. On May 1, 1837, the Skrang Ibans invaded the Jagoi-Bratak Bidayuh settlement on top of Bratak Peak, killing over 2,000 Jagoi-Bratak Bidayuh men and taking 1,000 women captive. Each year on May 1, descendants of the survivors of the massacre will hold Jagoi-Bratak Day on top of Bratak Peak in memory of their ancestors. A memorial stone was erected on May 1, 1988, to mark the day. In 1857, during the 1857 Gold Miners’ Rebellion, rebels, pursued by the White Rajah’s forces, retreated to a cave here, where a few hundred were burnt or suffocated to death. The name ‘Bau’ it is said to have been derived either from old name ‘Mau San’ that the Chinese miners gave the place, or from the fact that the place reeked of death as many died there (Bau means ‘smelly’ in Malay language).

Getting There: Two bus companies run regular service to Bau town proper. From there, take a connecting bus service if you wish to visit the caves. Ask to be dropped off at the road junction to the respective caves. Distance to walk is about 1.5 kilometers respectively. Sarawak Transport Company-No.2 departs every twenty minutes. From 6.20am-6:00pm. Fare is RM4.00, Bau Transport Company-No.2 departs every half an hour. 6.20am-4.30pm. Fare is RM4.50. Alternatively you can hire a car or motorcycle.

Bako National Park

Bako National Park (37 kilometers miles from Kuching) has a nice beach, rain forests, jungle walks and wildlife. Iis a good place to spot to see proboscis monkeys. It is largely occupied by coastal mangrove and swamp forests. Established in 1957 and covering a modest 27 square kilometers, the park’s most significant features are its rain forests, secluded coves and rugged rocky headlands with magnificent steep cliffs that overlook the South China Sea. The sea spray, wave action and the wind have also carved out magnificent sea arches and sea stacks at the base of the cliffs, some rearing above the waves like a mighty serpent's head. The attractive sandstone formations appear pink with iron patterns on the cliff. Further inland, waterfalls tumble down into freshwater pools in a tranquil and idyllic jungle setting.

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 with a beach around a beautiful secluded bay. 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 colors often change dramatically, providing a colorful backdrop to the mountain.

There is basic accommodation and a small restaurant at the park headquarters. The accommodation includes campsites for pitching a tent, shared rooms in a cabin and nicer rooms for families. When I was there large wild boars rooted and grazed near the cabins and a poisonous green snake harmlessly maintained the same position for three days waiting to ambush prey There is a boardwalk trail through the rain forest near the headquarters. It is fun to walk on this at night, looking for creatures such as scorpions, large stick insects and frogs. At the restaurant there was a television showing Malaysian ghost soap operas. A posse of mischievous monkeys hung out around the tables ready to pounce on and seize food that visitors failed to guard. Visitors are advised to bring along trekking attire and shoes, sunblock, swimming gear, insect repellent and basic first aid supplies. If you a planning to stay overnight, it is advisable to do an online booking in advance.

Animals in Bako National Park

Bako contains an incredible variety of plant species and vegetation types. At Bako it is possible to see almost every type of vegetation found in Borneo. There are also several species of monkeys, wild jungle pigs and green poisonous snakes right at the park headquarters and camp. Vegetation includes swamp forest, scrub-like padang vegetation, mangrove forest, dipterocarp forest and delicate cliff vegetation. 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. Squirrels and monitor lizards are also common. The rare and unusual proboscis monkeys are seen on trails such as Telok Paku and Telok Delima, particularly if you go late afternoon. You are most likely to see wildlife if you stay quiet and keep your ears open. 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. All the trails have a great variety of vegetation, from mighty 80-meter dipterocarps to dense mangrove forest. Carnivorous pitcher plants are found on the Lintang trail.

Bako is also home to approximately 275 rare proboscis monkeys, found only in Borneo. The male is an odd-looking creature, with a huge pendulous nose and a large pot-belly, weighing in excess of 20 kg. Both male and female are covered in reddish-brown fur with grey limbs and a white tail. They are mostly arboreal (tree-dwelling), moving about the forest or mangroves in small groups and feeding on young leaves, shoots, sour fruits and seeds. Although it requires some patience, an encounter with a group of proboscis is likely to be the highlight of your trip to Bako. The best times are early in the morning or in the hours before dusk. Telok Delima and Telok Paku are the best trails for viewing the proboscis. The mangroves at Telok Assam are also a good place for viewing proboscis monkeys.

The best times for seeing wildlife at Bako are just after dawn and just before dusk, when the animals are at their most active. Bako is a fascinating place for bird watching, as over 150 species have been recorded here, including 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 and buffy fish owl.

Hiking in Bako National Park

Bakos trail system is comprised of 16 color-coded jungle trails which offer a range of walking and hiking options. The fit and adventurous can opt for full- day jungle hikes or overnight camping trips, whilst those who prefer to take it easy can opt for a relaxing forest walk. There is an interesting short night walk on a boardwalk near the headquarters.

Hiking Trails in Bako National Park (No., Trail Name, Trail Length, One Way Time and Distance from headquarters: 1) Tanjung Sapi, 0.5 km, 30 minutes (0.8 km); 2) Telok Paku, 0.8 km, 1 hour (1.2 km); 3) Ulu Assam, 0.8 km, 1 1/4 hours (1.4 km); 4) Telok Delima, 0.25 km, 45 minutes (1 km); 5) Telok Pandan Besar, 0.75 km, 1 hour (1.75 km); 6) Telok Pandan Kecil, 1.5 km, 1 1/2 hours (2.5 km); 7) Serait, 1.25 km, 1 1/2 hours (2.2 km); 8) Lintang, 5.25 km, 3 1/2 hours return,

9) Tajor, 2.75 km, 2 1/2 hours (3.5 km); 10) Tanjung Rhu, 1.8 km, 2 1/2 hours (4.2 km); 11) Bukit Keruing, 2.25 km, 3 1/2 hours (5.5 km); 12) Paya Jelutong, 0.2 km, 3 1/2 hours (5.7 km); 13) Bukit Gondol, 2 km, 4 1/2 hours (7.7 km); 14) Ulu Serait, 2.75 km, 3 hours (4.8 km); 15) Telok Sibur, 0.8 km, 3 1/2 hours (5.3 km); 16) Telok Limau, 5.75 km, 7 hours (10 km); 17) Telok Kruin, 1.5 km, 7 1/4 hours (10.5 km); 18) Pa’ Amit (Lakei Island); 1.0 km, 30 minutes (from Base);

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. 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.

Getting to Bako National Park

Petra Jaya Bus No.6 and regular minibuses go from Kuching to Kampung Bako, a picturesque fishing village. Alternatively, taxis also go to Kampung Bako (Bako Village). From there you have to charter a boat to the Park. The boat ride is an adventure in itself, with the skilled and experienced boatmen riding the surf at high speed, to the delight of most visitors.

A bus ride from Kuching to Bako Market takes about 45-60 minutes (red public bus number 1, originating from the wet market beside the Electra building, which will also pick up passengers from the burger stand opposite Riverside Majestic Hotel, Kuching and costs RM3.50 each way. Buses leave to/from Bako about once every hour starting from about 7:00am from Kuching and finishing about 6:00pm from Bako, Bus or Mini-bus from Kuching to Bako Village (boat jetty): No. 1 (Rapid Kuching.) Bus Station near Open Air Market. Bus Fare RM3.50 each way. Depart every hour 7:00am-6:00pm Return every hour 8:00am-5:00pm.

Taxi from Kuching to Bako Village (boat jetty): RM60 each way by Taxi OR RM5 each way by mini bus [Van] Station near Open Air Market. Depart when there are enough passengers. A minivan can be chartered for around RM30, and seats 5-7 people. They can reach Bako in half the time of the public bus, stationed near the Open Air Market, depart when there are enough passengers. Bako National Park / Bako Terminal, Tel: 6082 360933.

When you arrive at the Bako Market right in front of the jetty/visitor center, register, purchase your entrance ticket and buy your boat ticket. This 20-minute boat ride will lead you to the Bako National Park Headquarters. Enquire at the registration counter for details. Provided below some useful contacts for your kind view: Bako Village-Bako National Park boat fee: RM30 p/person-each way. Bako Boat Service Counter (Monday-Sunday, 9.00am to 3.00pm), Tel: 6011 25132711 Bako Boat Service Person In Charge : Mr.Shadad Haji Omar, Tel: 6010 9493 860,

National Park Opening Hours: 8.00am to 5.00pm, Monday — Sunday including Public Holidays Contact: Sarawak Forestry, Tel: 6082-610088 (General Line) 1-800-88-2526 (Toll Free Line), Fax: (+6) 082 610099, Website:sarawakforestry.com/parks-and-reserves/bako-national-park/, Email: sarawakforestry,

Kuching Wetlands National Park

Kuching Wetlands National Park (15 kilometers from Kuching, five kilometers from Damai Beach) covers an area of 6,610 hectares on the estuarine reaches of the Sibu Laut and Salak rivers. The park is mostly comprised of a saline mangrove system that includes an extensive network of marine waterways and tidal creeks interconnecting the two major rivers that form the boundaries of the park.

Small patches of heath forest are found in the interior of the park. The park is an important spawning and nursery ground for fish and prawn species and contains a wide diversity of wildlife, including proboscis monkeys, long tailed macaque monkeys, silver-leaf monkeys, monitor lizards, estuarine crocodiles and a range of birdlife, including kingfishers, white-bellied sea eagles and shore birds, including the rare lesser adjutant stork.

Gazetted as a national park in July 2002, the site is one of the last remnants of the formerly extensive Sarawak Mangrove Forest Reserve, which previously covered approximately 17,000 hectares and was first protected in 1924. Recognising the ecological significance and tourism potential of the area, the Sarawak State Government is currently formulating a management plan for Kuching Wetlands. In November 2005 Malaysia designated the park as a Ramsar site, a wetland of international importance.

To explore the park you have to take to the river. A number of tour operators offer coastal and river cruises in and around the park. These cruises follow the main waterways of the park with most trips taking up half a day. Tours usually meander up the Salak River before entering the smaller rivers and creeks in the park. Some tours stop at the Malay fishing village on Salak Island, which lies just outside the park’s boundary, while others venture out to the Santubong and Salak river estuaries to search for the Irrawaddy dolphins, or navigate the mangroves-covered smaller river channels to spot wildlife in the dark such as proboscis monkeys, crocodiles and fireflies. Contact your hotel recreation counters or tour operators for details.

Talang-Satang National Park

Talang-Satang National Park (30-minute boat ride from Damai Beach, which is a 30 minute drive from Kuching) Sarawak’s first marine protected area,, covers an area of 19,414 hectares and was gazetted in 1999 to enhance marine turtle conservation in Sarawak. The park encompasses the coastline and waters surrounding four islands; Pulau Talang-Talang Besar and Pulau Talang-Talang Kecil (located off Sematan), and Pulau Satang Besar and Pulau Satang Kecil (located off Santubong). These small islands are surrounding by patches of shallow coral reef which provide shelter and resting grounds for sea turtles that come ashore to lay their eggs. Three of the islands in the park — Talang Talang Besar, Talang Talang Kecil and Satang Besar — are known as Sarawak’s “Turtle Islands.”

Adult female turtles return to the beach where they were born to lay their eggs, often travelling thousands of kilometers. Whilst four species of marine turtles are known to nest in Sarawak, the Green Turtle accounts for 90 percent of the turtle landings recorded. The park’s Turtle Islands account for 95 percent of all recorded turtle landings in Sarawak, a clear indicator of the importance of Talang-Satang for marine turtle conservation.

Turtle conservation work here dates back to the 1940s when the Sarawak Museum embarked on a long-term research project. Thanks to the Museum’s pioneering work, records of landings date back to 1946. Large scale turtle conservation work began in 1951 when over 20,000 eggs where collected and transferred to a natural beach hatchery. In 1953 the first tagging of Green turtles was done. Today, Sarawak Forestry manages the national park and has set up a number of hatcheries. During the peak turtle nesting season (May — September), park wardens monitor the beaches for turtle landings, remove eggs from the nests and place them in the hatcheries. After 40 to 60 days incubation, the young hatchlings are released and scamper across the beach to the sea.

The Talang-Satang National Park also includes the Pulau Tukong Ara-Banun Wildlife Sanctuary, two small islets located close to the Satang Islands. Pulau Tokong Ara, the larger of the two rocky outcrops, is home to breeding colonies of bridled terns and black-naped terns. Black colored pacific reef egrets are also frequently sighted on the rock. Tokong Ara is best seen as part of a wider coastal tour of the Santubong area.

Getting There: Pulau Satang Besar is a 30-minute boat ride from Damai Beach, Sarawak Boat Club Jetty or Telaga Air Jetty. There is no regular boat service and visitors should travel in an organized tour. A number of Kuching-based tour operators run day trips to the island, often in conjunction with other marine-based activities such as dolphin watching or mangrove cruises. All other areas of Talang-Satang National Park are off limits to visitors except by special arrangement, in which case transport will be organized by Sarawak Forestry. Reservations & Enquiries: National Parks Booking Office, Visitors Information Centre, Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, 93000 Kuching Sarawak, Tel: (+6) 082 248088 Fax: (+6) 082 248087 Online booking: http://ebooking.com.my, For more information on the Sea Turtle Volunteer Program, visit https://; website: sarawakforestry.com/parks-and-reserves/talang-satang-national-park/

Semengok Orangutan Sanctuary

Semengok Orangutan Sanctuary (32 kilometers from Kuchin) in Semengok in Sarawak is a 1,600 reserve with a halfway house that provides a home and wilderness training for orphans and formerly captive orangutans. According to AP, "new arrivals are quarantined for month and any ailments are treated. Then it's “outbound school” for as many a's four years of training in climbing, building nests, foraging for food and relating to others of their kind. Those who have lived with humans less than five years usually face few problems. After the semi-wold stage, the final step is their release into large sanctuaries or remote tracts of forest, their contact with humans, severed." At Semongok the orangutans are kept in cages between training session. After two years they animals are expected to have risen to a semi-wild status in which they close whether to live in the world or drop by the camp for the twice-a-day feedings.

For over 20 years, the wardens here trained young orangutans, who had been orphaned or rescued from captivity, how to survive in the wild. The success of this program has left the surrounding forest reserve with a thriving population of healthy adolescent and young adult orangutans, who are now breeding in the wild. The program has been transferred to Matang Wildlife Centre, but Semenggoh is still home to its successful graduates, semi-wild orangutans and their babies. They spend most of their time roaming the forest but frequently come back to the Centre for a free meal. If it is the fruiting season in the forest, some or even all of them may not come to feed. This in itself is a good sign and another step on the way to full rehabilitation.

The best time to visit Semenggoh is during the morning and afternoon feeding sessions when there is a good chance of seeing semi-wild orangutan returning to the Centre for a free meal. Feeding takes place between 9.00-10.00am and between 3.00-4.00pm. However there will be times when they won’t appear owing to abundant fruits in the jungle. At times, they may seem to appear during the actual feeding hour. Those who lingered on taking advantage of the gallery and and the forest may be rewarded by a late showing of the orangutans. The Semenggoh Nature Reserve is managed by the Sarawak Forestry Corporation under the auspices of the Sarawak government. The Semenggoh Wildlife Center, where the orangutan experience is, lies within the Semenggoh Nature Reserve. It was established in 2003.

While at the Semenggoh Nature Reserve you can learn about the ape in the Orangutan Gallery and visit the Interpretation Area or the Botanical Research Center. There are crocodile and gibbon enclosures. Birds seen in the area include: yellow-rumped flowerpecker, bornean black-magpie, long-billed partridge, red-bearded bee-eater, red-naped trogan, scarlet-rumped trogon, rufous-backed kingfisher, rufous-collared kingfisher, banded kingfisher, red-crowned barbet, red-throated barbet, malaysian honeyguide, rufous piculet, hooded pitta, banded broadbill, green broadbill, blue-winged leafbird, asian paradise flycatcher, crested jay, reddish scops owl, brown hawk owl and the Sunda frogmouth.

Getting There: Matang Wildlife Centre is about 30 kilometers from Kuching City and it takes about 40 minutes to reach the Centre. Since there is no regular bus that goes directly to the centre, hiring a taxi is recommended. Public buses ply the route daily, the last bus leaving for Kuching at 4:00pm. Catch either the 7.15am/1pm K6 bus at Mosque road to be in time for either of the feeding time. The fare is RM4 each way. As the viewing area is quite a distance from the ticketing entrance, allow yourself a 20-min lead time to arrive at the feeding area. The walk will take you through one of Sarawak's biodiversity hotspots; primary lowland mixed dipterocarp forest with small patches of old secondary forests and kerangas forest.

Matang Wildlife Centre

Matang Wildlife Centre (35 kilometers from Kuching) houses endangered wildlife in large enclosed areas of rainforest or spacious cages. The main attraction is the orangutan adoption program, where young orangutans, who were either orphaned or rescued from captivity, are taught how to survive in the wild. Other animals found here include sambar deer, crocodiles, sun bears, civets and bear cats, and three large aviaries featuring hornbills, eagles, kites, storks and a host of other birds native to Sarawak.

Part of Kubah National Park,Matang is not a zoo. It is a dedicated centre where endangered species, such as orangutans are rehabilitated and released into the forest. Most individuals were confiscated from members of the public, who illegally kept them as pets, and must be taught how to fend for themselves in the wild.While they are being educated, they remain at the centre, enabling you to get close to animals you might not spot in days of wandering the jungle.

There are some pleasant riverside picnic spots a short walk from the information centre and four jungle trails. The Pitcher Trail, which follows a circular path through the forest, takes approximately two hours and trekkers should not have too much difficulty in spotting the various specious of pitcher plants that litter the forest floor at the sides of the trail. The Rayu Trail leads to the Kubah National Park headquarters and takes 3-4 hours. The Sungai Buluh Trail leads to two secluded waterfalls and takes 2-hours (one way). Park accommodation can be booked online. When you go hiking, carry enough water, a change of top, a small towel, strong insect repellent and a light poncho:

Getting There: By Bus or Taxi: Matang Wildlife Centre is about 30 kilometers from Kuching City and it takes about 40 minutes to reach the Centre. Since there is no regular bus that goes directly to the centre, hiring a taxi is recommended. Alternatively, you may contact any of the travel operators who offer packaged tours. National Park Opening Hours: 8.00am to 5.00pm Monday — Sunday including Public Holidays, Contact: Matang Wildlife Centre, Tel: (+6) 082 374869, Website: sarawakforestry.com/parks-and-reserves/matang-wildlife-centre/

Longhouses

Longhouses (generally seen on rivers at least two hours away from Kuching) are huge houses that sit on stilts along the rivers of Borneo. Often times an entire village is located within one house. The size of a longhouse is determined by how many doors it has, each door being the entrance to a dwelling where one family lives. In the old days, visitors to the longhouses were often invited to spend the night, usually in the chief's dwelling, and feasted on a meal of rice, fish and sometimes boiled bees, python, monkey or lizard meat, or whatever was caught that day. A this may still occur is you get to a place remote enough — by traveling a couple days upriver — that doesn’t see many visitors.

Annah Rais Longhouse (about 100 kilometers south of Kuching) is a Bidayuh settlement situated at the foothills of Borneo Highlands near the mountains marking the border between Sarawak, Malaysia and Kalimantan, Indonesia. Other than the authentic longhouse experience, it is also famous for the hot springs nearby.

Kampung Annah Rais is a large Bidayuh village centred around a centuries-old bamboo longhouse, one of the finest still in existence. The Bidayuh make up about 8 percent of Sarawak’s population and were formerly known as Land Dayaks. They are gracious hosts and village is the perfect place to discover Bidayuh culture and learn about their fascinating way of life.

Getting There: No bus going to this place, Taxi from RM200/return (from/to Kuching City) Contact: Padawan Municipal Council, Tel: 082-615566, Email : mpp@sarawak.gov.my, Hotline No: 013 802 5566, Entrance Fees: RM8.00/adult per person

Longhouse Tours

Longhouse tours that begin in Kuching are the way that many tourists visit longhouses today. The longhouses belonging to indigenous groups such as the Iban, Bidayuh or Orang Ulu. Generally, a tuai rumah (headman) is the head of the longhouse. Every family has their own separate bilik (room). Communal activities are carried out on the ruai (verandah). Male visitors spend a night on the verandah whereas female visitors are invited to stay in the bilik or room. Longhouse communities normally wear practical clothes like jeans and T-shirts. They only wear their traditional costumes during festivals like Gawai Dayak or the Iban harvest festival and also during weddings.

Tour groups are normally greeted with a glass of tuak or rice wine and a welcome dance. After that, they will tour the longhouses and will be entertained by various cultural performances. You are usually invited to join in the dancing. Visitors can spend a night at the longhouses or in a nearby guesthouse.

Getting There: By Road and River. The distance to your longhouse depends on where you're going, but a common program, run out of Kuching, picks you up at your hotel for the 2-hour drive to a jetty by a major river. After that you may go up or downriver by longboat for one or two hours to reach the longhouse. Contact: Sarawak Tourism Office, Tel: 6082-246 575 / 775, Email: mtpbkch@tourism.gov.my

Tanjung Datu National Park

Tanjung Datu (3 hours from Kuching) is the smallest national park in of Sarawak, at just under 14 square kilometers, but what it lacks in size it makes with most beauty. The park comprises a narrow ridge of rugged forest-covered hills fringed by pristine white sand beaches, crystal clear waters and patches of coral reef. The rich mixed dipterocarp forest reaches almost to the water’s edge in some places, and this close proximity of rainforest and coral reef — the two most diverse natural communities on our planet — make Tanjung Datu a very important reservoir of biodiversity.

Located at the south-western tip of Sarawak on the Datu Peninsula, Tanjung Datu is one of Sarawak’s less accessible natural parks, but its relative remoteness is one of its main attractions. The beaches really are undisturbed, the corals offshore are untouched and the forest trails are virtually untrodden. This seclusion has helped to preserve a wide range of unusual plant species, including the night-blooming Putat tree (barringtonia asiatica), which produces pink and white flowers the size of tennis balls, huge Umbrella Palms and Strangling Figs, whilst the beaches are fringed with purple-flowered Sea Morning Glory.

Tanjung Datu’s animal life is equally rich and varied. Notable amongst the hundreds of bird species are at least three types of Hornbill, as well as peacocks. Primates include Bornean Gibbons, Pig-Tailed Macaques, Long-Tailed (or Crab-Eating) Macaques, and Silvered and Banded Langurs (or Leaf Monkeys). Bearded Pigs, Sambar Deer, Mouse Deer, Barking Deer, Bearcats, Civet Cats and various species of squirrel are amongst the land mammals that may occasionally be seen here.

Reptile species include a variety of ground and tree lizards, as well as Pit Vipers and Tree Snakes, but Tanjung Datu’s greatest contribution to reptile conservation is its role as a marine turtle nesting site. Highly endangered Green Turtles and Olive Ridley Turtles regularly lay their eggs on the park’s beaches. Therefore a turtle hatchery has been established — a fenced-off area close to the beach which is protected and monitored by park staff. Eggs from nests vulnerable to predators such as pigs, monitor lizards and snakes are relocated here to reduce the high levels of natural mortality. As well as turtles, the waters offshore from Tanjung Datu are home to dolphins, and unidentified whale species have also been reported.

Visitor Safety: Tanjung Datu’s coral reefs are home to a number of venomous creatures, including sea snakes, coral snakes, stonefish and cone shells. Marine Snakes are usually harmless if undisturbed, and if seen should be left well alone. Stonefish may conceal themselves in mud or sand surrounding the coral, especially at low tide, so do not walk or swim barefoot around coral reefs. Cone Shells are highly venomous and should not be handled under any circumstances:

Getting There: There is no road access to Tanjung Datu. Access is by boat from the nearby village of Telok Melano (15 mins), or on foot via the Telok Melano — Telok Upas — Tanjung Datu HQ Trail (2½ hours). Telok Melano itself is however accessible by road (30-min) from the town of Sematan, about 2½ hours drive from Kuching. Boats from Sematan to Telok Melano are infrequent, unscheduled and cater to local communities, so independent travel to the park may be difficult. Designated tour operators offer transport and guided tours to the park — further details are available from the National Parks Booking Office in Kuching. Please note that neither Tanjung Datu are accessible by boat during the monsoon season (October-February) due to high seas. Address: Sematan, Kuching, Reservations & Enquiries: National Parks Booking Office, Tel: 6082248088 Online booking: http://ebooking.com.my, Website: : sarawakforestry.com/parks-and-reserves/tanjung-datu-national-park/

Gunung Gading National Park

Gunung Gading National Park (two hours from Kuching) is a beautiful expanse of mountainous rainforest located near Lundu, a pleasant little town in south-west Sarawak. Initially, the park was a closed conservation zone to protect the spectacular meter-wide Rafflesia, the world’s largest flower, but after extensive environmental impact studies, the National Parks Department decided that Gunung Gading is a treasure that should be shared with the public. The park was opened in 1994, however it remains closely watched by the National Parks Department to ensure that visitors get the best opportunities to view the flowering Rafflesia without causing any damage to the young buds and other flora in the surrounding area.

A plank walk has been built close to where the Rafflesia is commonly found, making viewing possible when the plant is in bloom. There are also jungle trails that lead to streams, cascading waterfalls and the mountains, with one path taking trekkers to the summit of 906-meter-high Gunung Gading. The rugged mountains within the Park provide a scenic backdrop to the nearby town of Lundu, and the beaches at Pandan and Siar.

'The Waterfall' trail offers the shortest walk, winding its way up through the forest past a series of waterfalls. It takes about one hour to reach the last one, Waterfall No. 7. You'll need to be fit for the other trek, the Gunung Gading Summit trail (3-4 hours, one way) as it involves some serious hill walking. You must complete the trail and return the same day, as overnight stays in the forest are not permitted. From the summit you can opt for a side trek to Batu Bakubu, which was a former communist camp during the insurgency. Further information about these treks can be obtained from the Park HQ.

Accommodation at this national park can be booked online. Visitors are advised to bring along trekking attire and shoes, sunblock, a change of top, a small towel, strong insect repellent, a light poncho, and basic first aid supplies.The Park has no canteen facilities and visitors should bring enough food and drinking water.

Getting There: By Bus: The Park is just five minutes' drive from Lundu town or about a two-hour drive from Kuching. From the Brooke Dockyard (Gambier Street) bus station in Kuching take the Sarawak Transport Company bus to Kuching Sentral. Get on the express bus to Lundu (1 1/2 hours). Once arrived in Lundu, continue the journey to the national park in a van or taxi (10-mins). You can take an STC (Sarawak Transport Company) Lundu Express Bus or Bus No. 2B from Kuching City to Lundu town centre. From there, take a Pandan bus and ask to be dropped off at the park. Alternatively, charter a taxi for the day. Kuching tour operators offer guided tours to the park. Public bus service runs four return trips in a day. Two in the morning and two in the afternoon Contact our Visitor Information Center for the latest on bus schedules. Contact: Sarawak Tourism Office, Tel: 6082-246 575 / 775, Email: mtpbkch@tourism.gov.my. Admission Fee: Sarawakian: RM10.00 Non-Sarawakian: RM10.00; Children (between 6 and 18) 3.00, 7.00. Children (≤6 Years): Free, Contact No:, Tel: 60 82 735 144, Opening hours: 8.00am-5.00pm

Viewing the World’s Largest Flower in Sarawak

Gunung Gading National Park (two hours from Kuching, see above) is home to the world's largest flower, the rafflesia, which can grow up to one meter in diameter. When in bloom the flower gives off a nasty smell which attracts flies and other insects. The rafflesia has no specific blooming season but the rainy season provides higher blooming frequencies. It takes nine months for a bud to mature but flowering lasts only 4 or 5 days before dying.

Owing to the rafflesia's rarity and brief flowering period, timing (and luck) are important. The park staff usually know when a plant is about to bloom. Visitors can check with the park HQ (Tel: 735144) or the National Parks and Wildlife Booking Office in Kuching (Tel: 248088) to find out if any plants are about to bloom or already in bloom. Although flowers generally bloom throughout the year, November, December and January can be regarded as the peak flowering season as the frequency of blooms is high.

The Rafflesia can also be found in Kampung Begu, Kampung Temurang and Kampung Belimbing Darul Islam of Padawan in Kuching, Sarawak. Entrance fees to Kpg Temurang if Rafflesia flower in bloom is RM10 (adult) & RM5.00 (child) for foreigner / RM5.00 (adult) & RM3.00 (child) for local. Guiding fees to the location of the flower is RM50.00 in group of 1 — 10 paxs. For further information, please contact Mr. Joshua De Joze at 016 8755722 of Visitor Information Centre, Padawan Municipal Council.

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons,

Text Sources: Malaysia Tourism websites, Malaysia government websites, UNESCO, Wikipedia, Lonely Planet guides, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, National Geographic, The New Yorker, Bloomberg, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Japan News, Yomiuri Shimbun, Compton's Encyclopedia and various books and other publications.

Updated in August 2020