PLACES OF INTEREST

NATURE AND ADVENTURE

a)  Bako National Parks

This park of primary forest is about 37 Km from Kuching. Visitors here can see various types of flora and wildlife unique to this part of the world long tailed macaque, monitor lizards, wild boars and proboscis monkeys are just a few of the animals which can be found in their natural habitat here. A well-marked trail system takes visitors through various vegetation types in the park.

b) Gunung Mulu National Park

The Gunung Mulu Park covers an area of 200 square miles of primary alluvial, peat swamp mixed dipterocarp, limestone and mountain forests. It contains some of the most fascinating caves in the world among them the Deer Cave, Clearwater Cave, Wind Cave Wonder Cave and Sarawak Chamber. The picturesque limestone pinnacles make beautiful photographs but are not very accessible, being on the summit of 1,600m high limestone hill. It can be reached by half a day climbing from Melinou Gorge.

c)   Lambir Hills National Park

This national park boasts a number of waterfalls and bathing pools that attract weekend picnicker. A climb up Bukit Lambir makes an invigorating challenge. The park contains some of the richest tropical rain forest in Sarawak.

d)  Niah National Park

Established in 1974, the Niah National Park encompasses 3,102 hectares of limestone and forest. The park can only be reached through a succession of flight, road journey and boat ride. The journey is a good way of seeing rural Sarawak.

The Niah Cave at the park is one of the major attractions in this part of the world. Evidence exists of Homo sapiens who lived in these caves More than 40,000 years ago, with their unique culture and beliefs. Artefacts such as stone, bone and iron tools were discovered at this site and primitive drawings can still be seen in certain parts of the caves. The world's best bird's nests, a culinary delight, is still being harvested from the ceiling of the caves by men climbing up bamboo poles.

e) Similajau National Park

Take a 20 minute drive along the coastal road from Bintulu town and enter the Similajau National Park, once a remote and unknown place is now transformed into a tourist attraction in this energy town. Covering an area of More than 7,000 hectares, the park offers you one of the most beautiful and unspoiled golden beaches in the country and home to over 850 species of birds and 24 varieties of mammals. For overnighters, basic facilities such as chalets and hostels are available. A forest department's information centre is there too to assist visitors.