For nature lovers, it’s a rare joy to discover a biodiverse national park that’s so close to a major city, it practically mandates inclusion in your itinerary. A case in point is Bako National Park, the oldest national park in Sarawak and just an hour’s journey from the East Malaysian state’s vibrant and heritage-rich capital, Kuching.
Jutting out into the South China Sea on the northern tip of the Muara Tebas peninsula, this small but ecologically diverse green haven was gazetted as a protected area in 1957. With its forest-shrouded cliffs, craggy rock formations and sandy beaches, Bako National Park seems otherworldly, yet it is only a short drive and boat ride away.
It hosts many ecosystems in a small area
Measuring just 27.3 square kilometres, Bako is diminutive compared to the island’s other vast nature reserves like Sarawak’s biodiversity treasure Gunung Mulu National Park and Tanjung
Puting National Park, Central Kalimantan’s orangutan haven.
Within that relatively small area, however, the compact park hosts seven forest ecosystems including mixed dipterocarp forest, tropical heath, grasslands, mangroves and peat swamps.
These habitats feature almost every type of vegetation recorded in Borneo, including towering palms and carnivorous species like pitcher plants, sundews and bladderworts.
It is one of the best spots to see proboscis monkeys
Borneo, the world’s third largest island, is home to myriad endemic species including the proboscis monkey, an endangered primate that inhabits its coastal swamps and forests. While there are fewer than 1,000 proboscis monkeys in Sarawak, Bako National Park is one of the best places to see these magnificent mammals in their natural habitat.
Characterised by their large noses, potbellies and reddish-brown fur, these elusive arboreal creatures travel through the forest and mangroves in small groups to feed. Head to the park at dawn or dusk when the animals are most active for the best chance to spot them in their element.
It is a paradise for wildlife
Wildlife encounters begin soon after you disembark from the boat at the park’s headquarters in Telok Assam, where you’re bound to spot families of Bornean bearded pigs. Deriving their name from their impressive tuft of bristles, the omnivorous boars forage on fruit, roots, fungi and small vertebrates abundantly found at the park.
The park’s myriad wildlife includes silvered langurs, long-tailed macaques, plantain squirrels, mouse deer, otters, over 190 bird species, as well as reptiles like the Bornean keeled pit viper. Lest you are tempted to dip your toes into the sea, be warned that swimming is prohibited owing to the occasional presence of saltwater crocodiles.
It has more than a dozen nature trails
Featuring 16 well-marked and colour-coded jungle trails, almost anyone can explore Bako on a leisurely nature walk or hike. The most popular beginner-friendly trail is the 800-metre long Teluk Paku route, which traverses a cliff forest and culminates in a secluded bay.
If you’re lucky, you may be able to spot proboscis monkeys, whose grunts can sometimes be heard en route, indicating their presence nearby. An equally popular but more challenging trail owing to its steeper gradient is the 500-metre long Tanjung Sapi route, which promises spectacular views of the South China Sea and Mount Santubong.
While these trails can be completed in under two hours, there are longer, more challenging treks for seasoned hikers and guided nocturnal walks for overnight guests.
It has jaw-dropping rock formations
Bako’s coastline is famed for its dramatic rock formations, rising from sandy beaches like sentinels against the deep green forest backdrop. Made up of steep cliffs and rocky headlands carved by millions of years of sandstone erosion, the craggy geological structures are just as breathtaking as the sanctuary’s flora and fauna.
From their honeycomb weathering to their tangerine bands created over time by iron deposition, these stunning sculpted rocks are part of Bako’s otherworldly charm.
It is a perfect day trip from Kuching
Sarawak has so many spectacular national parks and nature reserves that it is impossible to see them all. Some parks may also be located in the state’s remote interior, requiring longer and more well-planned trips. Getting to Bako, however, is relatively easy as it only involves a 30-minute drive from Kuching’s city centre to the Bako Boat Terminal in Kampung Bako, followed by a 30-minute boat ride to park headquarters.
The park can only be accessed by boat but the scenic route meanders past mangroves and forested cliffs, making the journey well worth the effort. Look out for the rainforest-covered peaks of Mount Santubong in the distance en route.
While Bako National Park is the perfect nature excursion for day trippers, on-site chalets with electricity and clean water provide cosy accommodations for overnighters.
This story by Jacie Tan Cheng Hwee was originally published on AirAsia. Zafigo republished this story in full with permission from the publisher, simply because good stories should be read by as many people as possible! If you have stories that will be of interest and useful to women travellers, especially in Asia, please get in touch with us at [email protected].
