Travel To Bako National Park!

Welcome to Bako National Park!

Bako National Park is very popular!Gazetted in 1957, This is Sarawak's oldest national park, covering an area of 2,727 hectares at the tip of the Muara Tebas peninsula. established in 1957, 37km from Kuching City, accessible by road and seafaring craft.

Popularly known for its abundant varieties and contrast in natural sceneries, habitats, vegetations and also rare wildlife.Its most significant features include secluded coves and rugged rocky headlands with magnificent steep cliffs carved by weathering and erosionover millions of years.

Bako National Park is very popular,especially at weekends.This Sarawak's oldest national park is known for extraordinary variety in its natural scenery, habitats, plant life and wildlife.But Be careful of the monkeys - they are compulsive thieves.

A guided tour of this park will enable you to appreciate a splendid range of flora and fauna, including vegetations such as the carnivorous pitcher plants, wild orchids etc. Wandering through its mangrove forest, it is easy to sight crowd of long-tailed macaques and silver leaf monkeys, monitor lizards,squirrels, bearded wild boars, mouse deer and the rare long-nosed proboscis monkeys (can only be found in Borneo).

How To Get There

From Kuching take a bus or taxi to Kampung Bako.Petrajaya bus No.6 and regular minibuses (see Travel Connections) go to Kampung Bako,a picturesque fishing village. Taxi fare is RM 35 one-way From there you have to charter a boat to the Park HQ from the booth at the jetty. The one-way fare is RM 40 per boat (up to 5 people). 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. For many people, this is where Borneo really starts!

At The Park HQ: Upon arrival visitors must register at the Park HQ. There is an information centre, canteen and shop at the Park HQ.The information centre shows films and slide shows on Bako's wildlife, and has full details of all the trails and what to look out for. The canteen serves a range of hot and cold drinks, snacks and light meals (fried rice, noodles etc.).

Accommodation

Prices shown exclude 5% government service tax. All rooms have fans. Accommodation consists of 'Type 5' Forest Lodges (2 rooms with 3 single beds each, shared bathroom) at RM 150 per house or RM 100 per room; Type 6' Forest Lodges (2 rooms with 2 single beds each, attached bathroom) at RM 75 per house or RM 50 per room, and Hostel Rooms (4 beds) at RM 40 per room or RM 15 per person. The Campsite is RM 5 per person.

Planning an itineraryThere is so much you can see in this park:

*A suitable place is Teluk Assam, if you try a spot of bird watching.

*Go on night walks and you just might be lucky enough to spota few nocturnal creatures as they come out to forage for food. Thatis if you are quite enough and not be so indiscreet as to let yourpresence be known! Watch out for flying lemurs, mousedeer, civets andbats.

*There are also clearly marked jungle trails in a system covering some19 miles throughout the park. This take you through the lowland forests and upthe hills for fantastic views of the headland, bays and beaches below. This is a good opportunity for a close observation of the different speciesof vegetation. Check out how the tree roots do their bit towards checking erosionfrom the heavy rainfall!

*Trek up to the Tajor waterfalls for a leisurely picnic amidst the roarof the waterfalls and then take a clip in the irresistibly inviting coolclear waters. The trail ends with a steep descent to the beach.

*Get away from the usual crowd and camp at picturesque Teluk Limau. Thenproceed to explore Teluk Keruing with its marvelously secluded freshwaterpond - a heaven in the wilderness.

Treks and Trails

Bako’s extensive trail system is made up of 16 colour-coded jungle trails which offer a range of walking and hiking options:

1. Tanjung Sapi 0.5 km 30 minutes (0.8 km) White/Red - Excellent views of Telok Assam, the South China Sea and Santubong. Proboscis monkeys can occasionally be heard crashing amongst the trees, especially early morning.

2 Telok Paku 0.8 km 1 hour (1.2 km) White - Proboscis monkeys are often seen during early morning or late afternoon. One of the best trails for seeing proboscis monkeys. Move slowly, keep as quiet as possible and listen out for strange grunts or movements in the canopy.

3. Ulu Assam 0.8 km 1 1/4 hours (1.4 km) Blue/Red - Passes at first through swamp forest and a flat section where proboscis monkeys are sometimes seen. The trail then climbs steeply and at times you must hang on to tree roots to keep your balance. At the top you are rewarded with breathtaking views of Bako’s coastline.

4. Telok Delima 0.25 km 45 minutes (1 km) Blue/White - Listen out for strange grunting noises or the crash of vegetation. If you hear something, stop, keep as quiet as possible and scan the forest. Try to ‘follow’ the strange noises with your eyes. If you are lucky you may see a harem of proboscis monkeys.

5. Telok Pandan Besar 0.75 km 1 hour (1.75 km) Yellow - The Telok Pandan Besar trail ends at a cliff top with views of the beach below.

6. Telok Pandan Kecil 1.5 km 1 1/2 hours (2.5 km) Yellow - Telok Pandan Kecil is one of Bako’s most popular. It ascends the forested hills overlooking Telok Assam, reaching a plateau covered in scrub vegetation, and continues along a sandy path lined with carnivorous pitcher plants, before reaching a cliff top with stunning views of the secluded bay below and the famous sea stack just offshore.

7. Serait 1.25 km 1 1/2 hours (2.2 km) White/Yellow - This trail takes about one and half hours and ends at the park boundary. It is not frequently used and is somewhat secluded. Good for seeing some of Bako’s rainforest giants.

8. Lintang 5.25 km 3 1/2 hours return Red - The section between the Ulu Assam and Serait junctions is another good spot for seeing proboscis monkeys. The Bukit Tambi viewpoint is a short detour off the main trail and overlooks the western part of the park.

9. Tajor 2.75 km 2 1/2 hours (3.5 km) Red/White - Take a hat as the sun can be quite fierce on the exposed sections of the trail. The trail also passes the Tajor Waterfall, a popular resting spot. The waterfall is quite small (and best after heavy rain) but it has a beautiful jungle setting and a small dip pool. From the park HQ it takes about two and half hours to reach the waterfall. Watch out for slippery rocks along the Tajor stream.

10. Tanjung Rhu 1.8 km 2 1/2 hours (4.2 km) Red/Yellow - Take a hat as the sun can be quite fierce on the exposed sections of the trail. The trail also passes the Tajor Waterfall, a popular resting spot. The waterfall is quite small (and best after heavy rain) but it has a beautiful jungle setting and a small dip pool. From the park HQ it takes about two and half hours to reach the waterfall. Watch out for slippery rocks along the Tajor stream.

11. Bukit Keruing 2.25 km 3 1/2 hours (5.5 km) Blue - This trail connects Bukit Gondol with Tajor and passes some mighty rainforest giants. It passes along the slopes of Bukit Keruing, the second highest point in Bako.

12. Paya Jelutong 0.2 km 3 1/2 hours (5.7 km) White/Blue - This trail is actually a short cut for those who do not wish to climb Bukit Gondol. Although it is a very short trail it offers the opportunity of seeing fresh water swamp forest in unique setting that is extremely high above the sea level. The most dominant species in the area is Jelutong, a softwood species used for making pencils and the latex for chewing gum.

13. Bukit Gondol 2 km 4 1/2 hours (7.7 km) Yellow/White - This semi-circular loop trail passes over Bukit Gondol, the highest point in Bako at 260 metres. From the top of the hill there are excellent views of Pulau Lakei and the Muara Tebas areas.

14. Ulu Serait 2.75 km 3 hours (4.8 km) Blue/Yellow - This trail connects the Lintang trail with the Bukit Gondol hill walk. It is deep inside the park and passes through scrub, padang vegetation and swamp forest.

15. Telok Sibur 0.8 km 3 1/2 hours (5.3 km) Red/Black - After a very steep 45 minute descent, a walk through the mangroves and a wade across a the Sibur river you finally reach the longest beach in Bako.

16. Telok Limau 5.75 km 7 hours (10 km) Red/Blue - You pass through rich rainforest, scrub land and swamp forest, cross small streams and climb a number of hilly sections affording excellent views of the whole Muara Tebas peninsula. You can camp at Telok Limau and return the next day or arrange for a boat to pick you up, or the trip can be made vice-versa; using a boat to Telok Limau and then trekking back to the park HQ. Only physically fit, experienced trekkers should attempt this trail, and must inform the park management before leaving.

17. Telok Kruin 1.5 km 7 1/4 hours (10.5 km) Blue/Black - Look out for pitcher plants that line the side of the trail. There are four short side-trails which lead to the Bukit Kruin lookout, a small rock pool, the Muara Tebas lookout point, and the Tanjung Keruin and Tanjung Po viewpoints. The last section of the trail is a very steep descent to a mangrove forest. The trail then continues through the mangroves. Look out for the marks on the trees that show the way to the deserted beach - one of the best in the park.

18. Pa’ Amit (Lakei Island) 1.0 km 30 minutes (from Base) Orange - This small island at the northeastern tip of the Bako Peninsuala has a delightful white sand beach and crystal clear waters for swimming. At the highest point on the island, at the top of a 160-step wooden ladder, is the grave of a legendary Malay warrior. Datuk Ibrahim was an early resident of the island, and believed to be so strong that he could engrave Islamic ‘khats’ (religious calligraphy) on rocks with his bare fingers, such as those found at the Salamun Pool on the island. The pool is popular with local visitors, some of whom believe that the water in the pool has spiritual and curative powers. The grave also attracts devotees seeking to have wishes granted or to see into the future. The Pa’ Amit Trail, the only trail on the island, leads to two viewpoints that offer excellent photo-opportunities when as the sun sets over Mount Santubong. Accommodation is available on the island but space is limited.