Bako National Park Sarawak Malaysia

Bako National Park is undoubtedly one of the best places to “see wildlife in a natural Borneo setting”. The daytrip was spectacular, but the heat and excessive humidity were daunting. The nature reserve covers about 10 square miles at the tip of the Muara Tebas Peninsula along the South China Sea. It’s the smallest but oldest national park in Sarawak and was designated a protected area in 1957.

After a 30-minute drive from Kuching, we reached Bako Fishing Village. The national park can only be accessed by water, so we proceeded along the South China Sea by boat for another 30 minutes. It was a fantastic group of seven people – from Italy, Belgium, and Switzerland. All were mellow, pleasant company.

Our guide was a Borneo native and member of an indigenous tribe – Orang Ulur. I missed most photos of fast-moving, illusive animals inside the dense jungle vegetation. You have to keep an eye on where you’re walking and at the same time, listen to the guide while taking photos. Mine are mostly of the vegetation and beaches. To illustrate Borneo jungle magic, I’ve included media shots of flora and fauna.

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“Other than being famed for its jungle, Sarawak is also known for indigenous communities. There are more than 34 recognised ethnic groups”. enewsletter.sarawaktourism.com

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Flora and Fauna

Some of the most prevalent wildlife at Bako includes endemic proboscis monkeys, silvered langur monkeys, earless monitor lizards, long-tailed macaques, and wild boar. There are numerous species of snakes, not to mention frogs, turtles, tarantulas, and insects, including interesting stingless honey bees. We heard but didn’t see birds – 150 species are recorded at Bako, including kingfishers, barbets, woodpeckers, flycatchers, owls, and more.

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“Bako’s nocturnal creatures include the flying lemur, pangolin, mouse deer, bats, tarsier, slow loris, and palm civet.”

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We saw monkeys, wild boar, snakes, lizards, turtles, and unusual insects. Rich park flora and fauna are so extensive, it would take seasoned botanists and zoologists to identify them all. Unbelievably, many species still remain undiscovered.

Bako’s nocturnal animals include the colugo, pangolin, mousedeer, fruit- and insect-eating bats, tarsier (looks like the African bush baby), slow loris, and palm civet. You would be very lucky to actually see these unique, illusive jungle creatures!

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“Borneo has about 3,000 species of trees, more than 1,700 orchids (some of the most beautiful are the rarest and endangered), and more than 50 carnivorous pitcher plants.” WWF

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Impressive rainforest flora includes “mangrove to kerangas (peat swamp) forests, tropical swamps, cliff and beach vegetation, limestone sea stack formations, and jungle streams and waterfalls”.

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“Bako National Park is probably the best place in Sarawak for wildlife experiences. The park has been a protected area since 1957, so the animals are less wary of humans.”

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Bako plant life includes a variety of tree and plant species, including carnivorous plants – pitcher plants, sundews, and bladderworts.

Hiking Trails and Beaches 

The extensive trail system at Bako is made up of “16 colour-coded jungle trails“. There’s a range of walking and hiking options – from full-day hikes and overnight camping expeditions to less challenging jungle “walks”.

Even though I found the jungle trails extremely challenging, the rainforest is an amazing place to visit, and I enjoyed every minute. They trails were strewn with deep roots, slippery rocks, and steep wooden stairways created to enhance accessibility. I sorely missed my hiking poles! Borneo beaches, coves, and bays along the South China Sea are glorious, but with the large crocodile population, swimming is forbidden. We were lucky – there was no rain.