One of the shorter trails of the park, it would conclude at a mangrove by the beach. The most popular residents at Bako are . It is one of the easiest-to-access national parks in Borneo, has some of the best-marked trails making DIY travel here easy, and is renowned for being one of the best parks in all of Borneo. Bako National Park from Kuching City. Let us know what you think of these sounds from trekking in the Borneo jungle, as its just an experiment and wonder whether it adds anything to the blog? All day, Id had no luck encountering proboscis monkeys during my time out on the trails. But there are some occasions where youll be walking on the dirt, or (my least favorite) on top of tree roots. After dinner in the cafeteria, about a dozen of us gathered for the night hike. Bako National Park is located in Malaysia's Borneo and it is certainly suitable for a trekking adventure like the one which we have mentioned before. The same goes for all other trails. You can see bearded pigs as you walk Bakos trails. Like arranging other things in India, it is not always as simple or easy as you may first imagine. While you shouldnt expect to see anything too exotic, its still a very cool experience. Even others who were standing right by me under the same tree realized that their phone cameras were not of much use, and quickly gave up. For a fee of RM7 per person, they will bring you for a boat ride to view the Bako coastline. During my two-day visit to Bako, I was able to try out seven different trails, including the night walk. I hope they never put a road in as the view from the boat is amazing.There are so many walks to choose from. Heres a navigation menu if youre looking for quick info about a specific trail, while the practical information can be found at the end of the article. Dont go to Bako expecting a dip in the ocean, though the waters are entirely infested with crocodiles! Don't let them deter you though if you follow the rules and have a stick they won't hurt you.The forest is nothing short of spectacular and the bird and reptile life is many and varied. We finally headed back and continued our stealth manoeuvres trying to spot the monkeys high in the canopy near to the beach. From the park HQ it takes about three and half hours to reach the end of Telok Sibur trail, first following the Tajor trail to the waterfall. Departure for Bako National Park at Bako village. After a long spell as a full-time reporter writing for TV and Radio news in Borneo and beyond, she is currently a Senior Marketing in a private firm practicing writing, public relations as well as marketing. The sound effects worked brilliantly, I particularly loved the second one I may well meditate to that as Im sure it will increase alpha-waves. The number 1 bus operated by Rapid Kuching Transport leaves every hour from bus station number 1 or (more conveniently for us) at a stop on the North of town opposite the Riverside Majestic Hotel. Have you ever seen a pig with beard? Id actually be trying out two trails, but as theyre both in the same general area, people normally do them together. The Tajor trail passes scrub and padang vegetation and ends with a steep climb down to a small beach. Booked accommodation online and caught a cab to the boat departure point where lots of boatmen were waiting to escort people across (return 90 ringit). Bako National Park | Best Jungle Trekking Places - YouTube We had the chance of jungle treks to secluded beaches, the chance of spotting proboscis and silver leaf monkeys, cheeky long tailed macaques, snakes, tarantulas and other small jungle wildlife as well as a variety of terrains from swamp forests, scrub vegetation to mangrove and dipterocarp forests. It was explained before we set out that what we see is down to luck, but I secretly hoped for a snake or two and at least one tiny tree frog. The trail ends at the top where you will have a beautiful scenery of the Bako coastline. The accommodation is limited, so no walk up services are available. Bohol is a magnet [], A delay in this post has been caused by very slow internet connections throughout the last part of our travels in the Philippines. Great moment, hopefully not too disturbing for mother and child. But whats more is that they also have big round pot bellies, as if all they ever drank was beer. Located nearby Kuching, Malaysia, Bako National Park is a great destination for birdwatching, wildlife spotting, and jungle trekking. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. My last objective for the day was to hike the entire Lintang loop trail. [soundcloud id=57717068 playerType=Standard]. I was unsure of what to expect or whether this would be worth the trip. Getting back could have been a long wait for a bus but one of the boat guys offered to drive us for double the price of the grab, so I jumped in with the family. Bako isnotable for itsincredible biodiversity, encompassing from wild orchids toproboscis monkeys. In cities, I avoid shared dorm rooms like the plague, but Ive never had an issue with people in shared rooms at national parks. Look out for the marks on the trees that show the way to the deserted beach one of the best in the park. Along this trail, they have fix lots of ladder steps for you to climb. Great staff, great place but loads of litter, Sarawak Bako National Park with Sea Stack Tour. This small island at the northeastern tip of the Bako Peninsuala has a delightful white sand beach and crystal clear waters for swimming. Our jungle experience was totally amazing. Or sign up to receive regular updates to your inbox. Bako's extensive trail system is made up of 16 colour-coded jungle trails which offer a range of walking and hiking options. Though Id be spending one night at the park, I still wanted to see all that I could on my first day, as the last boat back to town is always 3pm. You can just asked other ppl to join you to share the cost of the boat ride. Small bays, steep cliffs and sandy beaches make Bakos coastline a delight. So just a word warning the macaques at Bako are not like what you might be used to elsewhere in Asia. We were ready for the hike back; we followed the trekking signs and walked past some spectacular mushrooms and wild plants, the best of all being the Pitcher Plant, known asPeriuk Kera in Malay language. Given my tiredness from the afternoon trek in the heat and my post dinner comfort I nearly said to John that we should skip the planned night trek. This is due to the fact that the area is inhabited by proboscis monkeys Monyet Belanda who feed on leaves and roots, yet we had no luck and did not see any during our hike. When bringing a camera and gear to such a humid and rainy place like Borneo, there are a few other accessories youll want to bring along. Sometimes [], Goa Retirement, Revamps and a bit of Home Cooking, We hang about in Goa for our remaining time in India sampling foods from home and join the large expat community and retired folk enjoying what is on offer. Perhaps we had chosen the wrong track, or maybe it was the right one and the trail was simply hard. Tajor area is quite worth a visit for its pretty jungle settings. The last boat depart from the island at 3pm so you can plan your trip.Also they have dorm facility for those who wish to stay longer and explore the island. Trekking in Bako National Park - The Golden Scope Bako is definately worth the trip and some discomfort. This []. or head into the jungle for some trekking. The national park staff at Bako also conduct night walks for 10 ringit per person, which we went on; unfortunately, we didn't see any creatures. Within a couple of hundred metres of our Forest Lodge we saw probiscis monkey, macaques and bearded pigs, as well as wonderful insects and snakes. Our day trip (from 9am-5pm) to Bako is definately worth it. You must then trek for another 25 minutes before you reach the Telok Keruin trail. After that, the real jungle trekking begins. 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. Meeting Point Pick up at hostel/hotel From the top of the hill there are excellent views of Pulau Lakei and the Muara Tebas areas. 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. On the opposite side of the street, next to a burger stand, is the bus stop you need. As for accommodation, its highly recommended to book in advance online, so read more on that below. Try to follow the strange noises with your eyes. Third, Asian people like to have fair skin and usually refuse to get a tan. Our first adventure into the jungle. As for now, Malaysia has got numerous national parks that you could visit nowadays. Considering the citys size, location isnt incredibly important, as youll still be able to get most places on foot. This trail connects the Lintang trail with the Bukit Gondol hill walk. If there is any time change, your guide will inform you at least 1 day prior to the tour. Unlike the other parks this one is accessed by boat via a river cruise. Despite some negative reviews I read online, it really wasnt that bad. The weather proved challenging, but the wildlife made it all worthwhile. The park are very safety conscious and you must sign in and out for all your treks letting the staff know where you are going should anything not go to plan. This was certainly the case in Waitangi doing the Haka with some actors. The photos were superb, loved the protective mummy monkey one and the amazing blue crab, keep trekking you two xxx. There is a canteen on site which has basic food, drinks and even beer for sale all at reasonable prices. As we looked to the right we saw our first proboscis monkeys high up in the trees chomping on the fruits and leaves. If you go to see the Proboscis ask at the Park Headquarters when you arrive the best place to see them. Jungle Trekking Through Bako National Park - Sailingstone Travel Not only does the trail start right by park headquarters, but its also the shortest trail in all of Bako. In the end we got all of these and a whole lot more. A permit is required for professional photography or filming, which should be arranged in advance with the National Park Booking Office. The waterfall is quite small (and best after heavy rain) but it has a beautiful jungle setting and a small dip pool. Caught a boat over to Bako to experience the national park to see the wildlife and fauna. Tags: get to Bako National Park, Malaysia travel blog. While Bako may not have an instantly recognizable star attraction, it is undeniable that there are very few places in the world that pack so much natural beauty into such a limited area, all just 37 km away from Kuching. The routes to the various sites are well mapped out, and signposted, and night tours are also provided. But if you want your private space, AC or other amenities, go for the more expensive options. It is essential to pre-book accommodation. Dont leave food, water or belongings unattended for amillisecondabsolutely anywhere in the park. The most dominant species in the area is Jelutong, a softwood species used for making pencils and the latex for chewing gum. Tajor was indeed a very pleasant area. In a sense, seeing them right outside the cafeteria and not deep in the jungle almost felt like cheating. Even that would be better than relying on your phone. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Bako National Park from Kuching City. Waiting a few minutes for them to slightly migrate, I found my chance and made my way back safely. 3. And to make matters worse, huge portions of the path consisted of uneven tree roots that werent very easy to walk on. While Id definitely recommend staying a night at Bako, be sure to give Tanjong Sapi a try if you can only visit as a day trip. One thing I would recommend, though, is to bring your own snacks from town. But then I encountered a group of macaques. The most popular one is probably Taman Negara National Park around Pahang. Wildlife photography is one case where youll absolutely need a zoom lens. The national park staff identified a local guide for us who met us the following morning (80 ringit). Only physically fit, experienced trekkers should attempt this trail, and must inform the park management before leaving. We [], We arrived in the Philippines on board another Jetstar flight at around 8pm on a Saturday. Perhaps bring some snacks can be easily disposed of, without littering the Park.The location itself is divine, in amongst mountains, waterfalls, beaches and various animals that walk around the area (don't worry, it is safe!) Otherwise bring your own. Continue along the main trail for another 45 minutes until you reach a junction and the start of the Sibur trail. This is Bakos long distance trail, six or seven hours from the park HQ to the small beach at Telok Limau. Bako National Park: Great jungle trekking and breathtaking View! For example, the Delima trails colors are white and blue, and during your hike, youll periodically see the colors painted on posts or trees. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. As it was low tide, the boat back to town wouldnt be arriving at the jetty, but in the middle of the beach instead. Combining the two together, including the backtracking and also the steep hike upward was, well, a pretty strenuous hike. s.type = 'text/javascript'; The swim in the pool at the waterfall was a magic way to end our awesome stay. Bako National Park, with its wide range of vegetation, its rich variety of wildlife and its coastline covered with small bays, coves and beaches is like a short introduction to Borneo; I have been there, will you go too? Just remember to bring plenty of water and good walking shoes! The nearby rivers waters were a mixture of red and brown, perhaps due to the earth brought by waterfalls and to the sea water mixing with freshwater. Best national parks in Malaysia - Lonely Planet Enquire at the registration counter for details. Hiking through the jungle - Review of Bako National Park, Kuching - See 383 traveler reviews, 522 candid photos, and great deals for Bako National Park, Malaysia, at Tripadvisor. It was only after a further 30 minutes that we reached Tajor Waterfall, beautifully surrounded by deep jungle. s.async = true; 2. The grave also attracts devotees seeking to have wishes granted or to see into the future. The one and a half hour trek to Telok Pandan Kecil is one of Bakos most popular. While not incredibly cheap, its only a fraction of what the elite lenses cost. It is deep inside the park and passes through scrub, padang vegetation and swamp forest. We booked exclusive use, of a four person dorm room with shared bathroom, for just over RM40 (US $13) for the night for both of us. Along the way, you'll see lots of flora and fauna, some monkeys and some rock formations. Ministry Of Tourism, Creative Industry and PerformingArts, Sarawak Trade & Tourism Office Singapore (STATOS). Returning to headquarters at a reasonable hour, I still had plenty of time for yet another hike. (You can swim at some waterfalls, however.). This is one of the best trails for proboscis monkey sightings, and as we later learned we had embarked on the trek at exactly the right time, as they are most active in the early morning or late afternoons. Therefore you can prepare to wear casual clothes for jungle trekking with rubber sandal as u have to deal with water when you jump out of the boat as well depart from the island.Great view as they hv 7-8 different track you can choose depend on your time you have. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Stayed here for night as part of a tour. There is a range of accommodation at Bako, but all of it is basic and the only real difference is how many people you will share with or whether you have your own attached bathroom. The loop trek takes about 45 minutes. The park is full of wildlife - proboscis monkeys, silver-leaf langurs, long-tailed macaques, wild boars, monitor . This website uses cookies to improve your experience. According to Sarawak Forestry Department, Bako National Park was gazetted in 1957, which makes it the oldest national park in the country, covering an area of 2,727 hectares of land in the Muara Tebas Peninsula. There are four main national parks located in the Kuching area.