Archive for the ‘national parks’ Category
Sarawak tourist destination
In 1958, archeologists discovered evidence of human occupation of the caves dating back some 40,000 years. Rock paintings were found in what has become known as the Painted Cave, and the discovery of several small canoe-like coffins (death ships) indicate that this site was once used as a burial ground.
Key Tips
Since the caves are home to millions of bats, it’s a good idea to wear sturdy shoes to avoid an ugly encounter with guano – bat dung.
How To Get There
By Road and River
The Park is accessible by road from Miri or Bintulu. It takes about 2 hours from Miri and 3 hours from Bintulu to Batu Niah. From Batu Niah, it is a short boat trip to the Park Headquarters.
Who to Contact
For more information, please contact Sarawak Tourism Office Tel: +6082-246 575 / 775 Email: mtpbkch@tourism.gov.my
A holiday in Sarawak is not complete without a visit to the longhouses that are the traditional dwellings of many of the natives here such as the Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu. A longhouse is a terraced street of separate dwellings covered by one roof. A tuai rumah (headman) is the head of the longhouse. Every family has their own separate bilik (room). Communal activities are carried out on the ruai (verandah). Male visitors will spend a night on the verandah whereas female visitors are invited to stay in the bilik or room.
Longhouse communities normally wear practical clothes like jeans and T-shirts. They only wear their traditional costumes during festivals like Gawai Dayak or the Iban harvest festival and also during weddings. Tour groups are normally greeted with a glass of tuak or rice wine and a welcome dance. After that, they will tour the longhouses and will be entertained by various cultural performances. You are usually invited to join in the dancing. Visitors can spend a night at the longhouses or in a nearby guesthouse. – source: tourism malaysia.
Sarawak Longhouse
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Lambir Hills is very popular among ecologists and researchers. Just a sample 52 hectares of the park’s 7,000 hectares revealed 1,050 different species of trees, and each tree supports 1,000 species of insect life!
Ecologists think there are many plant and insect species in the park still waiting to be discovered. This ecological wonderland is one of the most accessible of Sarawak’s national parks, just a 30-minute drive from Miri. In your eagerness to get to Mulu or Niah you should not miss out on a visit to Lambir. Its forest is home to gibbons, tarsiers, bearded pigs, flying squirrels, deer and 157 types of birds and the beautiful clouded leopard.
You will see the wildlife as you wander the park’s forest trails. The longest and toughest is to the top of Bukit Lambir (465 metres) but the superb view of the rainforest below makes the climb worth the sweat.
There is a 40m tall tree tower on the trail from which you can get a close-up view of the pulsating life of the rainforest canopy. The Park is also ideal for birdwatching.
Its close proximity to Miri makes the park ideal for a day visit, but if you want to study the wildlife at leisure, overnight accommodation is available at the park headquarters. – source: tourism malaysia.
Lambir Hill National Park
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Mulu Caves National Park is home to one of the longest networks of caves in the world. Here lies the world’s largest underground chamber, the Sarawak Chamber, capable of accommodating forty Boeing 747 airplanes.
In Mulu, you will also find the world’s biggest cave passage, Deer Cave, which can fit five cathedrals the size of Saint Paul’s in London. Another key attraction is Clear Water Cave, the longest cave in Southeast Asia. The massive caves here are home to millions of bats and cave swiftlets that swarm out into the jungle in great clouds every evening at dusk!
The outdoorsy type will be pleasantly surprised by some of the best examples of tropical limestone weathering in the world, including enormous razor-sharp pinnacles, deep-cut canyons, appropriately named The Pinnacles. There are tough but rewarding multi-day hikes available from the resort. A guide and porter are recommended. -source: tourism malaysia.
Gunung Mulu National Park
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Gunung Gading National Park is a beautiful expanse of mountainous rainforest only two hours away from Kuching. Located near Lundu, a pleasant little town in south-west Sarawak.
Initially, the park was a closed conservation zone for the spectacular Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world that can grow up to one metre in diameter. However, after extensive environmental impact studies, the National Parks Department decided that Gunung Gading is a treasure that should be shared with the public.
It was therefore opened to the public in 1994. However, Gunung Gading National Park remains closely watched by the National Parks Department to ensure that visitors will get the best opportunities to view the flowering Rafflesia without causing any damage to the young buds and other flora in the surrounding area.
A plank walk has been built close to where the Rafflesia is commonly found, making viewing possible when the plant is in bloom.
Jungle trails lead to streams, cascading waterfalls and the mountains, with one path taking trekkers to the summit of Gunung Gading (906m). The rugged mountains within the Park provide a scenic backdrop to the nearby town of Lundu, and the beaches at Pandan and Siar. – source: tourism malaysia
Gunung Gading National Park, Sarawak
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