In the midst of nature at Bako

Despite its relatively small area of only 2,727 hectares, the park boasts seven distinct ecosystems, ranging from limestone mountains to tropical rainforests, mangrove forests, and ending at white sandy beaches. Bako Forest contains all the endemic plant species of Sarawak, including 25 species found only in Bako. It is also home to nearly 150 proboscis monkeys, listed in the Red Book of endangered species, along with many other unique animals such as the Borneo bearded pig, silver langur, long-tailed monkey, and red-bellied striped squirrel.

A view of Bako National Park.

Cities in Sarawak all have bus routes to Bako National Park, but that's only half the journey. Visitors buy ferry or motorboat tickets at Bako market, then take a 20-minute boat ride to the park, which is located where the Bako and Kuching rivers flow into the sea.

The Bako National Park management has planned four different routes to suit all fitness levels of hikers. The Paku route is the shortest and easiest, starting right from the pier – where visitors disembark at Bako. When the tide recedes, the nearby mangrove forest is filled with proboscis monkeys foraging for food.

After admiring the monkeys, visitors should head to Teluk Assam beach in front of the park entrance and gaze out at the ocean, where strangely shaped rocks stand majestically. Over thousands of years, waves and wind have eroded the mountains, exposing the iron ore within the rocks. The most famous rock here resembles the head of a cobra, leading visitors to believe it is the guardian deity of the park.

If you enjoy exploring flora, then follow the Lintang trek. Guides will lead you through the forest in an arc shape, discovering different ecosystems: mangrove forests, Dipterocarpus and Shorea forests, grasslands, Melaleuca forests on peatlands, etc. A highlight for many visitors is observing plants belonging to the genera Pitcher Plants, Sundews, and Arthropoda, "feeding" by trapping insects.

For those seeking a test of endurance, the Tajor-Limau route is the perfect choice. The Tajor route takes visitors to steep mountain peaks, caves, and waterfalls shaped by thousands of years of natural erosion. The Limau route, on the other hand, leads visitors down the mountain along treacherous trails, culminating at the beach. Some travelers, after completing their tiring trek, choose to spend the night in rented cottages or camp on the edge of the forest. Listening to the symphony of the night forest is a memorable experience for anyone who has ever stayed overnight in Bako.

Source