The Bako National Park covers 2,742 hectares of a rugged sand stone peninsula to the east of the Bako River near Kuching, the capital of Sarawak. Millions of years of erosion have created a coastline of steep cliffs, rocky headlands and stretches of white, sandy bays.
Sarawak's oldest national park was established in 1957, covers a modest 27 sq. km., and is about 37km from Kuching. It's known for its extraordinary natural scenery, habitats, plants and wild life.
Its most significant features are secluded coves and rugged rocky headlands with magnificent steep cliffs that overlook the South China Sea.
Bako is famous for being the most accessible place in Sarawak. With its rainforest, abundant wildlife, jungle streams, waterfalls, interesting plant life, secluded beaches, panoramic rocky shoreline, bizarre rock formations and extensive network of trekking trails, Bako National Park offers visitors an excellent introduction to the rainforest and coastline of Borneo.
There are many animals that you can see roaming in the wild here. Of particular interest is the proboscis monkeys which are protected species and can only be found in the island of Borneo. They are also known as the Dutchman due to their reddish brown in colour. They live on trees and are generally shy animals compared to the more common long-tailed macaques or the silver-leaf monkeys. Look out for other animals and insects that you may encounter which may include:
- Borneo Bearded Pigs
- Otters
- Monitor lizards
- Squirrels
- Over 150 species of birds
- Flying lemur or culago
- Mouse deer
- Palm civet cats
- Slow loris
- Pangolin
- Bats
- Tarsier
- Silver leaf monkeys
- Long-tailed macaques
- Snakes
- Mudskippers
- Crabs
- Shell-dwelling hermit crabs
- Frogs
- Owls
- Cicadas
