Adventure

Gunung Mulu National Park is one of Nature's most spectacular achievements and the 'jewel in the crown' of Sarawak's expanding network of national parks. It is also the largest national park, covering 52,865 hectares of primary rainforest, which is criss-crossed by fast flowing rivers and clear jungle streams. Mulu is dominated by three mountains - Gunung Mulu (2,376 m), Gunung Api (1,750 m) and Gunung Benarat (1,585 m).

Yet many of Mulu's greatest attractions lie deep below the surface. Hidden underneath the forested slopes of these mountains is one of the largest limestone cave systems in the world.

Mulu's four Show Caves were selected for their uniqueness or sheer beauty. Besides the popularly visited Deer Caves, Lang Caves, Clearwater Caves and Lady's Caves, a more strenuous trek leads to a weird landscape of razor-sharp rock pinnacles.

They can all be visited as day trips from the park HQ and are accessible by plankwalks and well-lit concrete paths. Strategically positioned spotlights highlight the unique features of the individual caves. A plank walk leads through the forest to Deer and Lang's Cave whilst Clearwater Cave and Wind Cave are reached by taking a longboat up the Melinau River, or by following a 4 km nature trail. The more adventurous can do Adventure Caving.

Permits and a park guide are usually organized by tour operators. Access to Mulu was traditionally by boat, but Fockker Friendship and Twin Otter workhorse flights from Malaysia Airlines rural services are available and shorten daylong trips to 25 minutes and 40 minutes flights respectively.

The Canopy Skywalk, the world's longest tree-based structure, in Mulu National Park allow visitors a glimpse of life in the treetops of the rainforest. 480 meters of walkway hang 20 meters above the forest floor, forming a circular route suspended between 15 trees with a separate exit tower. To keep human incursions at a sustainable level, visitor numbers to the Canopy Skywalk are carefully monitored. Tour operators need to book canopy walks well in advance, and stay within the stated hours. Up to ten hours per day is available.

At dusk, millions of bats will fly out of the caverns, a very spectacular sight.

Link: http://www.mulupark.com

The Great Cave of Niah is enormous by any measure. The floor area of the cave has been calculated at almost 10 hectares and in places the cave roof rises a majestic 75 meters above the rubble-strewn floor. It has been the site of around 40,000 years of human occupation.

The earliest phase of cave occupation is referred to as the Paleolithic (old stone age) and occurs in the late Pleistocene epoch. The Pleistocene ends with the beginning of Holocene epoch around 10,000 years ago. During the Holocene there were many exciting changes in the way humans occupied a wide range of environments across the globe.

At Niah, human use of the caves changes from a location of intermittent use by mobile foragers during the early Holocene and becomes a major repository of the dead around 4,000 years ago. At the same time, there is evidence for the use of pottery as funerary gifts and also as burial jars, with much later evidence for the deposition of imported metals, ceramics and glass.

Niah Cave is a two hours' drive from Miri. Access is made possible by accessible roads, therefore National Park headquarters is easily reached by car. Navigation is made easy with the large road signs showing the distance and way. Batu Niah is the nearest township - from there is is a pleasant boat ride or 45-minute stroll along the riverbank to the National Park.

Legend has it that seven fairy princesses once resided around the Latak waterfalls, and these spirits enticed men to bathe in the pools. The mythical ladies are safely married by now, so the area is considered safe for single men!

The mixed dipterocarp rainforest in Lambir Hills National Park contains the greatest biodiversity in tree species of any Malaysian National Park, and is possibly the richest forest anywhere in the world. Many of the trees are huge, magnificent giants that dwarf the trekker. This provides a home for 237 different species of birds, flying squirrels, wild pigs gibbons, many different types of monkeys, various species of deer and untold insects and other invertebrates, as well as dozens of internal research scientists who are permanently stationed in the park.

Most of Lambir's trails are interconnected, so it is easy to do quite a few in a day. The Latak WAterfall Trail is the shortest, easiest and most popular. The trail, (red markings, 20 mins) follows the course of a clear, fast flowing stream past two very pretty small waterfalls to a large forest pool surrounded on three sides by steep rock walls and fed by the 25 meter Latak waterfall. Changing rooms, toilets and picnic areas are provided and the pool is safe for swiming, but non-swimmers and small children should take care, as it is deep.

The Pantu, Bukit Pantu and Pantu Waterfall Trails are all branches of the same trail system. Shortly before the Latak Waterfall, the Pantu Trail (white markings, 1 hr) branches off to the left up a series of steep steps past an abandoned tree tower, then downwards through dense forest to the Nibong waterfall, an ideal place to cool off. A few hundred meters further along are the Bukit Pantu Trail on the right (yellow/white markings, 1.5 hrs) offering superb views, and the Pantu Waterfall Trail on the left (red/yellow markings, 1hr).

Beyondd the Pantu Waterfall Trail the terrain gradually rises, passing through rugged, dense forest filled withe the sounds of Lambir's wildlife. After 4km, the trail forks, the right fork leading to the summit of Bukit Lambir. The Summit Trail (red/blue markings, 3.5 hrs) is hard work for the not-so-fit, but the abundant wild orchids and the superb view from the summit (456m) make it worthwhile, andd trekkers can cool off in the pool below the Dinding waterfall on the way down. Lambir also offers a variety of tougher trails for serious trekkers; for further information please consult Park Wardens.

Accomodation
Accomodation at the Park Headquarters (Tel: 6 085-491030) consists of Type 5 Forest Lodges (2 Rooms, bed configuration varies, air-conditioning, RM105 per room or RM52.50 per room or RM78.75 per chalet), all with electricity and hot water), and a camp site RM5.25 per person. Please contact National Parks Booking Office in Miri to make reservations.

An interesting alternative is the new Borneo Tropical Rainforest Resort. This agro and nature resort is situated adjacent to the park. 30 room and 18 chalet with a range of facilities for most budgets, includes self-catering chalets. Enquire for full details.

Lambir Hills is located 30km southwest of Miri - about 30 minutes drive, and its irregular sandstone escarpments appear like rugged vertebrae when glimpsed from Miri 's viewpoints on clear days. The park is easily accessible by car and bus. Trekking the rainforest-cloaked ridges beneath this backbone gives you an opportunity to experience mixed dipterocarp rainforest in its enormity, variety and primordial beauty. The park also has a number of picturesque clear creeks and waterfalls, in which hot trekkers can cool off.