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Designated to be a national park since 1957, Bako is the perfect
introduction to Sarawak’s forests and wildlife whether the audience be
foreign or local tourists.
 The
park may be found situated on the northern tip of the Muara Tebas
peninsula, an area of 27 sq km. Its seemingly compact size is a direct
contrast to the punch it packs when it comes to a wealth of flora and
fauna, with more stress on the fauna part.
Walking around Bako can be pretty relaxing with its wide range of
vegetation - swamp forest, scrub-like padang vegetation, mangrove
forest, dipterocarp forest, delicate cliff vegetation and more
representing almost every type of vegetation to be found on Borneo.
Finding trails to follow for a bit of hiking is not so hard either with
its system of 16 color-coded walking trails that offer full day jungle
hikes to gentle, sedate strolls.
The circular Lintang trail passes through all of Bako's
vegetation types from dipterocarp to the more delicate plants
jutting out of cliffs.
 Telok
Pandan Kecil is perhaps Bako’s best beach. After an hour or
so the Telok Pandan Kecil trail comes to a rocky headland. The view down
to a beautiful secluded bay, and the thought of a swim in the cool
waters, has a magical effect on tired calf muscles.
Sandy footpaths lining the small bays and beaches along Bako’s coastline
also offer visitors the chance to see and observe the insect-eating
pitcher plants that have also been known to occasionally devour small
mammals.
From the beach at Pandan Kecil you can see spectacular rock formations
as well as Bako's trademark, the Sea Stack, the carving of which
has been credited to years of being eroded by the pressure of the sea’s
waves.
When it comes to the “wildlife experience,” the other national parks
simply cannot hold a candle to Bako. Here, visitors are pretty much
guaranteed to see and encounter the Park’s wildlife residents be it from
a distance, or a little bit closer as some of the bolder animals rummage
through the Park head quarter’s trash bins for a snack.
Long-tailed macaque monkeys and silver leaf monkeys top the list of the
Park’s animal inhabitants. Wild boars are often found rummaging around
the park HQ, while squirrels and monitor lizards are also commonly seen
scurrying around trees or wandering on to Headquarter grounds.
There is also every chance of seeing the rare and unusual proboscis
monkeys on trails such as Telok Paku and Telok Delima, particularly if
you go late afternoon.
Visitors eager for a wildlife encounter would do well to use their ears
as well as their eyes in scoping out the Park’s furry (or scaly)
residents. More often than not, the presence of the proboscis monkeys
are announced by the sound of crashing vegetation as they play around
with the tree branches before an actual sighting occurs.
If you take a stroll at sunset on Telok Assam beach near the park HQ,
you will see hundreds of swifts hovering around their nests at the rocks
at the far end of the beach. For a truly dramatic view, don’t leave the
beach after the sun disappears behind Mount Santubong. Another 20
minutes on the beach treats visitors to an awesome sight as the sky’s
colors change dramatically from a flaming orange, t o pink, and
darkening to the colors of the night, providing a truly beautiful
backdrop to the mountain’s silhouette.
Note: For conservation purposes, some of Bako’s trails may be
temporarily closed to trekkers in order to leave the area “untouched”
for a period of time. Please check with the National Park & Wildlife
booking office if you wish to know which particular trails are closed.
Permits & Accommodation Bookings
These can be obtained at the Visitors’ Information Center which may be
found in Kuching. Those who are only visiting as a day-trip can obtain
permits upon arrival.
The Lodges which serve as accommodation for guests on the Park grounds
offer standard rooms with electric fans. Guests are advised to keep
their things safely secured as the park monkeys have gained reputations
as compulsive thieves. Bako is very popular, especially at weekends, so
it is advisable to book accommodation well in advance.
Accommodation consists of Lodges (2 to 5 beds) at RM 84 per house or RM
42 per room, and Hostel Rooms (4 beds) at RM 42 per room, RM 10.50 per
adult, RM 2.10 per student (Malaysians only). Campsite Rental is RM 4.
Formalities at the Headquarters
Upon arrival visitors must register at the Park Headquarters. Fees are
RM 3 (adult) and RM 1 (child) for entry, RM 5 for a camera, RM 10 for a
video camera. There is an information center, canteen and shop at the
Park HQ. The information center shows films and slide shows on Bako’s
wildlife, and has full details of all the trails and what to look out
for. The canteen serves a range of hot and cold drinks, snacks and light
meals (fried rice, noodles etc.).
If you have to wait at Kampung Bako for a bus, or for the tide to rise,
there is a good seafood restaurant near the jetty that also serves
snacks and drinks.
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