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Major Attractions of Parks and Reserves
Taman Negara
Taman Negara the most popular national park in the country, is a scenic region of forested plateaus, lofty peaks and green valleys with clean, clear streams in an area covering 4343sq km. The national park ranges in altitude from 120m to 2150m (the summit of Gunung Tahan, the highest mountain in Peninsular Malaysia). it is traversed by several rivers. Of these, the Tembeling provides access to the park headquarters.
There are several trails for jungle- trekking and a number of observation hides rear park headquarters. There are many interesting activities for visitors to enjoy. In small groups with a guide, the visitor could go walking the trails to take in the unique flora and fauna, watch animal life at the hides or arrange a river or fishing trip.
Attractions of Taman Negra National Park
Animal Observation :
A short walk away from Park Headquarters are two salt licks. A variety of animals visit these salt- licks including elephants, wild buffaloes, tapirs, deer, wild-pigs and tigers.
Angling
There are more than 200 species of fish in Taman Negara. A great proportion of these belong to the carp family. For the avid fisherman, a camping trip to the upper reaches of Sungai Kenyam and Sungai Sepia may be preferable. There are fishing lodges at Lata Berkoh and Kuala Perkai which offer good catches.
Other Pursuits
Butterflies are abundant and rock climbers will find many outcrops of limestone on which to practice their skill. Several of these outcrops also contain caves for those who enjoy spelunking.
Gunung Mulu National Park
Within
the boundaries of Gunung Mulu National Park is one of the most extensive and
spectacular limestone cave systems on earth, the second highest mountain
peak in Sarawak. Many plants and animal species, previously unknown to
science have been discovered. Officially constituted in 1974 and opened to
the public in 1985, Gunung Mulu National Park is an amazingly compact area,
full of limestone within the 544 sq km it encompasses in North Sarawak,
Borneo. Mulu's Sarawak Chamber is the largest natural chamber in the world at 600 metres long, 450 metres wide and 100 metres high. Deer Cave is the largest cave passage known to man at 100 metres wide and 120 metres high. It has two huge entrances at either end of the mountain it penetrates.
Kinabalu Park
One hundred and thirty eight kilometres from Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, rises the majestic Mount Kinabalu. With its peak at 4,095 metres, Mount Kinabalu is one of the highest mountains in South-East Asia. -The area on its slopes, 767 square kilometres above sea level to the summit, forms the Kinabalu National Park. Though the park is famous for the Mount Kinabalu climb, there are other attractive aspects of it.
Key Attractions in the Park :
The wealth of plant growth, the large variety of birds and the hot springs, provide attractions to the visitor. The Poring Hot Springs, located nearby, has spring water piped into several open baths. The hot springs have health and curative properties for skin diseases.
Niah National Park
The Niah National Park is the site of the Niah Caves, one of the largest limestone caves in the world. The Park covers 3,102 hectares (7,756 acres) of forest and limestone. Gunung Subis which is 394 metres high (1,294 ft) dominates the landscape. One may explore the vastness of the Great Cave, view pre-historic paintings as well as the preserved remains of the artists themselves at the Painted Cave. Archaeologists have also discovered skeletons of prehistoric man at the west mouth of the Great Cave.
Key Attractions in Park :
Bird's nest are a much prized oriental delicacy. These nests are still being harvested by nimble men who clamber up the long, single bamboo poles which extend from the cave floor to the arch of the roof.
Bako National Park :
The
Bako National Park covers 2,742 hectares of a rugged sand stone peninsular
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. Key Attractions in Park :
This is the place to view the proboscis monkeys, and the silver langur. Other animals include the leopard cats and giant lizards and a great variety of birds. The park has lovely beach areas and many trails. There is good hostel accommodation and a restaurant.
Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary :
A 20-minute drive from Sandakan will bring you to Sepilok Forest Reserve, a 4,440-hectares area of virgin equatorial rainforest. The wealth of indigenous and rare plants, animals and birds that have found sanctuary here are to be seen to be believed. A most interesting feature of the reserve is the Orang-Utan Sanctuary. Here Orang Utans which have strayed into logging camps or rescued from captivity are cared for and subsequently sent back to the forest.
Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary :
A prime nesting site for birds, the Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary, located in Perak, has over 100 species of birds, some of them protected.