Regarded as one of the oldest national parks in Malaysia, Bako National Park is home to several beaches, cliffs, and rock formations. Enveloping the peninsula of Muara Tebas, the park highlights exceptional wildlife, like proboscis monkeys, long-tailed macaque monkeys, monitor lizards, and squirrels. The scenic coastlines and bays at the Bako National Park also provide a unique combination of the forest by the beach.
Covering an area of 2727 hecters, Bako National Park is the oldest national in Sarawak. The destination is almost around 37km away from Kuching with stunning natural beauty and wide collection of wildlife. The destination can be reached by travelling through Petra Jaya Bus No 6 to Kampung Bako from where it’s a boat ride of 20 minutes to Boko National Park.
The park holds seven distinctive rainforests eco system. Then it’s a lovely jungle trek exploring the remarkable diversity of wildlife based here and reaching a secluded beach.
From this beach one can hire a local boat to watch sea stacks. Langurs (leaf monkeys), wild boar, flying squirrels long-tailed macaque monkeys, and monitor lizards as well as hundreds of different bird species all are available here. There is a cafeteria serving snacks and camping area within the park for overnight stay.
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Highlights
• Spot a vast variety of bird species at the Bako National Park, including the mangrove blue flycatcher, white-bellied woodpecker, black and red broadbill, and multiple species of babbler, barbet, and kingfisher.
• Witness the incredible nocturnal wildlife of the park by taking a guided night walk.
• Take a boat ride to the Pulau Lakei situated on the northern tip of the park.
• Catch a glimpse of the rarely found endangered proboscis monkeys along the trails of Telok Delima and Telok Paku.
• Observe the seven different ecosystems of the vegetation, including delicate cliff vegetation, mangroves, shrub-like padang vegetation, and much more.
• Enjoy the sunset amidst the tranquility and natural beauty of Telok Assam Beach.
• Visit the sea stack rock formations at the beach and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of nature.
• Trek to the well-marked trails, sight wildlife and birds and enjoy overnight camping expeditions at the Bako National Park.
• Witness all the Borneo’s vegetation at Bako.
How To Reach
By Bus: You will find plenty of buses operating from Kuching to Bako every day. The most used bus on this route is Red Public Bus 1, which operates every hour between 7 am and 6 pm. Alternatively, you can book a mini bus to travel from Kuching to Bako for a private travel experience with family.
By Car: You can either book a Grab Car or hire a taxi to take you to your ideal destination. However, traveling by car or hiring a taxi can be an expensive mode of transportation.
By Boat: You can also take a boat ride from the Bako Village for about 20 minutes to reach Bako National Park.
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Best Time To Visit
The best time to visit Bako National Park is between April to September. During this time, the place is more on the drier side, and you do not have to experience the wet rains all the time. This time is also favorable to access the national park and trek on the desirable trails of the park.
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Other Essential Information
Places for Treks and Trails at Bako National Park
1. Telok Delima: Located around 45 minutes from the headquarters of the Bako National Park, Telok Delima is one of the best trails to catch a glimpse of proboscis monkeys. All you need to do is listen to the strange grunting noises or the crash of the vegetation and walk straight towards the sound.
2. Telok Pandan Kecil & Telok Pandan Besar: The trek to Kelok Pandan Kecil and Telok Pandan Besar is a highly renowned activity to do in Bako National Park. In this trek, you will get a chance to watch stunning views of the scrub vegetation and carnivores pitcher plants. After walking 10 minutes past the descent, you will come across one of the best beaches in the park.
3. Telok Keruin: Telok Keruin is the less trodden trail in the Bako National Park that features several carnivorous pitcher plants, scrub vegetation, a tiny rock pool, and the viewpoints of Tanjung Po, Telok Keruin, and Bukit Keruin. While walking along the track, you will come across several mangroves that showcase signs of the deserted beach.
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4. Ulu Assam: Ulu Assam starts through the swampy forest and a leveled section where you can spot proboscis monkeys sometimes. After reaching there, you will find a sign that says, “Beware of the Bess,” and you need to climb steeply or hang on treetops to catch a glimpse of the spectacular views of Bako’s coastline.
5. Tajor: The Tajor trail takes you past the scrubs and padang vegetation, followed by a steep climb to a tiny beach. In this trail, you will find the Tajor Waterfall, which serves as an ideal resting point for travelers. Although the waterfall is small, there is a beautiful jungle setting and a tiny dip pool to have one of the best times of your lives.
6. Telok Sibur: Telok Silbur is a full day trek of about three and half hours from the headquarters of the park. This trek commences with a 45-minute walk until you reach a junction and take on the Silbur trail. You can then walk at a very steep 45 minutes descent through the wade and the mangrove until you finally reach the longest beach of Bako National Park.
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Tips to Visit Bako National Park
- Always carry a hat as the sun can sometimes become fierce while walking n the different trails of the Bako National Park.
- Before opting for the longer trailers at the park, it is advisable to report to the authorities at the park headquarters.
- Do not make noise when you hear the strange grunting sounds of the proboscis monkeys.
- Book your stay in advance if you are planning to stay in the Bako National Park hostel.
- Keep a mosquito repellent with you at all times if you are looking forward to spending a night in the park.
- Carry enough cash in your pockets, and do not forget to keep the change.
- Ask the authorities before swimming in any of the water bodies.
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The Rainforest and Vegetation
Bako National park comprises a vast variety of vegetation types and plant species and is considered to be one of the topmost attractions of the park. While walking along the trails, you will come across 25 types of vegetation from seven complete ecosystems. Mangrove forest, cliff vegetation, beach vegetation, padang or grassland vegetations, kerangas or health forest, mixed dipterocarp forest, and peat swamp forest are some of the vegetations found in the park. You can effortlessly find these ecosystems by strolling along the jungle trails. The contrasting colors of these vegetations make it easier for the visitors to spot the difference.
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Wildlife
Bako National Park is one of the best places to spot wildlife in the Sarawak region of Malaysia. In this park, the visitors have innumerable options to observe and take snaps of the different types of wildlife. If you walk slowly or go in small groups, you may definitely spot long-tailed macaque monkeys, proboscis monkeys, silvered leaf monkeys, plantain squirrels, common water monitors, mouse deer, and wild boar. If you have visited the park only to capture the views of the proboscis monkeys, you should walk on the Telok Delima and Telok Paku as these are the best trails for spotting this animal.
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Treks and Trails
Bako National Park features an extensive trail system that is specifically 16 color-coded jungle trails. These trails provide a vast range of walking and hiking opportunities. If you are looking for an easy experience, you can opt for a relaxing jungle walk. On the contrary, the fit and adventurous enthusiast can choose full-day jungle hikes or overnight camping expeditions. Telok Delima is one of the best trails in the park to spot proboscis monkeys, while Telok Pandan Kecil & Telok Pandan Besar is an ideal walking track to gaze at the different types of vegetation prevailing in the park. Do not forget to pay a visit to the tiny beach after walking through the Telok Keruin.
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