Page 32 - Sarawak-Visitors-Guide-2014v1
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Geing There: Kubah is only 21 km from Kuching, whilst park boundary) to search for Irrawaddy dolphins. Small
Matang Wildlife Centre is 35 km. There is no regular bus groups of dolphins oten feed at these river mouths and
service to either. Take a taxi or bas sewa. Local tour occasionally enter the Salak River itself. Ater searching
operators run day trips to both. for dolphins, your boat then enters the park proper,
navigaing the smaller river channels. Along the way
Kuching Wetlands Naional Park you’ll get a chance to experience the mangroves and
Located just 15 km go in search of the park’s wildlife, including proboscis
from Kuching and monkeys. As darkness descends the boat makes its way
approximately 5 km from to sites where irelies and crocodiles are commonly
Damai Beach, the Kuching seen. Flashlights are used to locate the ‘eye shine’ from
Wetlands Naional Park the crocodiles. Bookings are essenial - Tel: 243708,
covers an area of 6,610 www.cphtravel.com.my.
hectares on the estuarine
reaches of the Sibu Laut Geing There: The park is only accessible by boat.
and Salak rivers. The Contact hotel recreaion counters or tour operators for
park mostly comprises a saline mangrove system that details.
includes an extensive network of marine waterways and
idal creeks interconnecing the two major rivers that Maludam Naional Park
form the boundaries of the park. Small patches of heath Maludam Naional Park Covers an area of 432 square
forest are found in the interior of the park. kilometres and is the second largest Naional Park
in Sarawak. It is located on the Maludam Peninsula
The park is an important spawning and nursery ground between the Lupar and Saribas rivers and encompasses
for ish and prawn species and contains a wide diversity the largest single patch of peat swamp forest remaining
of wildlife, including proboscis monkeys, long tailed in Sarawak and Brunei. It has the only viable populaion
macaque monkeys, silver leaf monkeys, monitor lizards, of Red Banded Langurs
estuarine crocodiles and a range of birdlife, including (Presbyis chrysomelas
kingishers, white-bellied sea eagles and shore birds, cruciger) remaining in
including the rare lesser adjutant stork. the world today. It is
also home to sizeable
Gazeted as a naional park in July 2002, the site is one populaions of probiscs
of the last remnants of the formerly extensive Sarawak monkeys and silver leaf
Mangrove Forest Reserve, which previously covered monkeys, as well as many
approximately 17,000 hectares and was irst protected fascinaing bird species.
in 1924. In November 2005 the park was designated a
Ramsar Site, a wetland of internaional importance. Maludam is not oicially open to visitors and has no
visitor faciliies. However, it may be visited by boat from
The area has long atracted nature enthusiasts owing Kampung Maludam, with guests overnighing in the
to its fascinaing ecosystem and excellent wildlife village homestay. Contact Borneo Transverse, Tel: 082-
viewing opportuniies. Kuching Wetlands ofers an 257882, www.borneotransverse.com.my, or Greatown
excellent introducion to the mangrove environment, Travel, 084-219243, www.greatown.com.
and a chance to see a range of wildlife and spend some
ime soaking up the sights and sounds of one of the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre
most interesing stretches of coastline in the whole of
Sarawak. For over 30 years, Semenggoh’s staf have trained
young orangutans, who had been orphaned or rescued
River Cruises: A number of tour operators ofer coastal from capivity, how to survive in the wild. The success of
and river cruises in and around the park. These cruises this programme has let the surrounding forest reserve
follow the main waterways of the park with most trips with a thriving populaion of healthy adolescent and
taking up half a day. Tours usually meander up the Salak young adult orangutans, who are now breeding in the
River before entering the smaller rivers and creeks in wild. The rehabilitaion programme has therefore been
the park. Some tours stop at the Malay ishing village on transferred to Matang Wildlife Centre, but Semenggoh
Salak Island, which lies just outside the park’s boundary. is sill home to its successful graduates, semi-wild
Santubong Wildlife Cruise: This award-winning tour is orangutans and their ofspring. They spend most of
run by CPH Travel and is one of the best wildlife watching their ime roaming the forest but frequently come
tours in Sarawak. The tour departs from the Santubong back to the Centre for a free meal. However, if it is the
Boat Club between 4 and 5 pm (depending on ide and fruiing season in the forest, some or even all of them
weather) and returns around 7.30 pm. You head irst to may not come to feed and a visit to Matang Wildlife
the Santubong and Salak river estuaries (just outside the Centre may be more rewarding. Check with the Naional
23
Matang Wildlife Centre is 35 km. There is no regular bus groups of dolphins oten feed at these river mouths and
service to either. Take a taxi or bas sewa. Local tour occasionally enter the Salak River itself. Ater searching
operators run day trips to both. for dolphins, your boat then enters the park proper,
navigaing the smaller river channels. Along the way
Kuching Wetlands Naional Park you’ll get a chance to experience the mangroves and
Located just 15 km go in search of the park’s wildlife, including proboscis
from Kuching and monkeys. As darkness descends the boat makes its way
approximately 5 km from to sites where irelies and crocodiles are commonly
Damai Beach, the Kuching seen. Flashlights are used to locate the ‘eye shine’ from
Wetlands Naional Park the crocodiles. Bookings are essenial - Tel: 243708,
covers an area of 6,610 www.cphtravel.com.my.
hectares on the estuarine
reaches of the Sibu Laut Geing There: The park is only accessible by boat.
and Salak rivers. The Contact hotel recreaion counters or tour operators for
park mostly comprises a saline mangrove system that details.
includes an extensive network of marine waterways and
idal creeks interconnecing the two major rivers that Maludam Naional Park
form the boundaries of the park. Small patches of heath Maludam Naional Park Covers an area of 432 square
forest are found in the interior of the park. kilometres and is the second largest Naional Park
in Sarawak. It is located on the Maludam Peninsula
The park is an important spawning and nursery ground between the Lupar and Saribas rivers and encompasses
for ish and prawn species and contains a wide diversity the largest single patch of peat swamp forest remaining
of wildlife, including proboscis monkeys, long tailed in Sarawak and Brunei. It has the only viable populaion
macaque monkeys, silver leaf monkeys, monitor lizards, of Red Banded Langurs
estuarine crocodiles and a range of birdlife, including (Presbyis chrysomelas
kingishers, white-bellied sea eagles and shore birds, cruciger) remaining in
including the rare lesser adjutant stork. the world today. It is
also home to sizeable
Gazeted as a naional park in July 2002, the site is one populaions of probiscs
of the last remnants of the formerly extensive Sarawak monkeys and silver leaf
Mangrove Forest Reserve, which previously covered monkeys, as well as many
approximately 17,000 hectares and was irst protected fascinaing bird species.
in 1924. In November 2005 the park was designated a
Ramsar Site, a wetland of internaional importance. Maludam is not oicially open to visitors and has no
visitor faciliies. However, it may be visited by boat from
The area has long atracted nature enthusiasts owing Kampung Maludam, with guests overnighing in the
to its fascinaing ecosystem and excellent wildlife village homestay. Contact Borneo Transverse, Tel: 082-
viewing opportuniies. Kuching Wetlands ofers an 257882, www.borneotransverse.com.my, or Greatown
excellent introducion to the mangrove environment, Travel, 084-219243, www.greatown.com.
and a chance to see a range of wildlife and spend some
ime soaking up the sights and sounds of one of the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre
most interesing stretches of coastline in the whole of
Sarawak. For over 30 years, Semenggoh’s staf have trained
young orangutans, who had been orphaned or rescued
River Cruises: A number of tour operators ofer coastal from capivity, how to survive in the wild. The success of
and river cruises in and around the park. These cruises this programme has let the surrounding forest reserve
follow the main waterways of the park with most trips with a thriving populaion of healthy adolescent and
taking up half a day. Tours usually meander up the Salak young adult orangutans, who are now breeding in the
River before entering the smaller rivers and creeks in wild. The rehabilitaion programme has therefore been
the park. Some tours stop at the Malay ishing village on transferred to Matang Wildlife Centre, but Semenggoh
Salak Island, which lies just outside the park’s boundary. is sill home to its successful graduates, semi-wild
Santubong Wildlife Cruise: This award-winning tour is orangutans and their ofspring. They spend most of
run by CPH Travel and is one of the best wildlife watching their ime roaming the forest but frequently come
tours in Sarawak. The tour departs from the Santubong back to the Centre for a free meal. However, if it is the
Boat Club between 4 and 5 pm (depending on ide and fruiing season in the forest, some or even all of them
weather) and returns around 7.30 pm. You head irst to may not come to feed and a visit to Matang Wildlife
the Santubong and Salak river estuaries (just outside the Centre may be more rewarding. Check with the Naional
23
