Bako National Park

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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• 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.

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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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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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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