Kuching : Malaysian Borneo’s Center of Nature and Culture

Kuching, capital of Sarawak, often ranks as one of the most pleasant cities in Southeast Asia. The hustle and bustle of Chinatown, the languor of its banks and the superb Sarawak museum are just a few of the amazing things to do here. The area is teeming with exotic wildlife and flora such as in Padawan, where you can also see rafflesia, the largest flower in the world.

1. Bako National Park

One of the first things you'll notice about Sarawak is the abundance of greenery that covers much of the land. One of the first places you should head to is Bako National Park; famous for being the oldest national park in the area. A perfect space to discover and explore the rain forests of Sarawak and its exotic wildlife the park is located at the northern end of the Muara Tebas Peninsula. Considered a national park in 1957, Bako has almost every type of vegetation found in Borneo. Wildlife sightings are almost guaranteed, long-tailed macaque monkeys, leaf monkeys, wild boars, squirrels and monitor lizards are commonly seen in the park, as are the rare proboscis. Apart from the typical rain forest scenery, the park is full of picturesque beaches and dramatic rocky cliffs.

2. Tanjung Datu National Park

Another amazing example of the incredible nature covering the island of Borneo, Tanjung Datu is one of the most beautiful national parks in Sarawak. The national park here not quite as accessible as others, making it great for someone who wants to get off the beaten trek. The national park is famous for hosting various species of Borneo's most iconic wildlife, such as the Bornean gibbons, Pig-tailed macaques, Long-tailed macaques, Silver-leaf monkeys, Civet cats, Bearded pigs and many more. The park's remoteness means that the beaches and coral reefs are always clean and natural.

3. Sarawak Cultural Village

A stone's from the Damai beach resort and surrounded by rain forest scenery, the Sarawak Cultural Village offers a glimpse into the incredible cultures of the region in just half a day. The 17-acre living museum details a lot of information about the local cultures and different lifestyles including nine replica buildings of every major ethnic groups in the region. Each traditional building houses members of its respective culture who teach visitors of their traditions and stories.

4. Sarawak Jong Crocodile Farm

Located 30 km from Kuching, the crocodile farm is one of the largest livestock farms in the country. Spread over an area of three and a half acres of land, it houses over a thousand crocodiles. Apart from the mass of these huge reptiles, you'll also find monkeys, leopards, bears, pheasants, civet cats, barking deer and more. Crocodiles feed every day at 11:00 and 15:00, an opportunity to see the fantastic creatures in all their glory. Also be sure to check out the skull of the famous Bujang Senang, one of the largest crocodiles ever caught in Sarawak.

5. Semenggoh Wildlife Center

Semenggoh Wildlife Center is a nature reserve and animal rehabilitation center located a short drive from the center of the city. Much of the wildlife here are rescued critters that have been incapacitated or disabled due to prolonged captivity by humans, with the aim of eventually releasing them into the forests. The center also conducts research on wildlife and captive breeding, especially endangered and game species for small-scale agriculture; and serves as an education center for wildlife conservation to students, trainee teachers and the general public.

7. Serikin Market

Serikin is a small village where traders from across the border in Indonesia and neighboring regions come to sell their goods and products during the weekend. There are all sorts of items sold here such as authentic Indonesia sarongs, household items and all kinds of fruits, vegetables and mouth-watering dishes.

8. Fairy Caves

The fairy cave is accessed by climbing up three flights of stairs. After a quick climb, the cave opens into a huge cavern which when sunlight enters the room, reveals the beautiful shapes of nature's creations, stalactites and stalagmites. The cave of the wind is a cave like a tunnel filled with bats and swiftlets. Look around the walls of the cave and see if you can spot any of the bird nests.

9. Kubah National Park

Located on a small sandstone plateau, Kubah is dominated by Mount Serapi, which rises 911 meters above the rain forest. The soft sandstone of the park is punctuated by hardened limestone bands that have lead to the creation of numerous streams, waterfalls and bathing pools. More than 60 frog species can be found in the area, including one of the smallest frog species in the world - Matang's Narrow-mouthed Frog. This pea-sized frog lives in and around the pitcher plants. A natural frog pond near the park's headquarters is one of the best places to see the frogs in Sarawak. In addition you can also see the bearded pig, mouse deer, black hornbill and many species of amphibians and reptiles.

Conclusion

A perfect introduction to the historic culture of Sarawak, make sure to also check out Kuching Chinatown, the cat statue, the Chinese temple of Tua Pek Kong, the observation platform of the civic center and the famous Sarawak Museum.

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Kuching : Malaysian Borneo’s Center of Nature and Culture