WHEN it comes to self-guided treks, we have to hand it to the Sarawak Forestry folks. They manage 20 national parks, including such natural gems as Bako National Park near Kuching.
If Mother Nature were a master artisan, then Bako would be her masterpiece. Just one-tenth the size of Kuala Lumpur, Bako boasts seven distinct ecosystems. One second you’re crossing grasslands on a sandstone plateau, and the next, you’re meandering in and out of heath forests with pitcher plants and sago palms.
You can take in verdant rainforest, hike on arid scrublands, spot sky-blue fiddler crabs in mangrove swamps or gawk at the protected proboscis monkeys. With 16 different trails adding up to 30km, Bako allows for a leisurely amble or a challenging two-day hike. Naturalists have recorded over 150 species of birds here. Gazetted in 1957, Bako is the oldest of Sarawak’s national parks and is a 30-minute boat ride from Kg Bako and a half-hour drive from Kuching.
Some of the steep sections along Bukit Tabur. Another natural gem is Lambir Hills National Park near Miri. Trails lined with psychedelic fungi wind through gargantuan Keruing trees and giant Licuala fan palms, leading to ethereal cascades that plunge two storeys down into emerald-green pools.
Well-marked trails, ranging from 30 minutes to five hours, take you to crystal-clear waterfalls with bathing pools. Solo hikers who relish the solitude should feel safe putting up at one of the park’s cosy chalets on an overnight trip.
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