Bako National Park, National park in Kuching, Malaysia
Bako National Park sits at the tip of the Muara Tebas peninsula in Sarawak and covers roughly 27 square kilometers with sandstone formations, coves and dense rainforest. The coastline alternates between rocky cliffs and small beach sections, while the interior is crossed by trails connecting different vegetation zones.
The park was established in 1957 as the first national park in Sarawak to protect the threatened ecosystems at the mouth of the Bako and Kuching rivers. The protection measures allowed the forests and coastal habitats to recover from earlier disturbances.
The name comes from the Bako River, which flows along the park boundary and serves as a natural landmark for visitors. The marked trails pass through mangrove swamps, peat forests and sandy coastal sections where walkers often encounter macaques and wild pigs.
The journey begins with a roughly 37-kilometer drive from Kuching to Kampung Bako, from where a roughly 20-minute boat ride reaches the park headquarters. The trails are divided into different lengths, so visitors can choose between short walks and half-day routes depending on fitness and available time.
The park is home to roughly 150 proboscis monkeys, which are found only in Borneo and are most visible at the mangrove edges during morning and evening. The wildlife also includes over 300 plant species and numerous bird species that nest in the different forest layers.
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