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TOURING SARAWAK'S

Before planning any trip into the national parks, travelers must contact the National Parks Booking Office at the Visitors Information Centre next to the Sarawak Museum (082/248-088; fax 082/256-301). You will need to acquire permission to enter any park, and be advised on park safety and regulations. I recommend you visit the office itself. Situated inside the Tourism Board office, the staff here knows about every trip activity and can advise on accommodations options and all forms of transportation to and from the parks, and can even book your trip for you. They'll also screen tourism videos of the parks for you in their conference room, to help you decide which parks are best for your interests.

Bako National Park *** established in 1957, is Sarawak's oldest national park. An area of 2,728 hectares (6,820 acres) combines mangrove forest, landjungle jungle, and high plains covered in scrub. Throughout the park you'll see the pitcher plant and other strange carnivorous plants, plus long-tailed macaques, monitor lizards, bearded pigs, and the unique proboscis monkey. Because the park is only 37km (22 miles) from Kuching, trips here are extremely convenient.

A new project, the Matang Wildlife Centre, about an hour outside of Kuching, gives endangered wildlife a home, provides researchers with insights into vildlife conservation, and educates visitors about the animals and their habitat. I or day trips, no parks department permission is required. Gunung Gading National Park, about a 2-hour drive west of Kuching, sprawls 4,106 hectares (10,265 acres) over rugged mountains to beautiful beach puts along the coast. Day-trippers and overnighters come to get a glimpse of the Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world. The flowers are short-lived and temperamental, but the national parks office will let you know if there are any in bloom.
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