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    Batang Ai National Park
    Song GK / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0

    Malaysia

    Batang Ai National Park

    Point of InterestCulture

    The Batang Ai National Park is located approximately 250 kilometers east of Kuching, beside a large reservoir in the interior of Sarawak.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Malaysia
    7. Sarawak
    9. Batang Ai National Park
    The Batang Ai National Park is located approximately 250 kilometers east of Kuching, beside a large reservoir in the interior of Sarawak. Orangutans, gibbons, and hornbills live in the rainforest, and around the lake, Iban live in longhouses, which you can visit on tours.Getting there: a long drive from Kuching to the reservoir, then onwards by longboatTip: Day trips and overnight stays in longhouses can be booked through local tour operators

    Sehenswürdigkeiten

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    1Sg Semawang

    The Sungai Semawang is one of the rivers in the Batang Ai Lake area. Like all destinations around the lake, you reach it by longboat, usually as part of a tour to the surrounding Iban longhouses.
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    Batang Ai Dam (Recreational Viewing Platform)

    2Batang Ai Dam (Recreational Viewing Platform)

    The viewing platform at the Batang-Ai Hydroelectric Dam offers views over the reservoir and the forested hills. Nearby is the jetty from which longboats depart for the longhouses, the resort, and the National Park.
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    Batang Ai National Park

    3Batang Ai National Park

    The park headquarters can only be reached by chartered longboat; the journey takes approximately 40 minutes. From here, trails lead into the Dipterocarp forest, home to Orangutans, Gibbons, and Hornbills. Sightings are possible but not guaranteed; a local guide increases the chances.
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    Essen & Trinken

    1

    Kedai Mini Mdla Batang Ai Lubok Antu

    Restaurant in rantNo.9.
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    The Iban at Batang Ai

    The population around Batang Ai consists predominantly of Iban. Many families live in longhouses, where a village community resides under one roof, and travel on rivers and the reservoir with motorized longboats.

    Arrival

    From Kuching, it's about 250 kilometers to the jetty at the Batang Ai Dam; expect half a day's drive. From the jetty, you continue by longboat to the longhouses, lakeside accommodations, or the National Park. Most visitors travel by organized tour or rental car.

    Accommodations in Batang Ai National Park

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    Nearby

    Bako National Park

    Bako National Park

    The Bako National Park, at the tip of a peninsula north of Kuching, is Sarawak's oldest and a manageable 27 square kilometers. On short hiking trails, you'll spot proboscis monkeys, bearded pigs, and pitcher plants; along the coast, sea-sculpted sandstone cliffs. All just over an hour's journey by bus and boat from Kuching.Tip: Most animals are active early mornings or late afternoonsEquipment: Sturdy shoes and at least two liters of water; paths can be steep and root-filledSwimming: Prohibited at beaches due to saltwater crocodiles and jellyfish
    Kuching

    Kuching

    Kuching, the capital of the Malaysian state of Sarawak in western Borneo, is a compact city on the Sarawak River, featuring buildings from the White Rajahs era, Chinese shop houses, and a long waterfront promenade. It is the best starting point for orangutans, proboscis monkeys, and the national parks in western Borneo.In the city: Waterfront, Main Bazaar, Borneo Cultures Museum, Fort MargheritaExcursions: Bako National Park, orangutans at Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, Sarawak Cultural VillageTravel time: year-round; most rain falls from November to February
    Sarawak

    Sarawak

    Sarawak in western Borneo is Malaysia's largest state. Here you'll find the Mulu and Niah Caves (both UNESCO-listed), Bako National Park's proboscis monkeys, Semenggoh's semi-wild orangutans, and Iban longhouses. The capital Kuching, on the Sarawak River, is the starting point.
    Semenggoh Wildlife Centre

    Semenggoh Wildlife Centre

    At the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, about 20 to 25 kilometers south of Kuching, rehabilitated orangutans roam freely in the reserve's forest. Twice daily, rangers offer fruit at a feeding platform; whether and how many animals visit is up to them.Feeding Times: mornings from 9 to 10 AM and afternoons from 3 PM for about half an hourAdmission: 10 RM for foreign adults, 5 RM for childrenNote: Sightings are not guaranteed, especially when the forest offers abundant food
    Sarawak Cultural Village

    Sarawak Cultural Village

    The Sarawak Cultural Village, located at the foot of Gunung Santubong, approximately 35 kilometers north of Kuching, is an open-air museum featuring the traditional houses of Sarawak's main ethnic groups. Twice daily, there is a cultural show with music and dances.Cultural Show: usually at 11:30 AM and 4 PM, approx. 45 minutes; please check current times and admission prices beforehandFestival: The Rainforest World Music Festival takes place here at the end of June

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons. Each photo carries its credit.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI