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Nature areas

Forests, wildlife and the plants that connect them. Choose a place, an animal, a plant or a habitat.

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Nature areas

Coastal rock formations in Bako National Park.
Nature areas

Bako National Park

Sarawak

Bako National Park puts coastal rock, mangroves and several very different forests within reach of Kuching. Its appeal is the transition between them: a shaded trail can lead towards exposed sandstone and a tidal shore, while proboscis monkeys use forest edges without following a visitor timetable. This is a managed national park with a visitor headquarters, trails and bookable accommodation, rather than an unrestricted stretch of coastline. Getting there involves a road journey to Kampung Bako followed by a boat; sea conditions and the return arrangement are part of the day's planning. A full day allows a focused introduction, while a confirmed overnight stay gives more time for the forest. Choose routes with the park guide and staff, and leave space for weather, rest and observation instead of trying to complete every trail.

Borneo mobilegrapher · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original
Interior of an Iban longhouse documented in Batang Ai National Park
Nature areas

Batang Ai National Park

Sarawak

Batang Ai National Park protects rainforest in an inhabited river landscape in southern Sarawak. Wild orangutan habitat is the ecological attraction, while Iban communities, rivers and the hydroelectric lake shape how visitors reach the surrounding region. The distinction matters: an itinerary sold as Batang Ai may visit a lodge, longhouse and forest outside the national park rather than cross its legal boundary. This is not a park with a single confirmed walk-in visitor entrance. A useful trip starts with an agreed host and route, normally organised from Kuching, followed by road and boat travel. Treat it as a multiday forest and community journey, with wildlife as a possibility rather than an appointment. Public information confirms regional visits, but the current permissions for entry into the protected park itself should be confirmed for the specific itinerary.

Matthias Bethke · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original
Forested hills of Betung Kerihun National Park
Nature areas

Betung Kerihun National Park

West Kalimantan

Betung Kerihun is a national park in the upper Kapuas region of West Kalimantan, where forested river catchments rise toward the Sarawak border. Its appeal is the transition from lowland forest to upland landscapes, rather than one easily reached viewpoint. Orangutans are documented here, but this is not a feeding-station excursion. For travellers, the essential decision is whether to organise a substantial, locally guided river and forest journey. Putussibau is a planning gateway, not a park entrance. Current route approval, boats, guides and overnight arrangements need to be settled before travelling into the interior; a road map or provincial itinerary cannot supply those details.

Sabar Minsyah · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original
Dry-season wetland landscape at Danau Sentarum.
Nature areas

Danau Sentarum National Park

West Kalimantan

Danau Sentarum is a national park and Ramsar wetland in the upper Kapuas basin of West Kalimantan. Lakes, connecting channels and seasonally flooded forest form a changing landscape rather than one permanent sheet of water. Its distinctive experience is seeing how rainfall and river levels reshape the boundary between land and water. Communities use this wetland as a living landscape, so boats and local knowledge are central to understanding it. Visits are possible, but a current boat route and overnight base need confirmation. Plan through the Kapuas Hulu region and Putussibau, then agree on the actual lakeside departure point; the city and the wetland are not interchangeable locations.

Rendika Wijayanto · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original
Primary rainforest in Danum Valley.
Nature areas

Danum Valley Conservation Area

Sabah

Danum Valley Conservation Area is a protected lowland rainforest landscape in eastern Sabah, reached through Lahad Datu. Its appeal lies in the forest itself: tall dipterocarp trees, shaded trails and the possibility of observing wild animals in a living forest rather than at a feeding platform. Conservation, scientific work and carefully arranged visitor stays share this landscape. For travellers, the practical starting point is a confirmed booking at the Danum Valley Studies Centre or Borneo Rainforest Lodge, with the appropriate transfer and guiding arrangements. These are distinct facilities, not two names for the same accommodation. A stay of several days gives time for forest walks at different hours without letting the access journey dominate the trip. Danum is best approached as a planned forest stay with flexible wildlife expectations, not as an unrestricted drive-in park or a guarantee of seeing its rarest mammals.

Gido (gidovd) · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 · Cropped · Original
Coastal view on Derawan Island; this photograph shows the island setting, not an underwater reef.
Nature areas

Derawan coastal and island conservation area

East Kalimantan

The Derawan conservation seascape lies off Berau in East Kalimantan, linking island shores with reefs and coastal waters. It is larger than Derawan Island and is not a national park. Its value comes from connected marine habitats: an island beach, reef slope and surrounding waters are different parts of the same system. Visitors normally experience selected sites through an island base and a boat operator, rather than entering one bounded park gate. Choose the actual island and marine activity before arranging transfers. Some areas have conservation restrictions, and a tourism description of the archipelago does not establish unrestricted access to every reef, beach or turtle nesting site.

Riza Nugraha · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 · Cropped · Original
Rocky waterfall setting in Gunung Gading National Park, Sarawak, photographed in 2013.
Nature areas

Gunung Gading National Park

Sarawak

Gunung Gading National Park protects a forested mountain landscape near Lundu, west of Kuching, best known for Rafflesia tuan-mudae. The remarkable flower is part of a living forest system, not an exhibit that opens on a fixed timetable. A bloom lasts only a few days and may be absent during your visit. That makes the park a better choice for someone who also enjoys rainforest trails, streams and waterfalls than for a traveller whose entire day depends on a flower photograph. Road access and a park headquarters make a day visit practical, but the choice between a short forest outing and a demanding summit route matters. Begin at the office, ask about current flowering and open routes, and let staff direct any flower viewing. Exact locations of buds and flowers should remain under park control.

Annette Teng · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0 · Cropped · Original
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The Pinnacles on Mount Api, Gunung Mulu National Park; above-ground karst.
Nature areas

Gunung Mulu National Park

Sarawak

Gunung Mulu National Park is a rainforest and karst landscape in northeastern Sarawak, where immense caves form only one layer of the experience. Rivers, forest paths, limestone towers and higher mountain vegetation belong to the same protected system. For most first-time visitors, the practical starting point is the park headquarters near Mulu's accommodation area, not the mountain summit or a remote cave entrance. The developed show caves can be explored on organised outings, while adventure caving and the Pinnacles require different fitness, preparation and bookings. Mulu works best as a stay of several days rather than a quick stop from Miri. Plan the local nights, arrival transport and guided activities together, leaving room for rain and changes to river or cave conditions. UNESCO recognition explains the landscape's value; it does not make every underground passage a public route.

Nur Nafis Naim · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original
Boulders in the Kayan River in Kayan Mentarang National Park
Nature areas

Kayan Mentarang National Park

North Kalimantan

Kayan Mentarang protects extensive forested headwaters and mountain landscapes in North Kalimantan. Its ecological importance is inseparable from the customary territories and communities within the wider landscape. This is not an urban forest walk or a park that can be understood through one entrance. A visit requires a route-specific arrangement with the park and local hosts; a cultural journey in the Krayan highlands is not automatically entry to the national park. The authority provides visitor-booking and conservation-entry services, but the appropriate procedure depends on the purpose and location. Until those arrangements are confirmed, treat this page as conservation and expedition-planning context rather than a ready-to-book itinerary.

ESCapade · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cropped · Original
Mount Kinabalu above the surrounding hills.
Nature areas

Kinabalu Park

Sabah

Kinabalu Park protects a striking vertical slice of northern Borneo: tropical forest on the lower slopes, cool mountain woodland and the exposed granite heights of Mount Kinabalu. In Sabah’s west-coast interior, this UNESCO World Heritage property rewards visitors who never attempt its summit. A botanical garden, forest paths and interpretation around park headquarters offer a gentler introduction to the mountain’s exceptional plant life. The important planning decision is which visit you want. A day among the headquarters trails, a separate outing to the warmer Poring sector and a booked mountain ascent are different experiences with different logistics. Kota Kinabalu is the main regional gateway; Kundasang and the park-headquarters area bring you closer to the forest. Choose your base and activity before arranging transport, and treat the entire protected mountain as much larger than the familiar climbing route.

Anton Zelenov · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original
Walking infrastructure in Bontang Mangrove Park, Kutai National Park; current access must be checked separately.
Nature areas

Kutai National Park

East Kalimantan

Kutai National Park protects a mosaic of lowland rainforest, swamp, heath and coastal habitats in East Kalimantan. Orangutans and large ironwood trees are important parts of its identity, but neither represents every corner of the park. Visitors need to choose a named visitor sector: a river approach to Prevab is different from a forest walk at Sangkima. The park is not one attraction reached from a single central marker. Current park information describes guided facilities at Prevab, while route conditions and entry arrangements still need confirmation for your dates. Use nearby local access towns for the final approach rather than treating a hotel in Balikpapan or Samarinda as accommodation inside the forest.

Gunawan gtp · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original
The Kinabatangan River at Kampung Sukau.
Nature areas

Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary

Sabah

The Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary protects parts of the forested floodplain along eastern Sabah’s best-known wildlife river. Here the visitor experience is shaped by water: boats follow forest edges, tributaries and river bends while guides look for movement in the canopy and along the banks. Proboscis monkeys are strongly associated with the landscape; orangutans, elephants and many birds also occur, without any sighting being guaranteed. This is not one enclosed park with a single entrance. Lodges and village bases around Sukau, Bilit and Abai serve different stretches of the river, usually with transfers arranged through Sandakan. Choose the base and programme together rather than booking a boat trip against a generic map pin. Two nights give useful space for both morning and evening outings. The sanctuary is also part of a lived-in landscape where river communities, agriculture and wildlife conservation meet.

CEphoto, Uwe Aranas · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cropped · Original
The Mahakam River at Samarinda.
Nature areas

Mahakam River

East Kalimantan

The Mahakam is a working river landscape in East Kalimantan, connecting urban waterfronts, settlements and inland wetlands. It is not one protected area or a single wildlife cruise. Samarinda and Tenggarong reveal its transport and cultural roles, while inland journeys require a more specific route and local host. The river is also important for the threatened Mahakam population of Irrawaddy dolphins, but that does not make an urban boat trip a dolphin-viewing trip. Choose between a city river experience and a longer community or conservation journey before deciding where to stay. There is no single Mahakam entrance, park ticket or visit duration.

ShaaShaRS · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original
Meratus Mountains viewed from Riam Kanan Reservoir.
Nature areas

Meratus Mountains

South Kalimantan

The Meratus Mountains form a landscape of hills, river valleys and inhabited territories in South Kalimantan. Geology is central to their identity: the wider Meratus UNESCO Global Geopark received recognition in 2025, linking earth heritage with education and local livelihoods. That designation does not turn the entire mountain range into one national park. For visitors, a named local base such as Loksado is more useful than a pin in the mountains. Guided walking and river landscapes can introduce one part of Meratus, while other geosites require separate journeys. Start with a chosen route and community host, not a promise to see the whole geopark in one outing.

Muhammad Pasya Ramadhan · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original
Entrance to the Great Cave at Niah, Sarawak.
Nature areas

Niah National Park

Sarawak

Niah National Park combines lowland rainforest, limestone caves and an exceptional record of people living with the tropical forest. It lies in northern Sarawak, with Miri serving as a useful travel base. The experience is more than looking into a large cave mouth: the approach through forest, darker passages and archaeological interpretation each need time. The caves complex received a cultural World Heritage inscription in 2024, distinct from the national park's protected-area boundary. For visitors, the practical starting point is the park headquarters and its current river-crossing arrangement, followed by the forest walkway. Plan a full day from Miri or consider confirmed local accommodation for a slower visit. Bring a reliable torch, take wet walking surfaces seriously and treat archaeological areas as protected heritage rather than places for unrestricted exploration.

Starlightchild · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cropped · Original
Nature areas

Pulau Kaget Wildlife Sanctuary

South Kalimantan

Pulau Kaget is a wildlife sanctuary in South Kalimantan, important as documented proboscis monkey habitat. Its role in this guide is conservation context, not a ready-made island excursion. The conservation authority uses the designation Suaka Margasatwa and has reviewed the area's ecological function. Those facts establish a protected landscape and management concern; they do not establish a public landing, opening hours or a tourist boat service. Banjarmasin provides regional orientation, but a boat trip from the city should not be assumed to include lawful access. Read this page to understand the sanctuary and its limits, and obtain specific authority advice before considering any visit.

Blackwater and riparian forest along the Sebangau River in Sebangau National Park
Nature areas

Sebangau National Park

Central Kalimantan

Sebangau is a national park of peat-swamp forest in Central Kalimantan, where waterlogged organic soils, trees and river channels form a connected ecosystem. Orangutans are part of its conservation importance, but this is also a place to understand peat, forest restoration and small-scale biodiversity. Palangka Raya is a practical base for the documented Kereng Bangkirai–Camp Koran visitor route. That route combines a boat journey with a forest walk; it is one accessible part of a much larger park, not a circuit through all research areas. Arrange the trip with the responsible local tourism group and confirm conditions before departure. A day in this landscape can be worthwhile without a primate sighting.

Mankdhay rahman · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original
Beach and coastal shallows at Turtle Patch, Sipadan.
Nature areas

Sipadan Island Park

Sabah

Sipadan Island Park protects an oceanic island and its surrounding reefs off the southeastern coast of Sabah. Its small land area gives little sense of the underwater landscape: reef edges fall towards deep water, while coral communities support turtles, reef fish and larger marine animals. For most visitors the meaningful experience is a carefully organised day on the water, especially diving, rather than an island holiday spent sleeping on Sipadan itself. Overnight tourist accommodation on the island has been closed; visitors stay in Semporna or at another confirmed island base and travel with an authorised operator. Access requires planning around park permission, the activity offered and sea conditions. A booking described as a Semporna island trip does not automatically include Sipadan. Confirm the actual park day before building the rest of your coastal itinerary around it.

Albert Kok · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · Cropped · Original
Nature areas

Sungai Ingei Conservation Forest

Belait

Sungai Ingei is a conservation and research forest in southern Ulu Belait, in Brunei’s interior. Its value lies in the forest landscape and the knowledge gathered there, rather than in a documented circuit of visitor attractions. River catchments connect the area to wider forest conservation planning, and university work continues to investigate its biodiversity. This is a place to understand through habitat protection, field research and landscape connections. A research expedition is not evidence that travellers can book the same route, use its facilities or enter independently. Public visitor arrangements remain insufficiently documented here. Read this page as ecological context for Belait, not as directions to a trailhead: no entrance pin, overnight base or recommended touring duration is supplied without a reliable basis.

Forest and a new oil-palm plantation beside Tabin Wildlife Reserve.
Nature areas

Tabin Wildlife Reserve

Sabah

Tabin Wildlife Reserve is a protected lowland forest landscape near Lahad Datu in eastern Sabah, known for guided wildlife visits and its mineral-rich mud volcano. The mud is interesting because animals use the exposed mineral resource, not because it guarantees a gathering whenever a tour arrives. Forest walks, birdwatching and evening outings form the visitor experience, normally through an arranged stay at Tabin Wildlife Resort. The resort is a visitor facility within the wider reserve; its programme does not represent unrestricted access to every part of the protected forest. Plan the visit around a confirmed transfer from Lahad Datu and enough time for different observation periods. Two nights are a useful starting point, while a shorter visit offers fewer chances to explore. Tabin suits travellers who enjoy reading tracks, listening and waiting as much as seeing a large animal.

Mike Prince from Bangalore, India · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 · Cropped · Original
Rambungan River mouth with Satang Kecil and Satang Besar islands in the distance, photographed in 2023.
Nature areas

Talang-Satang National Park

Sarawak

Talang-Satang National Park protects turtle nesting islands and surrounding marine habitats off western Sarawak. It is a conservation area with a limited visitor component, not a group of freely accessible holiday islands. The distinction between islands is essential: Sarawak Forestry allows ordinary day visits to the designated part of Pulau Satang Besar, while the Talang islands and other sensitive sites have separate restrictions. A visit can introduce the relationship between nesting beaches, coral communities and the wider sea, but it should not be sold as a guaranteed turtle encounter. Arrange the boat and permission context in advance, remain with the wardens where required and accept that marine conditions may change the programme. Mainland accommodation is the appropriate default for a normal day visit; specialist conservation participation is a different arrangement, not a way around visitor restrictions.

Cerevisae · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original
Sekonyer River in Tanjung Puting National Park, Central Kalimantan.
Nature areas

Tanjung Puting National Park

Central Kalimantan

Tanjung Puting is a national park in western Central Kalimantan, where rivers lead into a mosaic of lowland, swamp, heath and coastal forest. Orangutan conservation is its best-known story, but the landscape also supports proboscis monkeys and distinctive wetland vegetation. Visitors normally plan through Pangkalan Bun and Kumai, then travel by boat along an agreed route. The park is larger than its familiar visitor corridor: a booking for particular sites does not open every research or rehabilitation facility. Choose the visit length, boat and overnight arrangement together, and confirm park reservations before departure. This is a guided river-and-forest experience, not a guarantee of close wildlife encounters.

Nanosanchez · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original
Mangrove conservation area in Tarakan.
Nature areas

Tarakan Mangrove and Proboscis Monkey Conservation Area

North Kalimantan

Tarakan's Mangrove and Proboscis Monkey Conservation Area, usually shortened to KKMB, brings coastal forest conservation into an urban setting in North Kalimantan. Its value is the close relationship between tidal habitat, city life and the bekantan, or proboscis monkey. This is a local conservation and education area, not a national park or a substitute for a remote forest expedition. A short walk can focus on roots, water and animal behaviour as much as on photographs. Tarakan is the practical base, but current opening and boardwalk conditions should be checked locally. A documented ministerial visit establishes conservation activity here; it does not supply a permanent opening schedule or guarantee wildlife sightings.

Ezagren (Arief R. Randan) · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original
Lake and pavilion at Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park, Brunei (2009).
Nature areas

Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park

Tutong

Tasek Merimbun is a blackwater lake and surrounding wetland forest in Brunei’s Tutong district. The lake, forest margins and Dusun heritage make it a different nature experience from a summit climb or an offshore excursion. Its ASEAN Heritage Park recognition concerns conservation and cultural value, not UNESCO World Heritage status. For visitors, the useful focus is the accessible lakeside and interpretation area, with walks or other activities depending on what is operating when you arrive. Do not assume that every path, boat service or facility described in an older park account is available today. Plan the road journey and return together, then confirm the sections open to visitors. A quiet lakeside visit can make sense even without a boat trip; wildlife records describe the broader habitat and are not a checklist of animals you should expect to see beside the boardwalk.

Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand · Wikimedia Commons · CC0 · Cropped · Original
Forest stream in Ulu Temburong National Park, Brunei (2013).
Nature areas

Ulu Temburong National Park

Temburong

Ulu Temburong National Park protects rainforest in southern Temburong, Brunei’s eastern district. A visitor journey combines travel upriver with walking in the forest and, where operating, a canopy experience above it. That is only an introduction to a much larger protected landscape: lowland and upland forests, river systems and research areas cannot be reduced to one viewing platform. Come for forest structure, light and sound as well as the possibility of seeing wildlife. Plan an organised visit with confirmed transfers and guide arrangements, rather than driving toward the centre of the park on a map. Batang Duri is the important river-transfer reference; your city or district accommodation is a separate part of the journey. A full-day excursion and a longer stay have different rhythms, and neither gives automatic access to research facilities or unrestricted forest routes.

Pangalau · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original