Getting
There Getting
Around Mulu
Caves
Activities
Forest
Activities
Eating
and Sleeping
Reservation
Management 
| Forest Activities |
EXPLORING THE PARK AROUND PARK HQ
Dense vegetation clings to every surface and trees are draped with orchids, ferns and creepers. Insects, lizards and squirrels dash up and down the tree trunks with butterflies and dragonflies adding a burst of colour as they glide by. Peculiar insects buzz past in search of a mate and a wild perfume wafts down from the canopy where tropical flowers bloom. How do you discover all this and understand why Mulu is one of the World's biodiversity ‘hot-spots’? Try one of our rainforest activities. Guided tours leave the office daily; the return trip will take approximately 2 hours. Bookings are essential and group sizes are limited to 7. The Mulu Canopy Skywalk at 480 metres is the longest tree-based walkway in the World. As you walk among the ferns and vines 15 – 25 metres above the forest floor and river you will enjoy this unique opportunity to get closer to the rainforest ‘web of life’ Discover and understand:
Tree Top Tower Soaring into the treetops like one of the nearby massive trees this 30 metre tower and bird hide provides the opportunity to ‘spy’ on squirrels arguing over their territory and to watch canopy birds swooping through the branches. During fruiting season there is a chance to see hornbills or macaques feeding on the fruits of the fig trees that surround the hide. A 10 minute walk from the Park Office takes you to the base of the tower, designed for you to comfortably and quietly wait for passing wildlife without them being aware that you are watching. Bird watchers can arrange private use of the tower for dawn (5-8am) and dusk (5-8pm), ask at the office for the cost and to make a reservation. Apart from private bookings the Tree Top Tower is free. For safety reasons the tower is kept locked, but ask at the Park Office to book a time slot and pick up the key. There is a Rm50 fully refunded key deposit to pay. |
Mulu
Canopy Skywalk
The 2km walk winds its way through Kerangas and Lowland Riverine Forest where amazing Pitcher Plants hang in the under-growth and fluorescent fungi glow in the dark. Your Guide will help you discover giant insects that hide among the leaves, frogs calling a mate and show you where Bearded Pigs have recently passed by. If you are lucky and very quiet then you may spot a Moon Rat (not a rat but a beautiful white insectivore) – if he has been there in the last few hours you will certainly smell him.
If it is raining at 7.00pm the tour will be delayed for 30 minutes as early evening showers often pass by quickly. If the tour is then cancelled due to bad weather you can claim a refund from the office on the following morning. Refunds are only available if the tour is cancelled by the guide.
 If you want to walk by yourself and just enjoy being alone in the forest then this is the walk for you. Walk at your own pace to discover the rainforest and follow your particular interest looking for birds, insects, ferns or just the chance to be alone. Enjoy a refreshing swim in the cool
waters of the Paku river and a picnic lunch before returning to
HQ. You need good walking shoes and it is often a very muddy trail so be prepared to get dirty. Do not proceed past the waterfall towards Camp 1 without a guide. You WILL get lost and search parties are expensive!
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This walking trail begins on the Deer Cave plank-walk but after about 1.3km you climb down to the forest floor and follow the clearly marked trail. It is an easy walk but there are streams to cross and water levels can rise quickly so you must check at the office and register when you are leaving and later inform Park Security of your return. Overnight at Camp 1 on the Mulu Summit Trail(guided) (minimum of 3 persons)
A basic forest hut provides overnight shelter and the guide is not only a treasure chest of information about this environment but essential for your safety to ensure that you return to Park HQ.
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You need to have a sleeping bag, bed roll and protection from the insects. The camp has basic cooking equipment. Wood fires are not allowed but we provide small gas stoves so all you need to do is buy the gas cartridges and some food from the park shop.The Summit (minimum of 3 persons)
Click here for trail map MAP OF TOURISM ZONE
This is 4 day/3 night, 24 kilometre trek. The climb begins at Park HQ which is around 40m above sea level rising to the Summit at 2,377m; it is perhaps the most difficult challenge Mulu has to offer. A great variety of habitats, montane forest with pitcher plants, conifers, orchids and colourful rhododendrons through to the stunted Summit plants and magnificent views are your reward on this climb. The leeches are just a bonus! You can book this trek through a local Tour Operator who will provide a fully escorted and private trek with food catered for you OR As an independent traveller making your own arrangements you can book direct with the park. When travelling with a World Heritage Guide you need to provide and carry your own food, water, sleeping mats and bags and share the camp cooking jobs. Be prepared to sleep in basic forest huts with basic cooking facilities provided. If you want help to carry the load,
local porters can be hired. Enquire at the office when making a
reservation or upon arrival in the park. |
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The
mountainous nature of Mulu sets the scene for one of nature’s
most spectacular rainforest vistas. The mountains leap out of the
surrounding plains rising vertically in places with sheer cliffs
and exposed rock faces. Upon seeing the park from the air, visitors
are awed by its inaccessible steep mountain sides, plunging gorges
and collapsed caves, all covered is an impenetrable sea of rainforest.
Most imposing of all is Gunung Mulu itself, which dominates the
landscape.
Long Langsat (guide optional) (minimum of 3 persons) 
If you would like to see more of the park and its surrounds, it is possible to combine a boat ride with a cool river walk.
A longboat trip takes you down the Sungai Melinau and up the Sungai Tutoh to stop and meet some of the Penan people of Long Iman and learn about the useful plants of the Rainforest and then back into the boat and on to the small Long Langsat stream. Crystal clear waters cascade down a narrow valley between steep slopes. Lush rainforest plants crowd in over the water; the soft sounds of birds, insects and the stream relax you. Take your time enjoy the river and a swim in this secret and precious part of Mulu. Unless you have a guide with you do not try climbing out of the river and up the hillsides – it is difficult and besides, its much more pleasant in the water . |
Nestled beside the beautiful Melinau River and facing the Benarat cliff, ‘camp' is a poor description for this spectacular area which has excellent facilities and is a far cry from ‘roughing it' in the forest. Facilities include large open air sleeping rooms with raised platforms and sleeping mats, fully equipped kitchens, a dining space, toilets and showers. The World Heritage Guide, who is in charge of the camp, and the housekeeper will show you how everything works when you arrive. A ‘please be quiet now' curfew comes into operation at 10.00pm each night because climbers are usually either tired from the day's climb or getting ready for the early start up Mount Api the next day. Self Catering at Camp 5 If you are travelling with a Tour Operator your meals are usually provided for you but if you are travelling independently and using a World Heritage Guide you need to organise your own food. Our suggestion is to have a picnic lunch from the Café on Day 1 and perhaps take some frozen Curry Chicken with you which will be just right with some boiled rice for dinner that night. For breakfast – eggs and toast, or noodles are easy and don't forget some food for the climb. Maybe a vegetarian stir fry in coconut milk and rice or some pasta for dinner on Day 2 and instant noodles the next morning. Ask the Camp 5 Housekeeper about buying one of the snack items such as chocolates, nuts, biscuits and soft drinks for in-between meal nibbles. Traditionally Camp 5 has been used by those climbing the Pinnacles and using the Head Hunter's Trail to and from Limbang. But, you do not have to be an adventurous trekker and climber to take advantage of this great place, more and more visitors are going there just to enjoy the surrounding forest and scenery by walking to the Kerangas Forest or Melinau Gorge. To maintain the essence of being secluded in a remote forest and to protect the environment, accommodation is restricted to 50 visitors per night. Solar power and a small generator are used to pump water from the river, provide radio communications for safety and for low level lighting at night. A rubbish recycling and removal service is provided to ensure that the trails and rivers remain free from pollution and litter. Please help us by using the bins correctly. The
Pinnacles Trail (Park Guide essential) (minimum of 3 persons)
As an independent traveler making your own arrangements you can book direct with the park, meeting the World Heritage Guide at Camp 5.
The pinnacle formations of Gunung
Api and Benarat are spectacular examples of this limestone feature.
Camp 5 sits besides the Sungai Melinau and faces the spectacular Benarat cliffs. This comfortable jungle accommodation has fully equipped kitchens, dining room and bathrooms. You need to take your own food with you and the staff will allocate you a kitchen space, please keep it clean and tidy. Settle in for the night on a sleeping mat provided in one of the 5 open space rooms and look forward to getting up at dawn.  The trail to the Pinnacles viewing point is only 2.4 km long but it rises 1,200m and the last section is near vertical with ropes and ladders to climb. Slow down, take time to enjoy the limestone forest, glimpse the tree shrews running past and as you reach the higher altitudes see some spectacular pitcher plants and rare orchids. Fit, experienced trekkers may reach the top in 2–3 hours, the not so fit around 4–5 hours. For many, the descent is more difficult and can take 5 hours or more. Back at camp relax, cool off in the river and rest those weary legs in preparation for the return walk to Kuala Litut in the morning. Essentials to bring – Camera, raincoat, trekking
shoes, insect repellent, drinking water for the first day, torch,
first aid kit and personal medications and food. Blankets
can be hired from the office before you go and snacks and soft drinks
are on sale at Camp 5. |
| Kerangas Forest Walk (an alternative to climbing) (minimum of 3 persons)
Exploring the Kerangas Forest or the spectacular Melinau Gorge from Camp 5 are great rainforest experiences but both require a guide. The poor sandy soils of the Kerangas are the ideal habitat for pitcher plants. You can also see the ‘dancing grounds’ of the Great Argus, hear their calls and hopefully catch sight of one. |
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