Natural wonders just outside Kuching
Sarawak is a known ecological hotspot, lying as it does on the world's third largest island that also straddles the equator.
The state government has lately been doing much good work to boost its credentials on the sustainability front, and some of that was evident during the tour that the four of us took that day.
We started out early in the morning, heading out of the city about an hour after dawn for Telaga Air, a fishing settlement near the sea.
Lush mangroves thrive by the riverbank and some enterprising individuals have erected several floating cabins for anyone wishing to spend the night.
As we passed by in our rented motorboat, several endangered proboscis monkeys were rustling atop the mangroves, foraging for breakfast.
The boat picked up pace as we headed out to sea, in the direction of several small islands, including a rocky outcrop dubbed Pulau Burong because it was teeming with birds.
Soon enough, we made landfall on the pristine beach of one of the turtle islands of the Talang-Satang National Park.
As we alighted, the tracks of nesting turtles making their way up the beach were visible.
Park wardens would dutifully tag each turtle and later collect the eggs in hatching enclosures, some in the open and others in the shed because the sexes of hatchlings are determined by different incubating temperatures.
Perhaps it would be a good idea to provide limited accommodation on the island for those wishing to stay the night to catch turtles coming ashore during nesting season.
We next made for the Damai peninsula with its cluster of beach resorts, a golf course and the Sarawak Cultural Village, home of the annual Rainforest World Music Festival.
Mini cruise ships were milling around the wide river mouth mid-morning with boatloads of camera-toting tourists hoping for a glimpse of similarly endangered Irrawaddy dolphins.
The boat ride inland is dreamlike, as the placid waters framed by thick mangroves and the majestic Matang hills in the background induce almost surreal calm, a guaranteed antidote for city-harried souls.
The calm waters of this Sungai Sarawak estuary will be perfect for some well-designed floating chalets.
As we headed back towards Telaga Air, we caught a glimpse of Monkey Island, so-called because it is where conservationists maintaining this veritable clutch of national and marine parks will confine monkeys misbehaving towards humans or nature.
Back on solid ground and after lunch by the Telaga Air Waterfront, we headed back to the city, but not before making a detour to the jetty for a short boat ride to one of the state's oldest national parks, Bako.
A night or two out in Bako will be de rigueur for nature-loving tourists but we were not planning on a night out of the city. So, yes, Kuching has eco-attractions for tourists in spades.
Sarawak — with its plethora of natural wonders from national parks to giant caves to exotic wildlife — is in a good position to cash in on its eco-tourism potential.
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Sarawak aligns tourism development with RMK13 investment zones
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New Straits Times
26-07-2025
- New Straits Times
Natural wonders just outside Kuching
I JOINED some friends on a trip out to sea several weeks ago. It was a sort of experimental half-day tour to ascertain whether Kuching and its vicinity have what it takes to attract tourists who are looking for a different and eco-friendly sort of holiday. Sarawak is a known ecological hotspot, lying as it does on the world's third largest island that also straddles the equator. The state government has lately been doing much good work to boost its credentials on the sustainability front, and some of that was evident during the tour that the four of us took that day. We started out early in the morning, heading out of the city about an hour after dawn for Telaga Air, a fishing settlement near the sea. Lush mangroves thrive by the riverbank and some enterprising individuals have erected several floating cabins for anyone wishing to spend the night. As we passed by in our rented motorboat, several endangered proboscis monkeys were rustling atop the mangroves, foraging for breakfast. The boat picked up pace as we headed out to sea, in the direction of several small islands, including a rocky outcrop dubbed Pulau Burong because it was teeming with birds. Soon enough, we made landfall on the pristine beach of one of the turtle islands of the Talang-Satang National Park. As we alighted, the tracks of nesting turtles making their way up the beach were visible. Park wardens would dutifully tag each turtle and later collect the eggs in hatching enclosures, some in the open and others in the shed because the sexes of hatchlings are determined by different incubating temperatures. Perhaps it would be a good idea to provide limited accommodation on the island for those wishing to stay the night to catch turtles coming ashore during nesting season. We next made for the Damai peninsula with its cluster of beach resorts, a golf course and the Sarawak Cultural Village, home of the annual Rainforest World Music Festival. Mini cruise ships were milling around the wide river mouth mid-morning with boatloads of camera-toting tourists hoping for a glimpse of similarly endangered Irrawaddy dolphins. The boat ride inland is dreamlike, as the placid waters framed by thick mangroves and the majestic Matang hills in the background induce almost surreal calm, a guaranteed antidote for city-harried souls. The calm waters of this Sungai Sarawak estuary will be perfect for some well-designed floating chalets. As we headed back towards Telaga Air, we caught a glimpse of Monkey Island, so-called because it is where conservationists maintaining this veritable clutch of national and marine parks will confine monkeys misbehaving towards humans or nature. Back on solid ground and after lunch by the Telaga Air Waterfront, we headed back to the city, but not before making a detour to the jetty for a short boat ride to one of the state's oldest national parks, Bako. A night or two out in Bako will be de rigueur for nature-loving tourists but we were not planning on a night out of the city. So, yes, Kuching has eco-attractions for tourists in spades. Sarawak — with its plethora of natural wonders from national parks to giant caves to exotic wildlife — is in a good position to cash in on its eco-tourism potential.
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