Malaysia is a haven for adventure and nature lovers. Easy accessibility, the warm tropical climate, on-going conservation efforts and many beautiful nature spots all contribute to making Malaysia a premier eco-tourism destination. There’s a chance to see and do something different – something beyond the normal tourist sights and pursuits. Experience the tranquility of being one with nature in all its glory, in our National Parks. Almost three-fifths of Malaysia’s 330,433 sq. km land mass is covered by tropical rainforests which are home to a variety of exotic, rare and protected flora and fauna. Malaysia’s forests are indisputably the oldest in the world and treasure troves of its rich natural heritage.

DANUM VALLEY Nestled in the interior of Sabah, Danum Valley is one of the oldest rainforest in the world and this is one of the last remaining preserves of primary lowland rainforest. Its 438 sq km area provides a rare ecological experience of tropical animal and plant life found only in the forests, rivers and wetlands of Borneo. Its uniqueness lies in the dipterocarp forests covering over 90% of the area, a haven for indigenous plant species, over 110 mammals including the rare Sumatran Rhino and ten primate species such as the Orang Utan and proboscis monkey. The valley is also home to over 275 bird species and numerous reptiles, amphibians, fishes and insects. Danum Valley Field Centre – one of the world’s foremost tropical rainforest research and environmental education establishments in South East Asia.

KINABALU NATIONAL PARK Kinabalu National Park with the majestic Mount Kinabalu as its crown is Sabah’s best reflection of beauty. First gazetted as a National Park in 1964 and inscribed as Malaysia’s First World Heritage Site in December 2001, the park is one of if not, the richest and most diverse ecological and biological area in the world. The park covers an area of 75,370 hectares and since Sir Hugh Low’s famous visit to the park in 1851.

The park harbours an estimated 5,000-6,000 species of vascular plants alone, contained in 210 families and about 1000 genera. There are an estimated 1000 species of orchids, 621 species of ferns, 9 species of Nepenthes and many more. The fauna at Kinabalu Park includes 90 species of lowland mammals, including 21 species of bats, 22 species of montane mammals, 326 species of birds, 61 species of toads and frogs and a large proportion of the 850 species of butterflies found in Sabah. 

TABIN WILDLIFE RESERVE Encounter wild Borneo at its best. Tabin is an enormous dipterocarp rainforest landscape in the eastern part of Sabah with a most diverse range of flora and fauna. Tabin was declared a wildlife reserve because of the large numbers of animal species inhabiting its forest, including several which are highly endangered. With a protected forest area of 120,500 hectares, Tabin plays an important role as a dedicated ground for the breeding of endangered wildlife and protected mammals in Sabah. It is no wonder that Tabin has been heralded as the finest wildlife viewing area in Borneo. The two largest mammals of Sabah are namely Asian Elephant and Sumatran Rhinoceros.

MOUNT TRUSMADI Mount Trusmadi at 8,669 ft is the second highest mountain in Malaysia and is located at the north east of Tambunan town. It has attracted more and more foreign climbers over the years to its summit simply by virtue of it being the second highest montain in the country.

MALIAU BASIN The Island of Borneo is well-known for the riches of its natural heritage. One of the last remaining pristine treasures are the 588.4 sq. km Maliau Basin, known also as The Lost World, 25 km in diameter forests wilderness surrounded by formidable cliffs or very steep slopes as high as 1,700 metre at its highest point making it insurmountable on foot from most directions. Maliau Basin is located in the South central part of the Malaysian state of Sabah. The first recorded human scientific expedition into the Maliau Basin was in 1988 and to date only about 20% of the Basin has been fully explored.

To date over 270 species of birds have been recorded in the Maliau Basin of which 26% are listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as threatened or near-threatened. More than 80 mammals out of Borneo’s total of 221 have so far been recorded from the Maliau basin Conservation Area and its buffer zone.

NATIONAL PARK The National Park (Taman Negara), Malaysia’s premier park and the largest in the country extends over some 434,300 hectares of primary forests, more than 130 million years old. The park was established for the sole purpose of protecting and preserving the flora and fauna indigenous to the area. Located within the park is Peninsular Malaysia’s highest mountain that is Gunung Tahan at 2,187 metres above sea level. With so much to see and do, a trip to Taman Negara is a must on your itinerary.

MULU NATIONAL PARK The Park covers 52,866 hectares of shale and sandstone, flanked by limestone outcrops with virgin tropical forests at the lower slopes giving way to montane vegetation in the upper regions. It was gazetted as a National Park in 1974 and in 2001 declared as Malaysia’s Second World Heritage Site. The mix of natural habitats in all its diversity amidst such wild and rugged scenery makes it one of Sarawak’s most popular destinations. Foremost among its attractions are the spectacular pinnacle rock formations tucked in the Valley of Api Mountain and its cave complex which can only be described in superlatives. Despite its ruggedness, the park is easily accessible and there is a range of activities to keep everyone busy and happy.

BAKO NATIONAL PARK Lush vegetation of Bako includes mixed lowland dipterocarp forest, swamp forest, dense mangrove forest, delicate cliff vegetation and desert-like scrub. Among the rich plant life are wild orchids and the carnivorous pitcher plant, which traps flies in its leaves and then digests them in a reservoir of corrosive fluid! Bako is home to the proboscis monkey, which has an enormous cucumber-like nose, the silver langur with their bright orange-coloured young, long-tailed macaques, bearded pigs, leopard cats, monitor lizards and nocturnal creatures such as flying lemurs, mousedeer, civets and bats. The park has a number of well-marked trails through the lowland forest and up the hills for fantastic views of the headland, bays and beaches.

NIAH NATIONAL PARK Niah is one of Sarawak’s smaller national parks, but it is certainly one of the most important, and has some of the most unusual visitor attractions. The park’s main claim to fame is its role as one of the birthplaces of civilisation in the region. The oldest modern human remains discovered in Southeast Asia were found at Niah National Park, making the park one of the most important archaeological sites in the world.

BATANG AI NATIONAL PARK Although a man-made lake which is located in Sarawak, the tranquil Batang Ai Lake receives non-stop praise for its beauty from those who have seen it! The Batang Ai National Park is a sanctuary for wild Orang Utans, gibbons and hornbills and other fauna, and there are clearly marked trekking trails through the mixed dipterocarp forest. The park is also home to an Iban community that continues to live in traditional longhouses in the forested higher areas, cultivating the land and carrying out weaving and craftwork as they have for generations. A visit to Batang Ai is an excellent chance to see and experience the traditional lifestyle of the Iban community.