Sarawak Nature, Loagan Bunut National Park

Loagan Bunut National Park

Tucked away on the upper reaches of the Sungai Bunut in the Miri Division is the largest natural lake in Sarawak called Loagan Bunut. In 1991, an area of about 10,736 hectares, encompassing the 650 hectare lake was gazetted as a National Park as an on-going effort to preserve the unique habitat and valuable plants and wildlife.

The depth of the lake is heavily influenced by Sungai Bunut, Sungai Tinjar and Sungai Baram, where water levels are subject to seasonal fluctuations. During the dry season, the lake becomes a dry cracked mud.

Loagan Bunut National Park : Flora and Fauna

The area composes peat swamp forest that supports a fairly large and varied bird population. It includes darters, bitterns, egrets, herons, hornbills and kites. Primates are represented mainly by gibbons whose long arms enable them to swing from one tree to another. The loud piercing calls from the females are clearly audible in the early morning.

Loagan Bunut National Park : Planning an Itinerary

This remote park beckons those in search of something different. For 2 to 3 weeks in February, May or June, the water level in the lake drops drastically. This is the time to witness and even participate in the traditional Selambau method of fishing, which developed and practiced by the local Berawan fisher folks. This unique technique was developed to harvest the migrating fish during periods of fluctuating water levels.

Take the opportunity to kick off your shoes and walk barefoot across the dry cracked mud lake, to get a feel of the simple pleasures in life long forgotten by many. It can be an exhilarating experience, especially for first timers.

Loagan Bunut National Park : Facilities

There are no visitor facilities at the park. However, there are plans to set up a park office and visitor facilities in the near future. Accommodation on the edge of the lake consists of privately-owned chalets.

Loagan Bunut National Park : How To Get There

It is accessible by road from Miri via Pekan Belura and Kg. Lapok. The journey by four-wheel drive takes about 2 hours. From Kg. Lupok, the journey to Loagan Bunut by boat will take 1 1/2 hours.