Selirong Island

Selirong is an island of almost pure mangrove in Brunei Bay, uninhabited and protected as a forest reserve, and a boardwalk of around two kilometres runs through the interior at the level of the roots so the structure of the forest is visible from inside it. Proboscis monkeys, macaques, monitor lizards, mudskippers and crabs live there. Access is by boat chartered from the capital. The island covers around twenty five square kilometres and is entirely uninhabited, which is unusual for a mangrove area of that size in the region.

History

In 1948 the Labu-Selirong Wildlife Sanctuary of 2,499 hectares was set up, and in 1954 it was enlarged to 8,984 hectares. From 1995 the Forestry Department worked to improve the island, and under the 6th National Development Plan it was turned into a recreational forest park in 1998 (Wikipedia, Selirong Island).

What's there

• The boardwalk - around two kilometres running through the mangrove interior.
• The root structure - the stilt and pneumatophore systems visible at eye level.
• The proboscis monkeys - the species most visitors come hoping to see.
• The mudflats - the crabs and mudskippers working the exposed mud.

When to go

Year round. Tide determines what is exposed and how the boat lands. Mornings are best for monkeys and for the heat.

Things to know

Access requires chartering a boat, which is not cheap for small groups. Mosquitoes and sandflies are severe. Sections of the boardwalk have been damaged and closed at times.

Nearby

Bangar is south, and Bandar Seri Begawan is west.

Key facts