Kubah National Park

Kubah covers a small sandstone range half an hour from Kuching and is best known for two things that are both about diversity rather than scenery. The first is palms: around ninety-five species have been recorded in the park, a concentration that is remarkable by any standard and makes it a destination for botanists. The second is frogs, and specifically the Frog Pond on the Rayu trail, where on a wet night a couple of dozen species can be calling at once, including the tiny green Wallace's flying frog and the file-eared tree frog, which is why night walks here book out and why the park runs guided ones. Otherwise there are waterfalls, the walk up to Gunung Serapi with its telecom tower and view, and a canopy walkway. Matang Wildlife Centre, with rehabilitated orangutans, is part of the same park.

History

The park was gazetted in 1989, largely for its exceptional diversity of palms, and visitors peaked at more than 45,000 during Visit Malaysia Year in 1994 (Wikipedia, Kubah National Park).

Highlights

• Around ninety-five palm species - one of the densest concentrations recorded.
• The Frog Pond at night - dozens of species calling on a wet evening.
• Gunung Serapi - the walk to the summit tower and the view over Kuching.
• Matang Wildlife Centre - rehabilitated orangutans in the same park.

When to go

All year; wet nights for the frogs. A day, or overnight.

Things to know

Frogs need rain and warmth - a dry night is disappointing. Night walks are guided and book out. The Serapi climb is a hot, steep road walk with a limited view. Leeches after rain.

Nearby

Kuching is half an hour east; Bako is north.

Key facts