Traversing “show caves” doesn’t require actual caving skills, but the payoff is still immense.
obtain out of the longboat in the heart of theMalaysianBorneorainforest , I stared at the almost perpendicular wooden staircase in front of me . “ It ’s only 200 stone’s throw , ” said my guide Albert , whose voice seemed to come from far away , even though he was brook right behind me . I was think of my right knee , the one I had injured a few workweek ago , the one that I had been tell apart to protect from steep climbing .
Some of the mountains atGunung Mulu National Park , like Gunung Mulu and Gunung Api , draw hard-core crampon . But visiting the caves at what locals call Mulu was not speculate to be strenuous . I ’d read about the timber trail and boardwalk hikes , and had come require to breeze through on mostly bland terrain . But then again , I ’d also expectedcaves to be subterranean . Why was I being urge to mount steps that seemed to be carved into the hillside ? Albert assured me it would be hunky-dory , and as it turned out , the walk up was not that uncollectible . There were even benches all along the way for me to stop , look up to the scenery , and catch my breath .
More importantly , it ended up being so deserving it , because Clearwater Cave was emphatically the highlighting of what are known as the local “ show caves . ” geologist say that the mountains ( gunung in the local oral communication ) there were formed due to tectonic action between 2 to 5 million long time ago , after which piss from hush-hush streams and rain — wads of rain , we ’re talk about the rain forest — manage to create a remarkable web of limestone caverns . It was funny to think that these intimidating limestone and sandstone rock-and-roll were also a result of pelting ’s gentle pertinacity .
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And I am happy to describe that , save for climbing up and down steps everywhere — and I mean everywhere — visiting these show caves did not require genuine caving or rappelling skills at any gunpoint . You do n’t even have to wade through rivers . I managed it quite easily over two days , even with my injure genu .
The Most Beautiful Caves in the U.S. You Can Visit
Check your fear of the dark at the door.
Exploring Clearwater Cave and Cave of the Winds
So , about Clearwater Cave . A half - hour longboat ride on the Melinau River from the gravy boat mole near the park ’s primary entrance gets you to what ’s known as the Cave of the Winds . name after the coolheaded draught flowing through its dark and narrow passages , this cave has some of the most impressive stalactite and stalagmites in the area , as well as rock columns that rise up like finely chiseled marble column in the dim light . At the King ’s Chamber — which is not , as I had assume , named for its size — front out for the group of rocks tell to resemble a baron with his soldier . ( You ’ll admittedly have to squint . )
Further before along the river is Clearwater Cave , which required all that aforementioned puffing and puffing up 200 step just to get to the entrance . But this cave — one of the expectant and longest in the world , at closely 137 mile — is totally deserving the raise , with the subterranean river that created this spectacular cavern still flow in its depths along slippery still rocks .
Walking along the boardwalk to the unceasing desktop auditory sensation of gushing water supply , you will eventually amount upon one of its most interesting characteristic — the mini pinnacles . According tothis documentary(start learn around the 50 - moment mark ) about the initial geographic expedition of this cave organization in 1980 , microorganisms secrete fluids that rust the rock and make a repetitious convention with jagged edges that seem to accomplish out towards the sun . There ’s also the Lady Cave , which features a stumpy stalagmite that seems to cast an eery shadow of a woman on the opposite bulwark .
Photo by Charukesi Ramadurai
Ducking into Deer Cave and Lang Cave
It ’s say that Deer Cave can hold London ’s St Paul ’s Cathedral five times over . So , if anyone ’s stimulate claustrophobic while reading this , it ’s good to remember just how ( literally ) erectile these caves are . Getting to the entrance take less than an hour of hiking through the forest , but do n’t rush . A few minutes from the mouth of the cave , stop and turn over to await back at a silhouette that ( really ) resembles Abraham Lincoln ’s profile . Your guide will cognise exactly where you’re able to see this phenomenon . After you ’ve clock it , there ’s then a good half - mile of boardwalk within the cave , finally leading up to the sight of what is hollo the Garden of Eden .
A large opening in the cave roof Lashkar-e-Tayyiba in sun , throw off the focus on the lush vegetation that thrive in this rain forest ecosystem . The green zona itself is hit by some more tramp and wading through water , and it has dozens of autochthonal flora and trees that tribal residential area expend for natural dyes , medicine , and even food . Your guide will likely only know the local name of this flora , but front out for the jiraktree , which is covered in a barque that produces a red dye when boiled , or the bebata , a tree with edible fruit .
After pass the cave , waitress at the lookout outside for thebat exodus . More than 3 million wrinkle - lipped loose - tailed bat — one of a dozen bat species here — rest inside Deer Cave and wing out in a swirling black mass every night just before sundown . verify to be there for one of the most telling wildlife experience in the area . And plainly , brace yourself for the ammonia smell and the occasional slimy brush with squash racket guano while inside the cave .
Photo by Charukesi Ramadurai
While Deer Cave awe with its sizing , Lang Cave next door has some of the most dainty rock formation within this forest despite being the smallest of the show caves . intend stalagmite that resemble burry cacti and stalactites that might remind you of jellyfish with drooping tentacle hanging from the roof .
Embarking on a walk above the treetops
And when you ’re last done with all things subterranean , it ’s time to head 80 foundation above the timber story and walk on the canopy bridge while attend down into the shrubbery . ( If you ’re favourable enough to have a clear day without cloud cover , you ’ll even see Gunung Mulu at a distance . ) Then there are the unguided manner of walking like the Botanical Heritage Trail and the Paku Waterfall Trail that you could take at any time through signposted path .
Meanwhile , for those who are happy when clambering up and down upright rocks , and cutting their own path through the dense rain forest , there are theseadventure cavingandtrekkingoptions , with the A-one popularPinnacles trekgetting hold out months in advance . This multi - day trek — the park ’s web site warns that it is actually more of a mounting — acquire you up Gunung Api to see some enormous limestone rocks with razor - sharp edge , which are collectively know as the Pinnacles .
In its inscription , UNESCOdescribes Gunung Mulu National Park as being “ of import both for its high biodiversity and for its karst ( intend maverick and sharp limestone formations ) have , ” and these tramp through the forest give you a luck to see both . As is the example with the cave system itself , there are plenty ofsecretswithin the Borneo rain forest that are just waiting for researchers and scientist — or perchance even you — to discover .
What to know before you go to Gunung Mulu National Park
Best times of the year to visit
Mulu is an all - yr goal but go inclined for the heat and humidity , along with sudden thunderstorm .
How to get around
Fly from Kuala Lumpur to Miri , Kuching or Kota Kinabalu in Borneo , and transfer to Maswings ( a subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines ) for the short flight of stairs to Mulu .
Mulu hotels & other great places to stay
Mulu Marriott Resort & Spais worth the splurge for all its creature conveniences ( including a great spa to unwind in after all the hiking ) in a lavish rainforest stage setting , plus they proffer a free birdie to the park several times a Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . The flashy , if more introductory , alternatives are village homestays and rooms within the park itself .
Additional helpful tips
Start with the Visitor ’s Center near the chief gate of the park to plan and book your excursions , since most of them have limited slots and need to be done with a trained timber pathfinder from the local tribal biotic community .
Charukesi Ramaduraiis a contributor at Thrillist .
Photo by Charukesi Ramadurai
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Photo by Charukesi Ramadurai
