Location

Located in the Lundu District, southwest of Sarawak.

Introduction

Borneo, Sarawak, rafflesia, lundu, largest flower, mountain, nature, stinky flower, smelly, national parkGunung Gading is home to the world’s largest flower, the Rafflesia tuan-mudae (bunga pakma), which can grow up to one metre in diameter. The Rafflesia has no specific season, taking nine months to mature and flowering for only 4 or 5 days before dying. The National Park & Wildlife division (Forestry Department Sarawak) has built plank walks and jungle trail close to where Rafflesia are commonly found without damaging the young Rafflesia budding. Anyway the flowers can be found on specific vines like the Tetrastigma. The spores settle on the host plant and develop into a bud which then becomes a gigantic flower, brownish red in colour. The main pollinator for this flower is the carrion fly.

 

Borneo, Sarawak, rafflesia, lundu, largest flower, mountain, nature, national park
Rafflesia’s lifecycle
Borneo, Sarawak, rafflesia, lundu, largest flower, mountain, nature, national park
The biggest clue of Rafflesia is the unique groovy vines, the biggest lesson i learned during the trip.
Borneo, Sarawak, rafflesia, lundu, largest flower, mountain, nature, national park, bud
Nestor the guide spotted a Rafflesia bud which reckoned would bloom in a couple more weeks.

Even if there is no blooming Rafflesia to see, Gunung Gading also has some enjoyable walks and challenging jungle trek. Jungle trails lead to streams, cascading waterfalls and the mountains, with one path taking trekkers to the summit of Gunung Gading (906m). Borneo, Sarawak, rafflesia, lundu, largest flower, mountain, nature, national park, tallest flower, amorphophallus hewittii Borneo, Sarawak, rafflesia, lundu, largest flower, mountain, nature, national park, waterfall

The rugged mountains within the Park provide a scenic backdrop to the nearbytown of Lundu, and the beaches at Pandan and Siar. From the summit, you can opt for a side trek to Batu Bekubu, which was a former communist camp during the insurgency. More information about these treks can be obtained from the Park Headquarters.

If you are lucky enough, you can even find the world’s tallest flower “Amorphorphallus” in this park!

Borneo, Sarawak, rafflesia, lundu, largest flower, mountain, nature, national park, tallest flower, amorphophallus hewittii
Remnants of the tallest flower in the world Amorphorphallus
Borneo, Sarawak, rafflesia, lundu, largest flower, mountain, nature, national park
Water producing vines like this can come handy in times of draught.
Borneo, Sarawak, rafflesia, lundu, largest flower, mountain, nature, national park, tallest flower, amorphophallus hewittii
met this friendly chameleon on the way down.
Rotting giant, the Meranti tree could have fetched a fortune for its lumber.
Rotting giant, the Meranti tree could have fetched a fortune for its lumber.

To see more photos, please click here

Key Tips

Owing to the Rafflesia’s rarity and brief flowering period, timing and luck are important! Although Rafflesia generally blooms through out the year, but November to January is the peak blooming months for the Rafflesia. Visitors can check with the Park Headquarters or the National Parks and Wildlife Booking Office in Kuching to find out if any plants are about to bloom or already in bloom!

Accommodation

Type of Accommodation

Facilities

Rate per night

No. of units available

Forest Lodge, Type 5

3 rooms with a double bed in Room 1, two single beds each in Room 2 and Room 3.

Airconditioned

RM150 per house

2

Forest Hostel

4 rooms with two double- bunk beds each.

– Non-airconditioned

– Shared bathroom and toilet

RM15 per bed or RM40 per room

1

Camp site*

Bathroom and toilet

RM5 per person.

10 sites

* Camping tent is not provided.

Borneo, Sarawak, rafflesia, lundu, largest flower, mountain, nature, national parkNote : There is no canteen at the Park HQ. All accommodation facilities are provided with cooking utensils and cutlery. Overnight visitors can either head into Lundu for food or bring their own provisions.

As accommodation facilities in the Park are limited, hostels in Lundu Pandan and Siar offer alternatives.

Getting there

The Park is just 5 minutes drive from Lundu town or about 2 hour’s drive from Kuching. Kuching-based travel agents can arrange tours. Independent travellers should take STC (Sarawak Transport Company) Lundu Express Bus or Bus No. 2B from Kuching city to Lundu town Centre. From there, take a Pandan bus or taxi and ask to drop off at the park HQ.

Park entrance is RM10 per adult.

Contacts

Gunung Gading National Park, Park HQ

Tel   : (+60)82-735144

National Parks and Wildlife Booking Office

c/o Visitor Information Centre

Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, 93000 Kuching Sarawak, Malaysia
Tel   : (+60)82-248088   Fax : (+60)82-248087

Sarawak Forestry

Tel   : (+60)82-610088   Fax : (+60)82-610099   Toll free line : 1 800 88 2526
Email : info@sarawakforestry.com

Kuching Visitors’ Information Centre

Located in the Old Courthouse Complex  
Tel   : (+60)82-410944/410942   Fax : (+60)82-256301
Email : vic-kuching@sarawaktourism.com

Sarawak Tourism Board

6th & 7th Floor, Bangunan Yayasan Sarawak, Jalan Masjid, 93400 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
Tel   : (+60)82-423600   Fax : (+60)82-416700
Email : stb@sarawaktourism.com
URL   : http://www.sarawaktourism.com

National Parks and Wildlife Booking Office

Visitor Information Centre

Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, 93000 Kuching Sarawak.Tel : (+60)82-248088 Fax : (+60)82-248087Online booking : http://ebooking.com.my

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