Batang Ai National Park is located in the Sri Aman Division of Sarawak, in Eastern Malaysia on the island of Borneo. It is located in Lubok Antu, some 250 kilometers east of Kuching. The park covers an area of 240 square kilometers of extensive tropical rainforest with a number of rare and protected animals surrounding the 24 km2 artificial lake created by the Batang Ai hydroelectric reservoir. The park was proclaimed in 1991, and has become increasingly popular with locals and tourists despite the lack of facilities.
This beautiful national park is home to one of the world's most endangered species, the orangutan. Besides being home to many protected wildlife like the hornbills and gibbons, it is also the water catchment area to Sarawak's only artificial lake. This huge lake stretches up the Engkari and Ai valleys. The dam is part of the Batang Ai Hydro-Electricity Complex.
Beyond the artificial lake, more than an hour's boat ride upriver from the dam, the landscape opens to beautiful lowland mixed dipterocarp forest, where the Ibans live in their longhouses. The Iban handicrafts include 'Pua Kumbu', rattan backpacks 'selabit', rattan mats and gourd water containers.
This Park is unique in having the local communities involved in its management. The communities have formed a cooperative 'Kooperasi Serbaguna Ulu Batang Ai' and is helping the Forest Department to conserve the park. Visitors are encouraged to use the boating facilities offered by the cooperative as their funds are kept within the community for continued development purposes.
Our destination in Batang Ai National Park takes approximately 4 hours by road and boat from Kuching, the state capital of Sarawak.
See our volunteering or education programmes at Batang Ai National Park.
Kuching, the state capital of Sarawak, is a picturesque, historical and cultural city. Explore the Sarawak cultural village near Kuching, the beaches and mountains of Santubong and other natural wonders in Sarawak.
| The Great Orangutan Project and Great Marine Project are made up of several programmes:
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