Batang Ai

Batang Ai National Park is a beautiful area of lush jungle and part of the region’s largest trans-national protected rainforest area as it adjoins the Lanjak-Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary in Malaysia and the Bentuang-Karimun National Park in Indonesia.

• Explore a pepper farm and a local market in the town of Serian
• Ride a native longboat across Batang Ai Lake
• Meet the friendly people of the Iban tribe
• See a traditional war dance of the former headhunters
• Join in a blowpipe demonstration with the locals

Together these protected areas cover almost 10,000 sq kms and form a sanctuary for one of the few viable wild orang-utan populations (estimated at over 1,000 animals) in Borneo as well as many other species including many primates, the elusive clouded leopard, civet cat, sun bears, bearded pigs and a huge number of bird species.

The area is also renowned not only for the stunning Batang Ai reservoir, but also for the indigenous Iban people, famed for their head hunting ancestors and their traditional longhouses. The area is reached along the many jungle rivers by the longtail boats that are skillfully skippered by Iban boatmen and once you reach the remote villages you have the opportunity to eat with local Iban families, visit and stay in their longhouses as well as witness their way of life and experiencing their ancient culture. It is possible to trek into the jungle, try out their blow pipes, see how they use medicinal plants and cook in the traditional manner, making for a fascinating cultural experience in a stunning, natural wilderness.