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leisureTalk<br />
Loagan Bunut National Park<br />
The Loagan Bunut National Park is<br />
located 130km from Miri. Situated<br />
along the upper reaches of the Sungai<br />
Bunut, it is the site of Sarawak’s largest<br />
natural lake. The lake gets its name<br />
from the local Berawan fishermen,<br />
who call it ‘Logan Bunut’. Comprising<br />
650 hectares, the lake is not big by<br />
world standards. However, there is<br />
more to this lake than meets the eye.<br />
The large lake is the meeting point<br />
<strong>for</strong> three rivers, namely Sungai Bunut,<br />
Sungai Tinjar and Sungai Baram. Since<br />
the water levels of these rivers tend to<br />
fluctuate throughout the year, it affects<br />
the overall water level of Loagan Bunut<br />
Lake as well. In fact there are times<br />
during the year when the area is so<br />
dry that <strong>for</strong> about 2 to 3 weeks the<br />
lake is reduced to nothing more than a<br />
large area of baked and cracked mud.<br />
Then when the rain comes the lake will<br />
amazingly return to its <strong>for</strong>mer glory.<br />
36 | BorneoTalkOct-Dec2008<br />
Loagan Bunut National Park comprises<br />
wholly of peat swamp <strong>for</strong>ests with<br />
many large and rare species of birds.<br />
Amongst the ones of interest are the<br />
darters, bittrerns, egrets, herons,<br />
hornbills and kites. The primates<br />
found here consist mainly of gibbons.<br />
Watching them swing around like a<br />
pendulum on trees is a sight to behold.<br />
This spectacle is accompanied by the<br />
loud piercing calls of the female of the<br />
species. The activity is more noticeable<br />
in the early mornings.<br />
This is one national park that is ideally<br />
suited <strong>for</strong> those who want to enjoy a<br />
totally different sort of adventure. The<br />
drastic changes in water levels that<br />
cause the lake to take on a desertlike<br />
lake appearance during the arid<br />
months of February, May or June, must<br />
be experienced to be believed. After<br />
all, how many people get a chance to<br />
walk on the bed of a dried up lake?<br />
Only the truly adventurous can say<br />
they strolled barefoot on Loagan Bunut<br />
without getting wet.<br />
Be it high water or low water, the areas<br />
surrounding the lake continue to be a<br />
hive of activity <strong>for</strong> the fauna and the<br />
abundant flora is always an amazing<br />
botanical sight. However, the dry spell<br />
also offers the special opportunity to<br />
check out the “Selambau” fishing<br />
method. This is a unique fishing<br />
style that is used by the local<br />
Berawan fishermen. The method<br />
takes advantage of the migrating<br />
fishes during the period of low water<br />
levels. It has been used <strong>for</strong> centuries<br />
to effectively manage the fishery<br />
and sustain it <strong>for</strong> many generations.<br />
Loagan Bunut National Park comes<br />
with accommodation facilities. The<br />
<strong>for</strong>est hostel can house a total of 56<br />
visitors at any one time. There is also<br />
a canteen. Electricity is generatorpowered<br />
and treated tap water is<br />
available. Activities include a one<br />
hour boat ride around the lake and<br />
bird watching.<br />
For further in<strong>for</strong>mation, please call<br />
Sarawak Tourism Board (STB)<br />
at (6) 082 423600, fax: (6) 082 416700 or<br />
email to stb@sarawaktourism.com
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