The Wonderful Rainforest Wildlife in Bukit Baka - Bukit Raya

Geographical and Topography

Administratively Bukit Baka-Bukit Raya National Park is located in the two caounties: Kotawaringin Timur, the Province of Central Kalimantan, and Sintang, the Province of West Kalimantan. The park covers approximately 181,090 ha of land.

This National Park stretches on Schwaner Mountain at the altitudes range from 150 to 2,278 m above sea level. This area covers a mountain range consisting of Mt. Raya (2,278 m asl), Mt. Asing (1,750 m asl), Mt. Panjing (1,620 m asl), Mt. Baka (1,617 m asl), Mt. Lusung (1,600 m asl), and Mt. Panjake (1,450 m asl).

The annual rainfall of Bukit Baka area ranges from 2,935 mm to 4,071 mm, while in Bukit Raya ranges from 2,700 mm to 4,300 mm. The daily temperature ranges from 12° to 25°.

Culture

The community living around this National Park generally have their specific traditional ceremonies for marriage, tiwah is well as arts like sculpting, dance and string music.

Biological Richness

The forest of Bukit Baka-Bukit Raya National Park consists of tropical mixed forest and montane forest. The mixed forest is dominated by various Dipterocarp species like meranti (Shorea spp.), Kruing (Dipterocoarpus spp.), bangkirai (Shorea balangeran). Other species include Kayu Ulin (Eusideroxylon zwageri), nyatoh (Palaquium sp), Kempas (Koompassia malaccensis), pasak bumi (Eurycoma longifolia) and tabat barito (Ficus deltoidea). The Montane Forest contains the genera of RIhododendron, Vaccinium, and Myrica. In addition this area is also the habitat of various orchids, palms and rattans.

Various wild animals can be found in this National Park such as Owa (Hylobates muellerii), Orang utan (Pongo pygmaeus), Honey bear (Helarctos malayanus), Deer (Cervus sp.), Mousedeer (Tragulus javanicus), Barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak), Malayan kuau (Polyplectron malacense) and Hornbill birds (Buceros sp.).

Activities Offered

Bukit Baka – Bukit Raya National Park is very potential for research and educational purposes, adventure, nature tourism like hiking, climbing, rafting and fishing, as well as historical exploration.

Getting There

This area can be reached from several directions.

1.   Bukit Raya can be reached from Palangkaraya by motor vehicle to Kasongan (the county town of Kotawaringin Timur). From Kasongan, take a speed boat to Tumbang Samba, the District town of Katingan Tengah (it takes around 3 hours). There are three options for reaching the location from Tumbang Samba, i.e.:

·      By “klotok” (small motor boat) or rowing boat takes two days to the last village Tumbang Habangoi, and then by foot for the whole day to the location.

·    By speed boat takes six hours to Tumbang Hiran, and continue to the last village, Sebaung for another six hours. From Sebaung, take a klotok to the location for the whole day.

·      From Tumbang Hiran to Tumbang Senamang, Katingan Hulu, by speed boat for about 2,5 hours. 

     Then change with klotok to Kuluk Sepangei on the park’s border for +/- 7 hours.

2.       The area of Bukit Baka can be reached from Pontianak to Nanga Pinoh by air or public transport (bus) then by speedboat to the location.

Other tourist object outside the Park are traditional Long House (Betang) in Tumbang Gagu the district of Katingan Hulu and Marikit waterfall in Katingan River.