I started my research trip in Kuala Lumpur, an impressive city, ideal for shopping enthusiasts! In the evening the city comes alive with plenty of restaurants and stalls to eat at and night markets to visit.

From Kuala Lumpur I travelled overland and then by boat to Mutiara Taman Negara Resort. This eco-resort is located in a 25-acre jungle sanctuary in Malaysia’s National Park, Pahang. Trekking through the rainforest with my guide led to a breath-taking viewpoint followed by a canopy walk and a boat trip in the surrounding rivers.

From here I went over to the East Coast and stayed in the luxurious Tanjong Jara Resort located right on a secluded beach. Snorkelling here is fabulous with baby sharks and hundreds of brightly coloured fish.

I then flew over to Sarawak and with Kuching as my base, visited Bako National Park. Bako is one of the best places in Sarawak to see wildlife in a natural surrounding. After a road and boat transfer, my guide and I went trekking in search of the proboscis monkey. The various types of animals that could be spotted at Bako include proboscis monkeys, silver leaf monkeys, long tail macaques, wild boars, monitor lizards, and numerous species of birds. I was lucky enough to see a group of proboscis monkeys dozing in the mangroves!

I met Richie, a 40-year-old orangutan, on the way to visit a local Iban tribe in Numga Sumpa. En-route to visit the Iban tribe we journeyed through rural Sarawak passing pepper gardens, cocoa and rubber plantations, wild orchids and several species of pitcher plants. We also made a stop at the Semengoh Wildlife Centre, a temporary home for various endangered wildlife of Sarawak especially orang-utans that were either orphaned or rescued from captivity. Here they are trained to survive in the wild and this is where I witnessed orang-utans eating from the feeding platforms – an unforgettable experience!

A highlight was meeting a local Iban tribe and being invited to see their longhouse, which houses 33 families altogether. It was fascinating to see how a local Iban tribe live their lives and it was an excellent opportunity to meet the local people. Being right on the river, the setting was beautiful and very peaceful. From the longhouse I enjoyed a boat trip upriver to swim by a waterfall and then had lunch prepared over an open fire.

My tour ended at Mulu where I experienced the famous bat exodus at dusk; the magnificent caves and trekking to the Pinnacles base camp.

Malaysia and Sarawak are beautiful and so diverse with a multitude of things to offer visitors; the people are friendly and the food is amazing and I would recommend that a visit is well worthwhile.

Tara

For more information, email me at TPepperell@magicorient.co.uk