Niah National Park, Sarawak, Borneo
Breathtaking! literally as the humidity is really something especially after you have walked 4kms to get there, and then the shear size of the caves! then the incredible sense of history sinks in..
Gua Dagang Traders Cave
Gua Dagang
Meeting house from the days of bird nest harvesting
The Great Cave
Stairs leading from the Great Cave into the Painted cave track
Niah Caves
Rest stations with shelter from the guano!
The bird harvesters would climb these wooden poles that are attached to the cave rooves to reach the swift nests, Each length would be 15-20m!
Its incredibly humid and spots like this are gems as there is water dripping down into the caves and airflow!
Tunnel to Gan Kira
Just past Gan Kira are these high security fences that the authorities put in place to stop the poachers coming into the caves for the swift nests.
Gan Kira, picturesque spot for a breather before going to the painted caves.
Swift Nests, this is what is all about!
Cave Dwellers!
Bats!
I didn't know this but every section of the cave ceiling where the nests are is privately owned and only they have the right to collect the nests. Collection is twice a year (one in January and June). The harvesters scales up hundreds of feet high, on these single poles up to the ceiling to scrape off the nest!
Looking down and outwards of the Great Cave Gua Niah
you can only grasp the size of the caves when you get there!
Gua Niah
Red Millipede
Gua Dagang, Traders Cave
The walk in and out is just as beautiful as the caves, go early as then you can heard the birds, monkeys and inects. If it wasn't for the board walks and hand rails tourists wouldn't last 5mins!
you start by taking the shortest ferry ride in the world 50m river crossing, 1 ringgit per-person