Kuching is an incredible wildlife destination, offering the chance to see most of the Borneo Big Five as well as several other wonderful animal species. From day trips in Bako National Park, where you can see the iconic proboscis monkeys and rhinoceros hornbills, to boat tours of the Kuching Wetlands to see crocodiles and Irrawaddy dolphins, the Malaysian state of Sarawak has no shortage of animal species to discover. It’s even possible to catch a glimpse of rare species like tarsiers if you brave a night walk through the rainforest. This guide covers the best places to visit to see Kuching’s wildlife, with tour recommendations and more to help you experience Borneo’s amazing animals firsthand.
Where to see wildlife in Kuching
Kuching Wetlands National Park
Boat trips in the Kuching Wetlands National Park offer the chance to see some of Sarawak’s best wildlife, including two of the Borneo Big Five: proboscis monkeys and estuarine crocodiles, as well as rare Irrawaddy dolphins.
These boat tours are particularly great for proboscis monkey sightings, with the monkeys regularly seen along the riverbank, both high in the trees and on the ground along the shore. At times the boats can get within metres of these unique-looking monkeys, allowing for an incredible encounter and brilliant photo opportunities.
The Kuching Wetlands are one of the best places in Borneo to see Irrawaddy dolphins, with fairly regular sightings along the waterways. We took two boat trips here and were fortunate enough to see dolphins on both occasions.
Other species that can be seen on the boat trips include estuarine crocodiles, long-tailed macaques, mudskippers, and a range of bird species including white-bellied sea eagles. Discover more about the area’s animal species with our guide to the Kuching Wetlands National Park.
Boat tours in the Kuching Wetlands run twice a day, in the morning and in the late afternoon/early evening. The main difference between the times of day is that you can see fireflies in the evening, as well as crocodile’s eyes peering above the water after nightfall.
Tours need to be booked at least two days in advance to arrange for hotel pickup and drop off, as the departure point is around an hour’s drive from Kuching. Thankfully it’s easy to book online in minutes via the Klook website.
Click here to book a memorable boat trip through the wetlands via Klook!
Bako National Park
Bako National Park is simply unmissable for anyone wanting to see wildlife in Kuching. The park is home to some incredible wildlife, including three members of the Borneo Big Five: proboscis monkeys, estuarine crocodiles, and rhinoceros hornbills.
A trip to Bako National Park offers the chance to see a range of incredible animal species, including silver leaf monkeys, Bornean bearded pigs, and colugos. There is also a range of interesting birdlife to discover in the park from white-bellied sea eagles and brahminy kites to blue-throated bee-eaters and red-crowned barbets.
It’s possible to visit the park on a day trip from Kuching, but for the best experience you will want to spend the night in the accommodation by the park’s headquarters. One of our top tips for visiting Bako National Park is to stay overnight, as it gives you extra time to discover the park’s fascinating wildlife after the day trippers have left and also presents the opportunity for a guided night walk to see nocturnal species. Find out more about overnight stays with our guide to accommodation in Bako.
The best way to discover the national park’s wildlife is with a guide, as they are experts at spotting animals and know exactly where to look. Guides can be arranged at the jetty where you get the boat into the park. Find out everything you need to know about getting to the park with our guide on how to get to Bako National Park from Kuching.
If you don’t want to have to figure out how to get to the park yourself, then you can also book a day trip or overnight stay via Klook. These tours are a great way to enjoy a guided visit to Bako National Park, and give you a brilliant chance to see the park’s famous proboscis monkeys and more.
Click here to discover Bako National Park tours on the Klook website!
Tarsiers in the Rainforest
One of the most unique wildlife tours in Kuching takes you on a journey into a remote rainforest in search of tarsiers. These tiny nocturnal primates are between 3.5 and 6 inches long, excluding their tails, and are known for their disproportionately large eyes.
Tarsiers are notoriously difficult to see in the wild, but thankfully an expert local guide gives you a great chance to see one. The tour takes you to a secluded area of rainforest, separate from any of the major national parks around Kuching, and it’s an area you’d be very unlikely to find without taking the tour.
As you embark on a night walk through the rainforest, you will encounter several interesting species ranging from huge spiders to colourful lizards to small frogs. Tarsier sightings can’t be guaranteed, but the guides are great at spotting their large eyes through the trees – and we were fortunate enough to have a sighting within minutes of starting our walk!
The tours only operate in the dry season, between March and October, running on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Borneo Adventure are the only operator currently running tarsier tours from Kuching, and you have a 70% chance to see a tarsier as long as it hasn’t been raining. Click here to find out more about the tours on their official website!
Kubah National Park
Kubah National Park is one of the lesser-visited national parks near Kuching and is home to a mix of beautiful nature and wildlife. Spotting wildlife in the forest here can be tricky, but there are a number of interesting species to discover ranging from mouse deers and black hornbills to several species of butterflies, reptiles, and amphibians.
There are several walking trails in the national park, including a trail to the summit of Gunung Serapi and the popular waterfall trail. Many of the trails involve some fairly steep sections to ascend and descend, but the natural beauty is well worth it.
Along the walking trails you have the chance to spot some of the park’s wildlife, but the dense forest allows animals to keep themselves well hidden. At the very least, you will likely see a variety of butterfly and moth species, as well as some birds hidden amongst the trees.
The best way to discover the wildlife of Kubah National Park is to take a guided night tour. These tours focus on seeing some of the forest’s incredible frog species, as well as reptiles and other amphibians.
If you’re planning to visit the national park in the day to enjoy one or more of the hiking trails, then it’s worth downloading the AllTrails app. The app has maps of the park’s hiking trails, and you can follow along with your live location to ensure you don’t make any wrong turns.
Click here to see the park’s hiking trails and download the app today!
Semenggoh Nature Reserve
Semenggoh Nature Reserve is an orangutan rehabilitation centre near Kuching, in the state of Sarawak. The centre’s forest spans over 650 hectares and is home to a population of semi-wild orangutans.
We opted against visiting the reserve as we preferred to see orangutans fully in the wild, which we managed to do our Kinabatangan River cruises. The orangutans at Semenggoh are fed twice daily, and visitors can gather in the hopes of seeing them – and your chances are much better than spotting one in the wild.
Although no borders are stopping the orangutans from leaving, the centre is a bit too zoo-like for our liking. It’s supposed to be a rehabilitation centre, but National Geographic reports that no rehab is taking place to release the animals fully into the wild.
Visiting the centre costs just 10 MYR per adult, and 5 MYR per child, but be aware that sightings aren’t guaranteed and that seeing orangutans fully in the wild will be a much more rewarding experience.
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