We flew from Kota Kinabalu to Mulu via Miri on MASWings flight MH 3255, an ATR 72-500 (registration: 9M-MWA, name: Kuching). From the plane, we could admire the endless expanse of the jungle. Here and there, we encountered small settlements and meandering rivers. Mulu Airport consists of a small terminal building and a short runway. We walked the 1.5 kilometers to the main entrance of Gunung Mulu National Park. It's also possible to take a minibus, but this costs 5 MYR per person.
Gunung Mulu National Park
Upon arriving at the park, we were pleasantly surprised by its condition and facilities. After checking into our reserved Garden Bungalow, we were immediately offered several tour recommendations. The Mulu Discovery Planner, which was provided, proved very useful. It lists all the tours in the Walks, Adventures, and Caves categories, along with their start times and brief descriptions. To participate in the more advanced Adventure tours, you must have completed an easy to moderately difficult tour beforehand.
Hike to the Moonmilk Cave
After taking care of the formalities, we used the remaining time before sunset to hike to Moonmilk Cave. This is the only cave in the park that we could visit without a guide. The 1.5-kilometer-long and well-maintained trail posed no problem for us. We had a great view of the river and the diverse jungle vegetation. We saw giant ants, butterflies, caterpillars, and a large snail. To finally reach the cave, we had to climb 425 steps. Unfortunately, Moonmilk Cave wasn't lit, but with a flashlight, we had no trouble finding our way around.
Night hike through the jungle of Mulu
After dinner at the Park Café, we gathered again around 7 p.m. at the entrance of the main building. We had booked a night walk for the evening. The two-hour tour, for up to eight people, cost 10 MYR per person. With a guide, we walked a roughly two-kilometer path. This mostly followed a wooden boardwalk, making it easily navigable even in the dark. Unfortunately, we didn't see many animals. But the sounds were truly unique. From the thicket, we heard birds chirping, crickets chirping, and at one point, the growling of what seemed to be a larger animal. Sadly, we couldn't identify what it was.
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