Malaysia Borneo My Destination:
Mulu
National Park - Walkway in the Sky
By George Francis
Visitors get a spectacular view suspended 20-metres above ground
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The Mulu National Park Canopy Skywalk is 480-metres long and is
the world's longest tree-based canopy walk
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Getting up close with the flora and fauna of Mulu's National
Park
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MULU, (Miri) - THE Mulu National Park's 480-metre Canopy Skywalk, is the
world's longest tree-based canopy walk.
It adds another features to the world heritage site, which also plays home
to the world's biggest caves and network systems.
According to the Director of Forest and Controller of National Parks and
Nature Reserves, Datuk Cheong Ek Choon, the completion of the project is a
fine example of private and government sectors working closely together to
promote eco-tourism and biodiversity conversation.
The Canopy Skywalk, suspended 20-metres above the forest floor, was built by
local communities with advice from experts on design and structure.
It winds among the lush treetops with a tranquil river running below and the
soaring heights of nearby limestone cliffs above.
The Skywalk follows a circular route suspended between 15 trees with a
separate exit tower. There are also platforms at each of the 15 trees for
visitors to stop and admire the lush surroundings.
It is one of the newly completed world standard visitor facilities at the
National Park.
Among other facilities at the park are 10-kilometre non-slip plank-walks,
radio communication systems, interpretive signage, extensively renovated
facilities at Camp 5, new public toilets and treatment works, renovated
facilities for future on-site research.
The tour begins along the Rainforest Discovery Walk to Deer Cave and turns
at the Paku River onto a new plank-walk that winds its way along the forest
floor to the base of an access tower. The Skywalk gives giving visitors a
spectacular panoramic view of the flora and fauna that inhibit on the
world's oldest rainforests.
The area is often visited by Macaque monkeys and Hornbills. It is also home
to a wide array of animals such as flying lizards, squirrels, amazing
insects and a range of rainforest birds.
The guided tour is supported by a range of informative signage describing
the rainforest and canopy environments.
The 1.5km journey in the sky to the Skywalk tower takes approximately 30
minutes with another hour to complete walking along the canopy.
Depending on tour times visitors can then wither return to the park's
headquarters or continue on their way to Deer Cave.
With Mulu being just a quick plane flight away from Miri airport, it is
certainly worth checking out.
Source:
Borneo Bulletin
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