Kayan Mentang National Park Travel Guide
Kayan Mentarang National Park is a remote protected area in the far northwest of East Kalimantan. It covers a massive area and boasts the largest remaining slice of true rainforest in Borneo.
- What is It?
- The largest national park in Indonesia.
- When to Go
- April/May through September/October for the best weather.
- Nearest Town
- Tanjung Selor, about 100kms to the east.
- Don't Miss
- a jungle trek to check out the unique flora and fauna.
- Trivia
- Indonesia's largest national park features the biggest remaining rainforest in Borneo.
Kayan Mentarang National Park's rainforest status makes it an important refuge for many species of animals and plants. A jungle trek of the park will reveal flora and fauna that can't be seen elsewhere in the world, including many endemic species of Borneo.
Much of the park lies above 1,000m and the highest point is 2,000m. There are many local tribes residing in the park, including the Dayak and Punan people, who farm and hunt for food. There are various WWF offices in the park including a research station in Long Alango, which can be visited. Accommodation in Kayan Mentarang National Park is limited to Dayak village houseboats.
Travel to Kayan Mentang National Park - Getting There
There are a couple of small airports near to Kayan Mentarang National Park, including Long Ampung and Long Bawan, with flights from Samarinda and Tarakan respectively. Coming in via Tanjung Selor is the most popular route, however, with flights from Sepinggan International Airport in Balikpapan taking less than 1 hour. Public riverboats then run to Long Pujungan for the park.
