Southeast Asia National Parks and Reserves
Southeast Asia lies within the tropics and as such displays an abundance of flora and fauna and some of the world’s youngest and most dramatic landscapes. Every country in the region has at least one national park or reserve, with Indonesia and Malaysia being particularly blessed with them. Among the most rewarding are; Gunung Leuser and Ujung Kulong National Parks in Indonesia, the widely acclaimed Khao Yai National Park and Similan islands marine reserve in Thailand, Kinabalu Natioal Park in Borneo, Malaysia, and Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park in the Philippines.
Taman Negara National Park, Malaysia
Taman Negara, literally ‘national park’ in Malay speak, was one of the country’s very first areas to be designated national park status. Lying on the east coast of the Malay Peninsular the park is the country’s most important and most heavily visited.
Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Indonesia
Located on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, Bukit Barisan is a medium-sized tropical rainforest in the south of the island featuring many endangered species. Of these the rare Sumatran Elephant, the Sumatran Rhino, the Sumatran Tiger and the Sumatran Striped Rabbit are its biggest draws.
Gunung Leuser National Park, Indonesia
Located in northern Sumatra, Gunung Leuser is named after the lofty 3,381m mountain and forms a World Heritage Site along with Bukit Barisan Selatan and Kerinci Seblat national parks. An orangutan sanctuary is located within the park.
Gunung Mulu National Park, Indonesia
Located on the Indonesian part of Borneo (Sawarak), Gunung Mulu is both a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site, featuring some amazing caves and karsts. The main feature of the park is the mammoth Sarawak Chamber, the world’s biggest naturally enclosed space.
Kerinci Seblat National Park, Indonesia
Sumatra’s largest national park spans four provinces and the impressive Barisan mountain range, of which Mount Kerinci is Sumatra’s highest peak. There are hot springs, rivers, rapids, and waterfalls in the park as well a diverse range of flora and fauna, including the Sumatran Rhino and the Bornean Clouded Leopard.
Khao Yai National Park, Thailand
Thailand’s first national park lies within four of the country’s northern provinces and was set up largely by famous local conservationist Boonsong Lekakul. The park is still one of the country’s foremost areas of natural beauty today.
Khao Sok National Park, Thailand
Thailand’s Khao Sok in Surat Thani province is beautiful, featuring primary rainforest and an abundance of wildlife. In the centre of the park is a huge lake where boat rides are popular while some exciting trekking and swimming is also available.
Kinabalu National Park - Borneo, Malaysia
Kinabalu has the distinction of housing Southeast Asia’s highest mountain. Lying on the west coast of Sabah, 4,095-metre Mount Kinabalu is very popular with trekkers and rock climbers.
Komodo National Park, Indonesia
So-named for the animal that it protects, Komodo National Park encompasses several volcanic islands and today protects other important animal species as well as the Komodo dragon.
Kon Ka Kinh National Park, Vietnam
One of Vietnam’s most beautiful regions, Kon Ka Kinh was given mandatory national park status in 2002 in order to protect the biodiversity of the region and for tourism.
Lorentz National Park, Indonesia
Situated in the province of Papua, Lorentz National Park is huge and is Southeast Asia’s largest park. This World Heritage Site is extremely diverse covering many ecosystems, from the sea, mangroves, and swamp forests right up to montane rainforest and alpine areas.
Bako National Park – Borneo, Indonesia
Located close to Kuching city in Borneo’s Sarawak region is Indonesia’s oldest national park and one of the best places in the world for wildlife spotting. The diverse natural habitats include secluded beaches, mangrove forests, rainforest and grasslands.
Maliau Basin - Borneo, Malaysia
Sabah’s Maliau Basin is one of the most remote, mysterious and difficult-to-access parks in Southeast Asia. Lofty cliffs and slopes surround the park where unspoiled rainforest, an impressive waterfall and many types of orchid reside.
Danum Valley - Borneo, Malaysia
The Danum Valley is best known for its collection of hundreds of endemic bird species. Other wildlife includes rare Sumatran rhinos, pygmy elephants, and clouded leopards.
Phong Nha - Ke Bang, Vietnam
Lying close to the Laotian border, this UNESCO World Heritage Site and national park is famed for its karsts and many caves.
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Philippines
Lying within the Saint Paul Mountain Range on the island of Palawan, Puerto Princesa is known for its lengthy navigable underground river and dramatic karst landscape. The river enters a cave before emerging into the South China Sea.
Similan Islands National Park, Thailand
This beautiful archipelago, lying off the Thai Andaman coast not far from Phuket in Phang Nga Province, features nine islands and of some of Thailand’s best scuba diving sites.
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Singapore
Situated in Singapore’s northwest, Sungei Buloh is a small park yet a very important stopping off point for migratory birds and is thus popular with ornithologists.
Tarutao National Marine Park, Thailand
Tarutao encompasses 51 islands off the Thai Andaman coast in the extreme south of the country. Receiving park status in the mid-1970s, Tarutao is one of the lesser visited of Thailand’s national parks but is nevertheless one of its most stunning marine environments.
Ujung Kulon National Park, Indonesia
Java’s most famous region encompasses the Krakatoa group of islands and is famed for its lowland rainforest and endangered Javan Rhino. It was also the country’s first national park to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
