Ulu Temburong National Park, Brunei

Ulu Temburong National Park, Brunei Overview

The Ulu Temburong National Park is a 550 square kilometres national park situated in the Temburong District in Eastern Brunei. Commonly referred to as the ‘Green Jewel of Brunei’, it is renowned for its wildlife which is home to over 40 species of butterflies and the ‘exploding ants’, one of the rarest species of ants.

Apart from the scenic beauty and wildlife safaris, Ulu Temburong has several other facilities on offer such as the relaxing feet treatment and massages, exhilarating water tube rides, speedboat and longboat rides, and a waterfall. The Ulu Temburong National Park covers nearly 40% of the country's southern district while only about 1% of the total area remains accessible to the public.

Things to Do at Ulu Temburong National Park

The journey begins en route the national park. Since there are no roads in the area, Ulu Temburong can only be accessed via a boat. There are dedicated longboats which drop and pick visitors to and from the park. The ride is famous for being bumpy due to the shallow depth and heavy flow.
Even though only about 1% of the park’s total area is accessible to the public, the hike trails with picturesque backdrops present in the park make it worth a visit.
Ulu Temburong is home to several natural pools and a waterfall which attract large crowds. It is also possible to experience fish nibbling on your feet by dipping them in the waterfall crevice.
Post crossing a rope bridge across the river, one can make their way uphill to the Canopy Walk. The canopy walk is undoubtedly the USP of the national park however it will certainly not be to the tastes of acrophobics. The canopy walk towers stand 50 metres above the ground level however are definitely worth climbing to obtain some marvellous panoramic views of the forest.

Flora and Fauna

Flora - The vegetation in Ule Temburong lies under the tropical low forest bracket. Shorea, Dryobalanops and Dipterocarpus remain ubiquitous throughout the rainforest. The rainforest is also home to mangroves which can be spotted in the coastal areas. Some of the prominent forms of vegetation include gingers, aroids, figs, begonias and Ixora flowers. The banks of the forest house palms, ferns, lichens and mosses.

Fauna - When it comes to wildlife, Ule Temburong serves as a habitat to several types of mammals, reptiles, insects and birds. Popular birds include the Muller’s Bornean Gibbon, which is known for its greyish-brown colour and for being tailless, the Bushy-crested hornbills, broadbills, swiftlets and many others. The park is home to various species of squirrels as well such as the pygmy squirrel. Reptiles compose a major percentage of the total wildlife and include snakes such as the Wagler’s pit Bipar which happens to be amongst the rarest in the world. Other species of insects include the Exploding ants, centipedes and lantern bugs.

How to Reach Ulu Temburong National Park

Due to its awkward and remote location, getting to Ulu Temburong National Park can be tough and can take anywhere upwards of two hours. The journey begins from Bandar Seri Begawan from where one needs to take a 40-minute speedboat to Bangar Town. From there, an 18-kilometre overland drive arrives at Batang Duri. From here, visitors can get the famous longboat across the River Temburong to the entrance of the National Park.