Gunung Palung National Park

Gunung Palung National Park is located in Kayong Utara and Ketapang, West Borneo. It is endorsed as national park on 24 March 1990 by Ministry of Forestry No 44//Kpts-II/1990. Its space is around 90.000ha.

This national park has various vegetation and consists of various ecosystem. The forest in this national park is consist of swamp forest, forest peat, mangrove forest and mountain forest.

In Gunung Palung National Park you can find various vegetation such as Jelutung (Dyera costulata), ramin (Gonistylus bancamus), damar (Agathis berneensis), pulai (Alstonia scholaris), rengas (Gluta renghas), ironwood(Eusideroxylon zwageri), Mangrove (Rhizopora spp.), kendeka (Bruguiera spp.), dan many medicinal plants.

In addition this national park has become home for several primates such as orang-utan (Pongo pigmaeus), proboscis (Nasalis larvatus), beruk (Macaca nemestrina nemestrina), Gibbons (Hylobathes agilis), dan kelasi (Hylobathes frontata). you can also find other animals such as honey bear (Helarctos malayanus euryspilus), klampiau (Hylobates muelleri), lemur ((Nyticebus coucang borneanus), deer (Muntiacus muntjak pleiharicus), kancil (Tragulus napu borneanus), chipmunk (Lariscus hosei), partridge (Gallus gallus), rhinoceros hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros borneoensis), hornbills ivory (Rhinoplax vigil), hornbills turtle (Orlitia Borneensis), penyu tempayan (Caretta caretta), siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis), walnut squirrel (Rheithrosciurus macrotis), and around 200 birds species.

The Gunung Palung National Park also has become Orang Utan conservation in Indonesia. it becomes a place for 10% Orang Utan which live in the world (Berkmoes et.al, 2010). Orang Utan that live in this place is from the species of Pongo Pygmeus Wumbii.

this National Park also a home for special orchid, Black Orchid (coelogyne pandurata) which grow in Matan River. The Black Orchid usually blossom for 5-6 days on February up to April. this species is named as Black Orchid since its black color in the middle of the flower. it will a pity for you to miss the rare moment.

Facility

Not only its natural beauty but this national park also has other magnificent attraction such as Datok Island Beach, waterfall, animal variety and the culture from the local people. for the climbers, you can also climb the Mountain Palung (116mdpl) and Panti Mountain (1050mdpl).

In addition to its attraction, this national park also a place for research on animals and plants. the research center was built on 1965 on the west part of the mountain.

There’s Post Resort which is managed by professional equipped with telecommunication and land & water transportation. There’s also Nature Shelter which can be place for recreation. the facility that’s availbale in Panti Research Station are research camp, laboratorium, library and dormitory for researcher.

Tourist can rent a house from the local or even stay with them (local home stay). There’s also tourist guide which will guide you to explore the national park.

Ticket The admission charge is IDR 1.000/person for local and IDR 10.000/person for foreigner. For you who visits this park bringing your camera then there will be extra charge of IDR 2.500 for photo or IDR 25.000 for video.

Transportation

For you who wants to visit Gunung Palung National Park then you can use several ways

Firstly you can go from Pontianak to Ketapang by plane (2.5hours)or by express boat (6hours). From ketapang to teluk melano you can use minibus for 2hours then from teluk melano you can take long boat for 6 hours to the Gunung Palung National Park.

Secondly you can go from Pontianak to Teluk Batang by Express Boat (4hours). From Teluk Batang you can take minibus (1hours) tto Teluk Melano. And lastly from Teluk Melano you can take Gunung Palung National Park by Long Boat for 6 hours.