Physically separated from the rest of Brunei Darussalam by Malaysia, the Temburong District is a largely forested area in the country’s far east that’s garnered a reputation as an eco-tourism destination. It encompasses one of the best-preserved tracts of primary rainforest on the island of Borneo, which is protected within the magnificent Ulu Temburong National Park.
Things to do in Temburong
One of the primary reasons to visit Temburong is to explore Ulu Temburong National Park, which sprawls across 550 square kilometres of virgin rainforest. Since the 1990s, the Sultan has established a “no-cut” policy here, allowing its flora and fauna to flourish. Join a longboat eco-tour to spot Müller's gibbons and more than 400 different species of butterflies before getting a bird’s eye view of the forest along the park’s 50-metre-high canopy walkway.
Budding environmental scientists can learn about the research being conducted at the Kuala Belalong Rainforest Field Studies Centre by the Universiti Brunei Darussalam and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Only accessible by boat, this research station accommodates scientists who are playing a vital role in identifying new flora and fauna species in the region and researching the impact of global climate change on Brunei’s forests.
A short drive east of Bangar is the Bukit Patoi Forest Recreation Park, a picturesque natural area within Peradayan Forest Reserve and home to Borneo’s native kijiang deer. Follow the two-kilometre-long trail that leads to the 310-metre-high peak of Bukit Patoi for sweeping views across the reserve’s lush jungle.
Getting there
Regular speedboats connect Bandar Seri Begawan with Bangar while daily buses travelling from the Brunei Darussalam capital to Kota Kinabalu pass through Temburong. Taxis are the main means of getting around the region while Bangar is compact enough to explore on foot.