Kayan Mentarang National Park

Kayan Mentarang National Park

In 1980, Kayan Mentarang National Park, KMNP, was designated as “Natural Reservation Area,” then was changed to “National Park and Forest Tourism Destination” by the decree of Forestry Minister No.631/ Kpts-11/ 1996, in 1996. The entire width of KMNP is around 1.360.500 ha.
With Mount Longnawan as the highest peak, this national park comprises the various landscapes such as flat area, hills and mountainous area, about 200 meters to 2.558 meters above the sea level. It has tropical climate, the average rainfall is around 3.000 mm / year, with the temperature is around 20,5° C to 33° C. During September to December is the best time for visiting the location.
Kayan Mentarang National Park is the biggest and the oldest forest area, both primary and secondary forest, in the Southeast Asia. It is derived from the name of two significant rivers spread out in Bulungan District, the Kayan River, located in the south of the area and the Mentarang River, located in the north of the area.

There are many various species of flora and fauna. The various types of vegetative in the location are categorized by the substrate substance and the variety of topography.

• The hills and the Lowland of Dipterocarpaceae forest, over than 50 % of the entire width.
• The Lowland and mountainous forest (at altitude of 1.200 to 1.600 meters) which is over than 40 % of the entire width.
•  The Kerangas Forest, growing in the low substrate substance.
•  The Limestone forest.
•  The Savanna, which is the effect of shifting cultivating.
•  The Secondary forest, the effect of take and turn cultivating.

You will find some plant species such as pulai (Alstonia scholaris), jelutung (Dyera costulata), ramin (Gonystylus bancanus), agathis (Agathis borneensis), kayu ulin (Eusideroxylon zwageri), rengas (Gluta wallichii), gaharu (Aquilaria malacensis), aren (Arenga pinnata), orchid, palm, etc. In addition, you will see Rhodonderon (the only flower that can be found in Asia).More than 100 types of mammals (15 of them are endemic), eight types of primates, and over 310 types of birds (20 types are Kalimantan endemic threatened with extinction) can be found there. From the mammal species, you will see macan dahan (Neofelis nebulosa), kucing dampak (Prionailurus planicipes), civet cat (Felis marmorata), red cat (Felis badia), honeybear (Helarctos malayanus), bull (Bos javanicus), deer (Muntiacus spp), forest pig (Sus sp), and bajing jenthik (Sundaicurus jentiki subsiganus). The Primates animals such as lutung dahi putih (Presbytis frontata), lutung merah (Presbytis rubicunda), beruk (Macaca nemestrina), bekatan/kahau (Nasalis lavaratus), klampiau (Hylobates mulleri), long tail monkey (Macaca fasicularis), and Tarsius (Tarsius bancanus) can be found there. The species of birds such as kuau kerdil (Polyplectron schleimacheri), julang jambul hitam (Aceros corrugatus), enggang jambul hitam (Anthrococeros malayanus), enggang gading (Bucceros vigil), and cucak rawa (Pycnonotus zeylanicus) can be found in the same location.

A threatened with extinction species of Kalimantan Elephants (Elephas maximus borneensis), can be found when you are lucky. The species includes into the sub-species of Asian Elephants that was assumed that were intentionally brought to Kalimantan.   According to the survey of Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam, BKSDA (Natural Resources and Conservation Center), WWF and the Biological Laboratory of Forestry Faculty of Mulawarman University on February to March 2007 states that about 25 to 45 of Kalimantan Elephants population which were remained.

KMNP is inhabited by about 20.000 -  25.000 of Dayak people in various sub-tribes such as Dayak Kenyah, Dayak Puran, Dayak Lund Aye, Dayak Tagel, and Dayak Lun Bawang. They live in their tradition in the Lamin homes (The stage houses of Dayak tribes that are inhabited by 100 peoples). They live by farming, using their own knowledge about natural conservation. They know how to preserve natural resources based on their principals such as how to cultivate various paddies.
Hiking, jungle trekking passing through the river and enjoying the magnificent scenery and the wonderful waterfall can be activities for you. It is also used for research and observation by students, lecturer and professional researcher focusing on natural preservation and environment cases.

Where Kayan Mentarang National Park Location?

Kayan Mentarang National Park is administratively included into Bulungan District, East Kalimantan Province. It is at 01º 59´- 04º 24´ of north latitude and at 114 º 49´-116 º 16´ of west altitudes.You may take air transportations to reach the destination. The access is about an hour from Samarinda to Tarakan, continued by Klotok / speedboat passing by the River Mentarang in approximately 6 hours.

There are three rivers, the River Bahau, the River Kayan and the River Mentarang, which are used for water transportation by visitors. During the journey, you will see the various of wildlife animals inhabiting the destination.There are lodgements for you who want to spend more days in the location. Check posts, Klotok/ speedboat and other facilities are easily found there.