The Mulu Caves

During my stay at the Gunung Mulu National Park, I visited 4 "show caves". Show caves are those caves that are equipped with walkways so that they are easily accessible. Besides that, the special features of these caves are enhanced with clever use of lighting, so that tourists may find their visit pleasurable.

Our guide was a local Penan youth named John. He led our group to the first cave, which was the Cave of The Winds. Alighting our boat, we climbed the wooden steps along the limestone cliffs to the entrance of the cave.

Climbing up the steps to reach the entrance of the Cave of The Winds

When entering a narrow passage within the cave, we could feel the a cool draft, as suggested by the name of the cave. The pathway eventually led us to the King's Chamber, where stalactites and stalagmites of all shapes and sizes can be seen.

Inside the Cave of the Winds

Next, we trekked towards the Clearwater Cave, which at 169km, is reputed to be the third longest cave in the world. According to John, an expedition is about to commence next week, where speleologists will begin work on the unexplored Clearwater cave system.

In different directions . . .

To reach the cave, one has to climb 200 wooden steps up a steep slope. Some people were put off by the stairs, and those with weak knees chose not to climb. I myself was overwhelmed. Those who did not wish to climb could take a breather at the rest area. Hot drinks and snacks are available here. And there are also toilets around, in case nature calls.

Rest area

I made a slow climb to the top where the cave entrance was. There were 2 trails here, one of which led to the Lady Cave, so named as the limestone formations were deemed more feminine. Indeed we saw a structure which resembled a woman.

A stalagmite resembling the figure of a woman

In the Clearwater Cave, you can hear the river roaring as the crystal clear water flows swiftly beneath.

What scared some of us was the presence of a snake. In the dark cave, we saw it slither along the steps and then coiled itself on beside the pathway. John said it was a cave racer snake and it was not poisonous.

Spines along the Clearwater Cave walls

In the afternoon, we headed to the Lang Cave and the Deer Cave. To reach these 2 caves, we trekked for about an hour from the Park HQ for it was 3.8 km long. The wooden plank walk was well-maintained. We strode at a comfortable pace, and so it was rather enjoyable. There were plenty of greenery to enjoy along the way.

Different directions yet again . . .

Lang Cave is named after a local man who discovered the cave. It is a rather small cave, but it was my favourite cave. The unique limestone formations were beautifully illuminated by the lights.

This photo does not do justice to Lang Cave

Deer Cave is the world's largest cave passage, and not to be missed here is the Lincoln's profile at the South entrance.

Abraham Lincoln's Profile

The Deer Cave is the roost of millions of bats, and the odorous guano deposit lingers in the air. The locals used to hunt for deers at the cave, and thus the name of the cave.

Part of the roof of the Deer Cave collapsed and a shaft of light entered to create rich green vegetation, named The Garden of Eden.

The Garden Of Eden

I thought the Garden of Eden was very pretty, but my friends who have visited in the 80's and 90's said that the garden was even more majestic in the past.

After we made our way out of the caves, we waited for the Bat Exodus. It was raining at that time, and the guides were not sure whether there would be a show. John said there was a 50-50 chance. After a long wait, they did finally fly out in a stream towards the fading sky.

Thereafter, it was another long walk back to the Park. Well, the Mulu show caves are worth a visit. They are not on the UNESCO World Heritage list for no reason, after all. Furthermore, the trails are very manageable compared to the Niah Caves. I personally think that Niah Caves were more difficult to navigate as I had to climb up and down the steep steps throughout the way.

Indeed, there's more to explore at Mulu. I would love to trek to the Garden of Eden, to go for the Canopy Skywalk, and even visit the Paku Waterfall. I guess it would have to be next time. Anyone interested?