Niah Travel Guide

To make a little bit more money out of you, you have to take a boat across the narrow Sungai Niah which runs till 7.30pm and costs about RM1. I don't know why they simply can't put a bridge here instead.

The guano collectors are not the only people who earn a living from the cave. Strategically positioned bamboo poles and leaders are evidence of the birds nest collectors, local people who have practised this dangerous occupation for generations. The half million swiftlets that live in the cave make their nests purely from their own salivary secretions and when the nests are cleaned and cooked they produce the famous birds nest soup, which is as highly regarded in Chinese cuisine as caviar is in the West.

Take care whilst inside the Great Cave as it is pitch black (so bring a torch/flashlight) plus the boardwalk stairs and hand rails are well peppered with bat droppings, called guano, and the wooden plank walkway can be mighty slippery.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Inside the Great Cave, although the boardwalk continues, you will need a powerful torch to see your way around (torches can be rented for RM5.00 so bring your own). The stairs and hand rails are well peppered with bat droppings, called guano, and the wooden plank walkway can be mighty slippery.

Favorite thing: When you first arrive at the park you have to register to pay the entrance fee of RM10 at the Park Headquarters building. There's also some useful information and maps to pick up here.