Owing to Rafflesia 's rarity and brief flowering period, timing and luck  are important. The park staff usually know when a plant is about to bloom. Visitors can check with the park HQ (Tel: 735714) or the National Parks and Wildlife Booking Office in Kuching (Tel: 248088) to find out if any plants are about to bloom or already in bloom. Although flowers generally bloom throughout the year, November, December and January can be regarded as the peak flowering season as the frequency of blooms is high.
 

Seeing a blooming Rafflesia is certainly the highlight of a trip to Gunung Gading, but the Park and the whole Lundu area are well worth visiting anyway. The rugged mountain peaks that make up the Park provide a scenic backdrop to the nearby town of Lundu, and the nearby beaches at Pandan and Star. Gunung Gading also has some enjoyable walks and a challenging jungle trek.
 

The Waterfall trail offers the shortest walk, winding its way up through the forest past a series of waterfalls. It takes about one hour to reach the last one, Waterfall No. 7. You'll need to be fit for the other trek, the Gunung Coding Summit trail (3-4 hours, one way) as it involves some serious hill walking. You must complete the trail and return the same day, as overnight stays in the forest are not permitted. From the summit you can opt for a side trek to Batu Bakubu, which was a former communist camp during the insurgency. Further information about these treks can be obtained from the Park HQ.

Accommodation: The HQ is fairly small and consists of an information centre, toilet blocks and accommodation facilities. There are two 'Type 5' Forest Lodges (3-bedroom chalets, up to 6 people) at RM 150. A hostel is also available (RM 15 per person, RM 40 per room). The Campsite is RM 5 per person. There is no canteen at the park HQ. Overnight visitors can either head into Lundu for food or bring their own provisions.

Getting There: Gunung Gading is 5 minutes drive from the small town of Lundu in Southwest Sarawak. Kuching-based travel agents can arrange tours. Independent travellers should take STC Bus No. EP07 from Kuching's regional express bus terminal to Lundu town centre. From there, take a taxi or white bos sewa to the parkHQ.

The Gunung Gading National Park, gazette in 1983, covers an area of approximately 4,106 hectares in the Lundu area, north-east of Kuching. It features a complex of mountains rising into several peaks, the highest being Gunung Gading, (906 meters) from which the park derived its name. Numerous waterfalls tumble down in series in the upper reaches of the Lundu River creating an idyllic jungle setting, in the cool shade of the rainforest.


• PLANNING AN ITINERARY

The park is ideal for day trips but visitors may even find its tranquil setting irresistible enough for overnight stays.

Call the National Parks office in Kuching and find out if the Rafflesia is in bloom and follow the guided walk through the Rafflesia site. Extreme care must be taken during such walks in order to protect the precious blooms and it may be necessary to keep your excitement under control!

You may, however, give way to your excitement at the cascading waterfalls and rippling streams. Swim to your heart's content in the cool clear waters and then laze awhile on the shady fern covered banks.

The scenic beaches at nearby Siar and Pandan are great for swimming and leisurely picnics. So make it a point to include it in your itinerary when you're in these parts.

• FLORA AND FAUNA

Sarawak is also the home to the world's largest flower, which measures up to a meter across. Take a 02 hours drive to the district town of Lundu. Upon arrival, take a plank walk to the area where the flowers are found. Park rangers will monitor on the progress of the buds and know when one is  about to bloom. Usually, one will have to phone up the park  to find out in order to avoid any disappointment. 

The area abounds with numerous rare plants, the most notable being the Rafflesia tuanmudae (bunga pakma). This magnificent flower, reputed to be the world's largest, measures almost a meter in width, when in full bloom! There is no specific flowering season and once in bloom it only lasts a few days.

Rafflesia flower only blooms for a short period so a bit of luck is required if you plan to see one. The park staff monitor the buds at Rafflesia sites and have a good idea when a flower is about to bloom. Visitors can check with the park Head Quarter or Wildlife Office before heading for the Park.

Nearby to this park, there are also other features such as waterfalls, clear jungle streams and a series of jungle trails.