Bat watching at the Mulu Caves is one of the highlights of your trip to the Mulu National Park in Sarawak Borneo.
People worldwide come here just to see this spectacular sight where millions of Malaysian fruit bats make their way out from the caves, searching for food.
This is one of the main highlights of visiting the Mulu Caves in Sarawak, as the cave visits end up with a spectacular show with millions of bats exiting the cave just before sunset.
Getting here is quite an exciting nature walk with an abundance of flora and fauna to observe. Note that a park guide will always be with you on your way as you cannot go in without a guide.
One needs to trek in about 45 minutes to an hour from the park entrance, and you will end up at the Bat Observatory of the park.
People worldwide come here just to see this spectacular sight where millions of Malaysian fruit bats make their way out from the caves, searching for food.
This is one of the main highlights of visiting the Mulu Caves in Sarawak, as the cave visits end up with a spectacular show with millions of bats exiting the cave just before sunset.
Mulu Caves Bat Watching
Getting here is quite an exciting nature walk with an abundance of flora and fauna to observe. Note that a park guide will always be with you on your way as you cannot go in without a guide.
One needs to trek in about 45 minutes to an hour from the park entrance, and you will end up at the Bat Observatory of the park.
There is also a certain time when the bats fly out from the Deer Cave, and usually, it is between 5.00 pm and 7.00 pm.
On occasions, they have been known to fly out on cloudy days at 4pm. This is according to the park guide, where the bats think it is getting dark.
Bats circling at Mulu Caves.
Watching the bats come out is amazing, but many people do not get a chance to see when the bats do a circle just at the cave mouth before proceeding out in a single wave file.
You will not see them circling; you only see them flying out in the wavy formation.
So, those who come out last from exploring the caves will get a chance to see this amazing sight of bats circling.
The bats will circle for a few minutes, and then when everyone is there, they will leave the cave. On one occasion, I saw a bat hawk swoop into the circle and grab one of the bats.
You will not see them circling; you only see them flying out in the wavy formation.
So, those who come out last from exploring the caves will get a chance to see this amazing sight of bats circling.
The bats will circle for a few minutes, and then when everyone is there, they will leave the cave. On one occasion, I saw a bat hawk swoop into the circle and grab one of the bats.
Video of bats flying out the Deer Cave
Bats leaving the Mulu Cave
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| Fruit bats leaving the Mulu Caves. |
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| Bats flying in swarms when exiting the cave. |
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| Millions of bats flying out of the cave mouth. |
You can easily spend a good 1 to 2 hours sitting at the Bat Observatory watching them come out batch by batch, snaking their way to dinner.
The park guide told me that there was an estimate of about 3 to 4 million fruit bats that make the Deer Caves their home.
This will also explain why the smell of Bat Guano is so strong inside the cave. One might think that they would all come out in one flow, but that is not how it works.
They will come out in batches. Some short and some really long. So, sit back, relax and watch them fly off. If you have a nice sunset, it would be a bonus.
The park guide told me that there was an estimate of about 3 to 4 million fruit bats that make the Deer Caves their home.
This will also explain why the smell of Bat Guano is so strong inside the cave. One might think that they would all come out in one flow, but that is not how it works.
They will come out in batches. Some short and some really long. So, sit back, relax and watch them fly off. If you have a nice sunset, it would be a bonus.
If the weather does not look good on that day, they have a Bat Viewing TV in the Observatory as there is a Bat Cam located in the Deer Caves to capture live streaming footage of the bats leaving. There is also more info on the Fruit Bat in the observatory for the curious.
Mulu Caves Bat Video
You can also read more about my experience at the Mulu National Park as I have visited this place multiple times from early 2000 to 2008.
You can also find many interesting caves at the national park like Deer Cave, Lang Cave, Wind Cave, and the famous Clearwater Cave to explore.
Most park tours will bring you to all the caves here, including the park guide and the boat fees to get there. Enquire with the park office about the cave tours.
Several accommodations range from budget to basic, and for those who want some luxury, there is also the Royal Mulu Resort. (Which is now known as the Mulu Marriott Resort).
Park entry is RM10.00 (US$2.50 per person, and it is charged on each entry to the Mulu national park.
You can also find many interesting caves at the national park like Deer Cave, Lang Cave, Wind Cave, and the famous Clearwater Cave to explore.
Most park tours will bring you to all the caves here, including the park guide and the boat fees to get there. Enquire with the park office about the cave tours.
Several accommodations range from budget to basic, and for those who want some luxury, there is also the Royal Mulu Resort. (Which is now known as the Mulu Marriott Resort).
Park entry is RM10.00 (US$2.50 per person, and it is charged on each entry to the Mulu national park.
Conclusion
For those of you who have plans to visit Sarawak Borneo, make sure that you have the Mulu National Park as a place to visit.
You can easily spend a good five days till a full week exploring the many caves, hiking and trekking, and visiting some of the Penan Villages along the river.
Make sure you have an extra day planned just to experience the Mulu Caves Bat Watching in Sarawak.
You can easily spend a good five days till a full week exploring the many caves, hiking and trekking, and visiting some of the Penan Villages along the river.
Make sure you have an extra day planned just to experience the Mulu Caves Bat Watching in Sarawak.