Travel Guide Parc National De Gunung Gading

Tourists flock to Gunung Gading National Park whenever a rafflesia flower is in bloom. This is the world's largest and most fragrant flower, introduced to the world by Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of Singapore and British Malaysia. It can be seen here all year round. Up to a metre in diameter, this flower takes 9 months to bloom and several hours to open fully, and lives only 4 or 5 days. With no defined flowering season and no roots, leaves or stems, rafflesia is still a (beautiful) mystery to scientists. The park extends over 4,601 ha and allows lucky visitors to admire this botanical treasure. A well-marked wooden walkway must be used to avoid damaging the ecosystem and the fragile young shoots. Although there is no real season, the chances of seeing them are greatest during the rainy season, from November to February. The park also offers a variety of hiking opportunities, beautiful waterfalls, streams and panoramic views over the town of Lundu and its surrounding beaches. For the more adventurous, there's Gunung Gading, 906 m above sea level.