There they are! Night trekking in Similajau National Park

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I love camping, but I can't deny that when I have to get out the tent in the middle of the night for a pee break, I feel scared. In the forest, with just my flashlight, I figure all sorts of creatures are watching me, some wanting to eat me. I don't like being in the forest at night... UNTIL NOW!

After sunset we set out with our guide into the Similajau National Park Rainforest. With torch lights on our foreheads, we started creeping into the jungle, treading quietly. Now I wasn't the hunted, I was the hunter!

When hiking through the rainforest during the day, it can be near impossible to find creatures, the forest is so dense, it is like sensory overload, you can't focus on anything. As such, the well camouflaged creatures of the jungle go unnoticed.

BUT at night, with a single torch beam to guide your vision, it is like concentrated vision, superhero like powers. Only viewing the rainforest within a 2-3 foot diametre circle of light, suddenly you can't miss the tree frog, the lizard, the Wagler's pit viper, or the giant stick insect. Likewise, the civet's red eyes are easily distinguishable, in fact, the curious and bold little creature was following us for quite a distance. Finally, on the final boardwalk our guide found for us the single, red glowing eye in the mangrove swamp. We watched the eye, or it watched us. It blinked slowly. This was as close as I needed to get to the man-eating saltwater crocodile.

“We should head back soon.” whispered Craig.

“Why?” I asked. It had only been about 30 minutes, there was so much more to see.

“We've been out two hours.” he said.

Come to think of it, I was drenched in sweat, my hair as wet as though I had just had a shower. Maybe I had been out night trekking more than 30 minutes.

p.s. Frances, thought you would enjoy these photos.

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Photos

Another Tree Frog
Polypedates Colletti
Later identified in the Borneo frog book.

Crazy Insect Face
Similajau National Park

Clinging On
Night Trek in Similajau National Park

Tree Frog from Night Trek
Polypedates Colletti
Later identified in the Borneo frog book.

Wagler's Pit Viper
Night Trek, Similajau National Park.

Part of the branch.
Night Trek, Similajau National Park.

Stick Insect
Night Trek Similajau National Park

Beautiful Beaches
Similajau Natioanal Park

Forest Butterfly
Similajau National Park

Creek in Similajau National Park
No swimming here, full of crocodiles.

Bintulu, an oil city.
Bintulu burning in the distance seen from Similajau National Park

Craig trying out a Tarzan move
Similajau National Park