Mulu National Park - The Headhunter's Trail

Introduction I Location Map I The Show Caves I Adventure Caving I Mulu Summit I The Pinnacles I The Headhunter's Trail I
Rivers & Gorges I Flora & Fauna I People and Settlement I
Bat Flights

The Headhunter's Trail is a great way of entering or leaving Gunung Mulu National Park. The trek is organised by travel operators and combines upriver travel, jungle trekking and an overnight stay at an Than longhouse. The trail itself follows the route taken by Kayan headhunting parties who paddled up the Melinau River to the Melinau Gorge. They then dragged their longboats through the forest for 3 km until they reached the banks of the Terikan River, where they launched headhunting raids against the people of the Limbang area.

The basic trail route is as follows. First take a boat from the park HQ to Kuala Berar and then trek for 2-3 hours to reach Camp 5. From Camp 5 follow the 11.3 kin trail to Kuala Terikan, a 4-5 hour trek. Either rest and spend the night in the accommodation units at the ranger station at Ng. Mentawai (about 15 minutes form Kuala Terikan), or travel by longboat for 3-4 hours (depending on boat engine and water level) to reach the longhouse (Rumah Bala Lesong). After an overnight stay the journey continues by boat downriver to Nanga Medamit. From there it is possible to travel by road to Limbang.

The Headhunter's Trail can also be done in reverse, starting from Limbang and ending up at the park HQ, Either way the trek offers an excellent introduction to the rivers and rainforest of Mulu and the added attraction of a longhouse visit. As the trek includes an overnight stay at Camp 5, most tour operators offer the option of climbing the Pinnacles as part of their Headhunter's Trail package.