Where millions of bats hang upside down

On the way to Gomantong cave, millions of bats hang upside down on the ceiling, floor, and walls, they will swarm out when dusk falls.

Where millions of bats hang upside down on Borneo Island

Deep within the damp rainforests on Borneo Island, Malaysia, a crack in the limestone reveals a complex cave system, not for the faint-hearted. This is Gomantong, the largest cave in Sabah state, nestled within the protected forests of the local Forestry Department.

On the way to the cave, millions of bats hang upside down on the ceiling reaching up to 91 meters high, ready to emerge outside when dusk falls – a sight that may be a nightmare for many. Meanwhile, under the cave floor, it teems with cockroaches, beetles, mice, and insects feasting on bat guano along with the carcasses of fallen swiftlets.

This cave also hosts snakes, mud crabs, giant centipedes, and scorpions. The air is thick with the smell of ammonia due to the layers of bird and bat droppings, which are more than 30 cm thick below the ground.

Gomantong Cave is renowned for its valuable swiftlet nests, fetching up to $1,600 per kilogram. Locals are permitted to harvest these nests only twice a year, from February to April and July to September, to prevent overexploitation. The first harvest occurs before the swiftlets lay eggs, and the second when they leave the nests after hatching. Harvesters rely on bamboo scaffolds, ropes, and bamboo stakes to access the cave ceiling.

With its diverse ecosystem, Gomantong attracts scientists and nature enthusiasts to Borneo Island. A wooden walkway has been constructed for tourists, allowing them to explore without concerns of traversing massive piles of bird and bat guano.

Many tourists visit as part of a package tour, priced from $62.5, to explore Kinabatangan, the capital of Sabah state, or to embark on day trips to the cave systems of Mulu National Park in Sarawak state.

Source: Hồng Lam/ Vnexpress

***

Reference: Travel guide Mytour