Kubah Night Frog Walk

Kubah National Park is one of the best places in Borneo to look for frogs, and the best time is after dark. On a night walk from Kuching, a guide leads a small group along forest trails and boardwalks with torches, stopping to find species that call from leaf surfaces, streams and puddles. Borneo has one of the richest frog faunas in the world, with flying frogs that glide between trees, tiny tree frogs no bigger than a thumbnail and large, loud species that sound like barking dogs. Many are found nowhere else, and some are seen only on a handful of trails. Frogs are not the only reward. As the guide sweeps the beam of a torch across foliage you may discover sleeping birds, stick insects, huntsman spiders, millipedes, geckos and the occasional snake coiled on a branch. A guide who knows the forest can read the signs, listening for calls and checking leaf undersides where frogs wait. The pace is slow and quiet, so the evening feels more like a treasure hunt than a hike, and people of all ages tend to enjoy the sense of discovery.

Most tours leave Kuching in the late afternoon, reach the park around dusk and start the walk shortly after dark, returning to the city in the late evening. Because the walk takes place within a protected area, groups are kept small, and rules about torches, noise and touching animals are strict.

Never handle frogs or insects, since oils on human skin can harm amphibians, and stay on the path to avoid snakes and fragile habitat. Guides often carry a headlamp with a red filter, which disturbs animals less than white light, and they will show you how to photograph without flash.

Frogs are most active after rain, so a night following a shower is likely to be more productive than one after a dry spell. In wetter months of the year the forest is noisy with calls, while in drier periods the walk may find fewer frogs but still plenty of insects and spiders. A good operator will adjust the route to the conditions and not promise particular species. If a favourite sighting does not appear, enjoy what does, because the diversity of life within a few hundred metres of the trail is remarkable.

Dress in long trousers, a long-sleeved shirt and closed shoes with good grip, since the ground is damp and leeches appear on wet nights. Apply repellent before you set out, carry a small bag with water and a rain layer, and keep valuables in the vehicle. A phone camera with night mode can capture decent images of nearby subjects, while serious photographers should bring a macro lens and a small diffuser.

Children aged around eight and over often do well, provided they can stay quiet and follow instructions. The night walk pairs well with a daytime visit to Kubah or a different outing the next morning, and it makes a distinctive end to a day exploring the city. Many guides are happy to share identification tips afterwards, so bring a notebook or use your phone to record the names of the species you enjoyed most.