- Location: 90000 Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia
- Year of foundation: 1930
Deep in the humid jungles of the island of Borneo is a meandering cave system. For many centuries a massive crack was formed here, which is called the caves of Gomantong. They are known for the fact that they are inhabited by swifts of salangans whose nests in China and other countries are considered a culinary delicacy.
The uniqueness of the caves of Homanthong
For the first time, the deposits of guano (litter of seabirds) were discovered here in 1889 by scientist JH Allard of China Borneo. The caves of Homantang were studied only 40 years later in 1930. In 2012 and 2014, researchers conducted a laser scan of the object and created its detailed map.
Many tourists call this place only "caves of horror". According to conservative estimates, the caves of Gomantong are inhabited:
- the bats;
- rats;
- all kinds of cockroaches and beetles;
- different kinds of snakes.
This is a kind of whole food chain, where rats eat cockroaches, and rats eat snakes. In addition, there is a huge amount of litter of bats, whose height reaches 3 m. To tourists could safely move through the caves, without colliding with insects and snakes infested on the floor, along the entire cleft are laid wooden paths.
The caves of Gomantong consist of two huge halls:
- Black Cave (Seamud Hitam). Its height is 40-60 m. Because of its proximity to the entrance, it is considered the most accessible.
- White Cave (Seamud Putih). It adjoins the main entrance of the first cave. To conquer it, you need special technical equipment.
It should be remembered that the caves of Gomantong are very meandering and intricate, so they should be visited only with a guide. Otherwise, you can easily get lost.
Production of salangan nests in the caves of Gomantong
The main inhabitants of this cave system are the birds of the salangan. They are known for building nests from their saliva, which dries up in the air. Nests are considered a valuable delicacy, from which various dishes are cooked in Chinese cuisine. Many gourmets still argue about the usefulness and nutritional value of soup from the nests of salangan. Some call it tasteless, others are compared with a banana souffle.
In the caves of Gomantong, two types of nests are extracted: white, consisting only of salangan saliva, and black, in which feathers, branches and other foreign materials are present.
Malaysian law strictly regulates the production of swift nests. In the caves of Homanthong, they are allowed to collect only twice a year - at the end of winter and mid-summer. At the same time, you need to have a license and special technical equipment (rattan stairs, ropes, bamboo sticks).
How to get to the caves of Gomantong?
In order to see this interesting natural object, it is necessary to go to the island part of Malaysia . The reserve, in which the caves of Gomantong are located, is located in the northeast of the island of Kalimantan (Borneo), 1500 km from Kuching . From the capital, you can get here directly by plane of airlines AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines or Singapore Airlines. They fly 3-5 times a day and land at Sandakana airport. It is located 103 km from the object and is connected to it by roads №13 and 22. Here it is necessary to change to a minibus, the fare of which is $ 4,5, or to book an excursion . Arriving in the reserve, you should drive 16 km through the jungle, and only then you can find yourself at the caves of Gomantong.
From Kuala Lumpur to the reserve can also be reached by car, but this will have to make a stop in Singapore , Jakarta and other cities.