Sama Jaya Nature Reserve

About Sama Jaya Nature Reserve

Sama Jaya Nature Reserve covers an area of approximately 38 hectares and is Sarawak’s first multi-purpose urban forest park. Situated within Kuching’s city limits in the suburb of Tabuan Jaya, 10-15 minute drive from Kuching City Centre and can be reached by taxi and bus. Sama Jaya Nature Reserve consists mostly of Kerangas Forest and provides a valuable green lung for the city, educational and recreational facilities for its people and an important refuge for urban wildlife.

Sama Jaya Nature Reserve occupies part of the former Stutong Protected Forest, one of the oldest protected areas in Sarawak, constituted in 1950. Part of the Protected Forest was gazette as a nature reserve in 2000. The nature reserve is designed to provide an authentic urban wilderness with all its facilities and activities integrated into the natural forest environment.

Sama Jaya Nature Reserve is Sarawak Forest Department’s first urban forestry project. Its   primary objectives are to promote multiple use of forest through encouraging outdoor recreation, nature conservation education and nature-based tourism; create a reserve a ‘green island’ for Kuching city.

Despite its suburban location, Sama Jaya Nature Reserve is a rich reservoir of indigenous wildlife with a wide variety of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. These include monkey, squirrel, rat, fruit bats, tarsiers, variety birds’ species, lizard, tortoise and frogs.

Recreation activities such as jogging and walking at two jogging tracks and fitness trail that helps to promote path of healthy living. In addition, the visitors can also visit Japanese Garden, Timber and Bamboo Museum, Forest Biology Museum and Ethnobotanical Garden.