Tasek Merimbun

About this place

Tasek Merimbun is the largest natural lake in Brunei, in Tutong District, about 70 km from the capital and 27 km from Tutong Town. It is S-shaped and surrounded by a 7,800-hectare park, the first ASEAN Heritage Park, and it offers a quiet place far from the cities. The Dusun people have lived around it for centuries. Local tradition says a hunter named Imbun found it and gave it his name, while another tale points to a Chinese merchant. The island of Pulau Jelundong holds remains of a sacred ancestral site. A survey in 1983 and 1984 found a rare fruit bat, leading to heritage park status on 29 November 1984, with an official opening in 2000. Its water is dark from tannins in decaying leaves, so it mirrors forest and sky. Boats can be hired to explore the lake and its two islands, and a timber walkway reaches a small island. Thick forest surrounds it, with a small red-roofed hut at the water's edge. Birds, mammals and reptiles abound, drawing wildlife lovers. A car is the best way to get here, as regular public transport is scarce. Bring water and mosquito repellent, as the area is damp and facilities are few. Check the state of the timber walkway, as parts may be closed. Respect the sacred site on the island and take nothing from it. If you want a boat trip, ask on site, as boats may not run every day.