Sarawak is Malaysia’s largest state spanning 124,450sq-km worth of land, making it an ideal location for a motoring adventure thanks to its rugged and dense rainforest interiors – many of which have become protected parklands.
Because of its sheer size, almost comparable to Peninsular Malaysia at 131,732sq-km, there are many destinations that can be sought out when venturing off the beaten path with your own form of transportation.
Anything with 4X4 capabilities from the likes of Isuzu, Nissan or Toyota would be ideal, although an all-wheel-drive/softroader such as a Honda CR-V, Nissan X-Trail, Kia Sportage or Toyota Fortuner can also be sufficient for some motoring adventure in Sarawak as well as Borneo.
However, during my time as an avid off-roader, I have witnessed some of Malaysia’s smallest cars – a Perodua Axia among others, being gamely driven on such unpaved roads. Something I would not recommend for the sake of comfort and the longevity of the vehicle.
As for myself, I participated in my own trusty Toyota LC 80 Series (1995) equipped with a 12,000lb (5.4-tonne) electric winch, Extreme Terrain tyres, lockers for the front and rear as well as dual batteries with isolators.
With the Sarawak 4×4 Travel and Adventure Club (Sakta) having decided to resume its ‘Sarawak 4X4 International Jamboree’ after a two-year hiatus brought upon by the Covid-19 pandemic, registration was a must.
Alistair Tinggang whom we had met as the hardworking organising chairman of Sakta’s first Sarawak Jamboree a few years before said this year’s Jamboree would observe a few rules to minimise the impact on the environment.
Firstly, there would be a limit on group size so that there wouldn’t be traffic jams within the jungle tracks.
On the same environmental issues, Anthony Aloh who lead the convoy of 12 media trucks said participants will be encouraged to refill their drinking water using their own water bottles rather than drinking from single-use water bottles. The media will also need to bring their own plates and cutlery to minimise waste.
This year (2022), the Jamboree was located within Sarawak’s largest of its 12 Divisions – Miri, with more than 130 4X4 trucks to be flagged off from Eastwood Valley Golf and Country Club.
From there, participants will venture through 100km-worth of offroading from Lapok junction to Long Lama before turning right for Kampung Long Selapon – a feat which will take some three hours to complete.
The unpaved routes are used as public roads for hundreds of long houses located within the middle and upper reaches of the Baram and Tinjar rivers. The challenge will be the rising waters of the rivers and the generally slippery conditions of the laterite tracks.
Meanwhile, many waterfalls can be found along the banks of Sungai Tinjar which should provide for some appealing campsites.
The Dulit range of mountains that feeds water into Sungai Tinjar will help make camping a cold one at nightfall – a welcome change for Malaysians hemmed in by the humidity of the tropics.
“You can see the skies are dark and it’s been raining. The tracks are already wet! Be ready to engage 4X4 as soon as we go off-road from Lapok,” warned Anthony at a pre-event dinner for some media personnel who had arrived early.
Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah was on hand to flag off the Sarawak International 4×4 Jamboree (2022).
Once this journey is completed, it will be off on another adventurous path, one that will lead towards Sungai Kayan, East Kalimantan, while having two trucks and eight campers, including three sports anglers, in tow.