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Brunei's largest lake, Tasek Merimbun is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country. Forming a distinctive "S" shape, it boasts of a lovely islet lying right in its heart that can be reached via a wooden footbridge, as well as a diverse collection of flora and fauna. In fact, its natural heritage comprises the Tasek Merimbun Wildlife Sanctuary - which enjoys a status as an ASEAN Heritage Site.

Formally established in 1984, this sprawling preservation park covers an area of roughly 7,800 hectares. It is also, for tourists, conveniently located only an hour's ride away from the capital Bandar Seri Begawan. Noted for its unique black waters, it is fed by the rivers Sungai Melencur and Sungai Bang Oncom that flow through swamps rich with peat, which explains the lake's characteristic color.

The main attraction, of course, is its wildlife that will definitely capture the imagination of nature-lovers and birdwatchers. The most common birds to be sighted are the water birds such as herons, egrets, kites, and fishing eagles that prey upon the lake's abundant population of fishes, including eels. Indeed, it is not only the birds, but also humans who benefit from the lake, as evidenced by the local fisheries surrounding the site. Tasek Merimbun is also home to reptiles like monitor lizards, reticulated pythons, frogs, and the fearsome and extremely rare saltwater crocodile.

One may also take pleasure in catching a glimpse of its fascinating insect life, particularly flashy butterflies such as the Rajah Brooke birdwing, great leaf insects, and giant beetles. The highlight in Tasek Merimbun is probably a trekking through the dense forests, where the adventurous are rewarded with the chance to observe pheasants, bears, red-leaf monkeys, tarsiers, slow loris, and flying lizards in their natural habitat. A bizarre experience may very well be visiting the nearby Niah caves which contain skulls of orangutans - giving rise to the theory that the apes were hunted down to extinction in Tasek Merimbun by the primitive humans for food.

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