Madai Cave - Exploring the hidden depths

The Madai Cave proves to have interesting treasures outside, as well as inside.

To reach the main entrance to Madai Cave, you have to walk through a dark tunnel where there is a grave of an unknown person. None of the villagers know who was buried there.

Then you pop out of the tunnel and are surprised to see a cluster of wooden houses in front of the entrance. These belong to the nest collectors, the guardians of the cave.

Madai Cave is not as well known as the nearby Gomantong Caves in Sabah, or the caves in Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak. However, Madai has long been an important site for the birds’ nest collectors and is slowly becoming better known to tourists who are looking for adventure.

Situated between Lahad Datu and Tawau, the hill containing Madai Cave rises steeply from the forest floor. It can be seen from far away, and you get tantalising views of it standing above the oil palm plantations. The final approach is interesting as you drive down a steep hill into the kampung.

A collection of wooden houses line both sides of the road, and the cliff acts as a scenic backdrop. You can see the gaping mouth of the cave from here. There is little activity in the village, except for women carrying buckets walking to and from the river to do the washing.

As we were on a research trip, we already had a guide arranged. We followed him along the narrow path between the houses. I was surprised to turn a corner and see a new mosque in the centre of the village. A collection of children appeared from the various houses, curious to see the Mat Salleh (Caucasian) visitors in their village.

However, none actually followed us up the staircase to the cave tunnel.

We assembled at the houses outside the main upper entrance. Washing was hanging out to dry, and there were wooden tables and benches in the central area. There is also another grave. This one supposedly belongs to Nenek Apui, who was one of the earliest inhabitants here.

There are more than 25 caves in this area, but Madai is the biggest and best known. It has a long history. The caves were first visited by scientists 60 years ago. They reported that the phosphate deposits from the bat and swiftlet guano were collected for use as fertiliser. However, a far older industry is birds’ nest collection. The local Idahan people have had the rights for collecting for many generations.

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Kunak’s hidden tourist attractions

KUNAK: The district of Kunak has some of the best tourist attractions in Sabah which many people are unaware of.

Besides the Madai Cave which is well known for its bird’s nest farming and ancient history, the other attraction is the underground tunnel built by the Japanese during World War Two.

Recently, a group of State Information Department staff from the National Policy Publication Section discovered the beautiful attractions of Kunak.

The eight-kilometer long tunnel that branches into four directions is located within the grounds of the Sime Darby plantation. It is about 12 kilometers from Kunak town. The secret tunnel is believed to be used by the Japanese Army to ferry and store weapons.

It is big enough to allow a 10-wheel truck to pass through and was accidentally discovered in the 1970’s by the Ibans who were tasked to clear up the jungle. They initially discovered a section of the tunnel that had collapsed.

The tunnel that is four meters in diameter leaves many questions unanswered like where it begins and ends.

Even now there are no official records on the tunnel. There are even some who believe that the tunnel reaches the Sulawesi Sea.

According to the elders in the district, some have tried to explore the tunnel to reveal its secrets but failed to go in further as there was no air in the tunnel.

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Japanese tunnel the hidden tourist attraction of Kunak

KUNAK (Sabah): “Where is Kunak located?” This is the query that disappoints Kunak District Officer Susilo Sumarto every time he mentions the district to outsiders.

Based on this, he concluded that most outsiders were not familiar with Kunak unlike districts like Tawau, Semporna, Lahad Datu and Sandakan though all are located within Sabah’s east coast.

Outsiders, especially tourists know Semporna due to its resort islands, Sandakan for its Orang Utan, Lahad Datu through Danum Valley and the Tabin Forest Reserve while Tawau for its seafood.

Maybe Kunak, located between Semporna and Lahad Datu, is less known because it lacks an identity like the rest though it has many of its own attractions. In fact many think that Gua Madai, that is well known for its bird nest farming and its ancient history, is located in Lahad Datu whereas it is actually in Kunak.

JAPANESE TUNNEL

As Kunak seems to be oblivious to the outsiders, the administrators of the district have planned out activities to introduce Kunak to the outside world through the 2010 Kunak Carnival on 17 and 18 April, organised with the cooperation of the Drug Prevention Association (Pemadam) and the Information Department.

“Those from the district have pondered over the economic, socio-culture and tourism aspects that holds potential in showcasing Kunak. We saw a big potential.

“One of the attractions in Kunak that even the locals is not aware is the underground tunnel built by the Japanese during WWII,” he told Bernama here.

Susilo noted that the eight kilometer long tunnel that branches into four directions is located within the grounds of the Sime Darby plantation. The site of the tunnel is about 12 kilometer from Kunak town. The secret tunnel is believed to be used by the Japanese Army to ferry and store weapons.

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Madai Cave in Lahad Datu Has Potential As Homestay Project

LAHAD DATU -- Gua Madai, a cave known as an important producer of bird's nest for Sabah has potential to be developed as a homestay project.

Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi said Gua Madai was home to an early culture as there were signs of an early settlement.

"We can create a cultural village for Idahan people to attract tourists who can be taken to see how bird's nest is collected," he told reporters at a dinner organised by Madai Idahan Descendants Association (Pewaris) here Sunday.

Masidi said the local people could also get extra income to add to that derived from the collection of bird's nest.

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Madai Cave, Kunak

From MySabah blog:

Chinese loves bird nest. Actually the nest is made of saliva from swiftlets. I have plenty of saliva in thick and thin forms for sale, if you are fond of eating saliva. Chinese says the bird nest contains minerals, rare protein and nutrients that keep you young and make your skin shines. There are two kinds of bird nests, i.e., (1) black bird nest, which contains 30% to 70% of feather, and (2) white bird nest, which has less feather and more expensive.

Madai Cave (Gua Madai), which is known as “Swiftlet Mountain” by locals, is one of the important producers of high-quality black bird nest in Sabah. You can see the limestone outcrop, where Madai Cave located, next to the road of Kunak, a small town between Tawau and Lahad Datu. It is the second biggest cave in Sabah.

Idahan people are the traditional owner of Madai Cave. For profit sharing, the cave is divided logically into different sections, which have different owner and can be passed on to their next generation. To visit the cave, you need to get a visitor pass at the security gate before you enter the village in the foothill. A guide will accompany you for a guided tour inside the cave, which is only a 10-minute away from the village.

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