Laila Sari Jungle Waterfall

"A Tempting Taste of the Tropical Rainforest"

Head out to Laila Sari Jungle Waterfall if you like the quiet and coolness of a rainforest getaway.

This is one of those places visited mostly by locals or expat longtimers. You won't find it on any tourist map of Kuala Lumpur.

Even the name of this forest waterfall changes. Located beyond Zoo Negara and next to Kampung Kemenseh, some call it the Kemensah Falls. But I prefer the name told to me by a few Malaysian kids - Laila Sari - about a young woman who had a mishap and now lives in the water.

Just a few kilometres beyond the caged animals, hill forests yield a smattering of wild occupants and lingering waters.

Set in secondary jungle, the leisurely walk to the jungle waterfall offers a chance to quickly leave the city behind. Forest sounds abound with birdsong whistles, cicada sawing and gibbon grunts. Those with observant eyes spot intricate plant parts, rope-like lianas, and golden moss among the clumps of bamboo, slope hugging ferns and luxuriant palms.

In the early mornings, gibbons leap across high canopies, civets scamper along branches and snakes scurry away from the trail. As the sun rises, shallow waterfall pools and slow streams surrounded by a shaded jungle habitat allow everyone to beat the heat.

Laila Sari Jungle Waterfall: Trail Tips

The Laila Sari hike is a quick getaway from the urban hubbub. Hiking to the waterfalls is an easy to moderate 45-60 minute trek. It's an easy stroll for seasoned hikers and a moderate trudge for beginners.

It follows an old logging road through a cutover forest with plenty of open patches aside the trail. Lots of old trunks, fallen limbs and bamboo stands garnish the path that slants up slightly before flattening out.

The trail splits (near the end) as the logging road swerves upwards to the left, while a narrow path exits on the right. Take the narrow path that descends to the waterfall. Within minutes hear the rushing sound of water. The path is deeply rutted and punctured by pools of water, making it quite slippery.

On a good day the animals in the jungle come out. It?s better to get an early start when gibbons are active and snakes seek sunlight. Linger during the first 20 minutes and listen to noises coming from the forest.

Watch for birds and butterflies flittering across the trail. Civets seem to prefer the mid-canopy levels and locals say sun bears and panthers visit the area. Look for flowering and fruiting plants, especially those that grow on tree trunks.

At the falls, sheets of white water rush over the rockface, as broad as it is high. At the bottom, large boulders block its flow and create shallow pools and showers for dipping but not swimming. To the left is a short trail to the top, where little streams provide refreshing places to rest and eat.

The forest trail rarely gets crowded but occasionally kids ride through on bikes or motorcycles. For more solitude, hike further back along a stream away from the waterfall. Another waterfall (Air Terjun Tujuh Tangga) lies 30 to 45 minutes away. Or at the earlier trail split follow the logging road left instead of the narrow path down to Laila Sari.

Laila Sari Jungle Waterfall: General Information

During the mornings, mosquitoes tend to swarm but disappear as the day gets hotter. Leeches are not too bad but they will find a way into your shoes. Bring binoculars, sunscreen, bug spray and protective gear for leeches.

Laila Sari is a good trail as a family outdoor activity, so bring the kids if they can stand the heat on cloudless days. Mosquitoes are pesky when not moving and of course leeches may be off-putting. The trail is too strenuous for toddlers. The return trek downhill is very fast (30 minutes).

Laila Sari is not under official management. Please be mindful not to disturb or overwhelm the IBBM compound. Small parties are easy to handle over large groups. All visitors must sign in and out at the guardhouse as a safety measure. Leave a handphone number for emergencies.

Open to Public

• No fees and no facilities
  
• Not suitable for small children
  
• Please keep trails clean
  
• Bring water and snacks for the trail and extra clothes for water play
  
• Public transport availability difficult

Getting There

• Follow the signs to Zoo Negara and exit to the entrance.

• Keep on the tarmac road for the next 5 km past the zoo and through Kampung Kemensah.
• Keep right at the junction (3.5 km) where a sign points left to a fish pond.
• Go straight until a tree-lined hill ends at the gated entrance of the Institue Budaya Baru Melayu.
• Park off the road and check-in at the guardhouse.
• Walk on the entry road to the back of IBBM and find the trail entry to your right just after a red/white directory sign.
• Do not follow road up hill to Rumah Rehat.