Ever felt like the highway goes on forever? Well Hutan Lipur Lentang offers a perfect stopping point for a travel break or an easy urban escape.
One of over twenty forest recreation parks in Pahang run by the Forestry Department, Lentang packs plenty of natural delights to slow down the rush to get to or away from Kuala Lumpur.
I am guilty too! I've zoomed past this forest park for years. Finally I made a pit stop. And what I found was a sparkling little nature oasis amid fantastic forested hills and sliced by easy tumbling freshwater streams.
Believe it or not I arrived in the mid-morning to the rainforest sounds of gibbon calls. Where else can you pull off a modern highway into pristine jungle habitat to be greeted by another primate species?
Here's a few things to do at Hutan Lipur Lentang:
Break up a long or boring business road trip with a stopover for lunch outdoors and time to read reports for your meeting.
Get the kids out of the cramped car and take an hour to swim and get them tired (and happy) before hitting the highway again.
Just stop and soak in the scenery. Take a stroll along the river and refresh yourself among the rainforest atmosphere.
Head out on the weekend to practice jungle photography or spend a day outside with the kids.
Sights Of Hutan Lipur Lentang Recreation Park Rest And Relaxation For Travellers And Families
Rainforest Leaves, Rainforest Sounds, Rainforest Fun Natural Beauty At Hutan Lipur Lentang
Stroll each section of the park to find a variety of wild things. Observe flying lizards climbing up tree trunks or watch the metallic flicker of Rajah Brooke's Birdwing Butterflies.
Listen for the long howls of gibbons or other natural sounds of the rainforest in action.
In my view the park has three main sections based on activities:
Kid Swim Area -- Just after the entrance and parking area, the river is shallow (< 2 feet) and slow for kids to play safely
Rocky River Picnic Area -- Rock strewn streams make up the middle-section, where picnic and camping areas allow families to enjoy more space
Hill River Area -- At the end of the road is an uphill dirt trail that follows the river path back to rushing waters and fewer people
See Rajah Brooke's Birdwing
General Information
Getting There
Head to the Karak Highway on the way to Kuantan from Kuala Lumpur
Once past the Berjaya Hills Resort area, look out for a "Hentian Sebelah Lentang" sign
Within 45 minutes and about 40 km see a brown sign for "Hutan Lipur Lentang"
Follow the signs to Raub and pass through Bentong town
After the brown sign, slow down because the exit left comes up quick with a sharp curve left
Follow the exit road to a T-junction, turn left and drive through the narrow tunnel
The entrance to Hutan Lipur Lentang is straight ahead with a parking lot to the left before and after the archway
If not too crowded, drive through the park and find a spot along the road closer to the river or facilities
What To Expect And What To Bring
No entry fee
Expect warm and sunny days and cooler afternoons when skies get cloudy and rains threaten
Plenty of spots for swimming, picnics, walking for exercise, outdoor photography, and wildlife watching
Lots of parking space near entrance and along roadside, but expect crowds on weekends and holidays
Very good toilet and changing facilities, plus a surau for prayers
A few small restaurants and several hawker stalls for food and drinks
Several covered dining areas with BBQ pits
Bring your swimsuits and a change of clothes
Bring a pair of binoculars to find flying lizards, gibbons, birds and other wild creatures
