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Taman Negara Kuala Tahan"New Adventure In Malaysia's Ancient Rainforest"One of the great rainforests of the world, Taman Negara stands as a testimony to conservation and wildlife protection. Established in colonial times in 1938, Malaysia's first and largest national park teems with biodiversity:
You can either rough it or just relax in the serenity of the ancient rainforests of Taman Negara. Travel upriver and absorb the scenery and sounds of the deep forest. Walk the trails and explore lowland habitats full of amazing plant and animal life. Test your fitness and climb to the summit of Gunung Tahan, a nine-day jungle trek. Spend a day caving one of the limestone outcrops or cross the plank of the Canopy Walk high atop the trees for a new jungle view. As the main attraction, rainforest animals provide wonderful wildlife watching opportunities on any jungle trail. Spotting jungle animals sometimes requires a good guide, good luck and good timing. Wildlife sightings offer rare chances to marvel at large mammals, cryptic reptiles, colorful birds and butterflies, and intriguing insects. Remember that wildlife survives by camouflage and cunning, so take your time in the jungle to discover a true wild experience. Natural Things To DoTaman Negara Map
Map Courtesy of Outskirt OutreachTaman Negara: Nature AttractionsJungle TrekkingAn ancient jungle full of fascinating creatures and plants evolved to survive, usually by staying hidden, over millions of years. Discovering what the jungle has to offer mostly requires time and persistence. Trails around park headquarters are shorter and well-trodden, where you can encounter the most common wildlife. Get further away with long day hikes to avoid the crowds and improve your chances to view more wild animals. The best treks are with guides to venture deep into the jungle and travel upriver to more isolated sections of the park. Stay close to HQ trails if you're not sure of your fitness level or are new to the rainforest. Tropic heat zaps your energy and jungle conditions can be harsh. Be aware of some general jungle safety tips and a few facts about Malaysia weather. Here are some of the more popular trails to entice you into visiting one of Malaysia's more magnificent natural treasures:
Wildlife WatchingAs a wildlife haven, Taman Negara protects big jungle animals, their habitats and prey species. But the rainforest also protects them from us. Smaller creatures such as lizards and frogs, civets and squirrels, wild pigs and leaf-monkeys, arboreal snakes and slow loris, flying lemurs and barking deer are easier seen than the big megafauna stars like tigers, elephants, wild cats, rhinos and tapirs. Insects also offer endless photographic opportunities with technicolor butterflies, cryptic leaf and stick insects and bodacious beetles. For variety and sheer joy, become a birdwatcher and observe a colorful display of barbets, bulbuls, pittas, broadbills, eagles, kingfishers, pigeons, bee-eaters and the ever satisfying hornbills that swoosh over the forest like regal residents. Accessible by foot or boat from Kuala Tahan and Kuala Trenggan, six wildlife hides (bumbun in Malay) built near salt licks and grassy openings help to conceal visitors from wild eyes to increase your chances of seeing a seledang, a tapir or one of the three deer species. Spend a day or stay overnight to capture a special snapshot and enjoy the sights and sounds of the jungle. Gunung TahanFor those looking for jungle adventure, the climb to the highest peak (2187 meters) in Peninsula Malaysia remains a tough and special rainforest experience. Hiking nine days crossing rivers, navigating steep slopes and hill ridges, and camping out under the forest canopy tests your physical and mental fitness. All treks up the mountain, a 110km return to Kuala Tahan, are lead by guides with careful attention to conserve food, water and energy. Tropic heat and humidity of lowland forests can easily change to cold and wet conditions on upper hills and windy plateaus. And pesky mosquitoes and bothersome leeches attack without warning. Soaking up the scenery and sighting wildlife tends to lift your spirits up over the exhaustion and extreme elements. The journey traverses over twenty hills and valleys, scrambles up rocky outcrops, and crawls over muddy earth banks before reaching the summit. Are you ready? There are three trekking route options to climb Gunung Tahan: Kuala Tahan (8-9 days), Taman Negara Merapoh (4-7 days), and Taman Negara Kuala Koh (16 days). Canopy WalkwayRising 40 meters above ground and meandering through centuries old tropical trees, the Canopy Walkway gives visitors a unique perspective from which to engage the rainforest. Wild animal diversity results from using the vertical architecture of niche habitats from forest floor to forest canopy. Walking the 450 meter aerial trail allows for great lowland dipterocarp scenery, a chance to view canopy birds, monkeys and orchids, and a little bit of adventure. Crowds swell during peak hours and holidays with one-hour waiting times normal. Try to have an alternative activity, such as hiking the surrounding trails, planned if delays or rain occur. The walkway is accessible by foot or boat from Kuala Tahan and open:
River TripsWild forest rivers carve through the rainforest and make passageways for both animals and tourists. Two dominate rivers - Sungai Tembeling and Sungai Tahan - converge at Kuala Tahan and offer easy access to the park's fabulous interior beauty. River trips are particularly enjoyable due to exceptional scenery along tributaries with overhanging trees, quick times to popular sites and a chance to view wildlife seeking food near the river. While drifting downstream at a slower pace, keep an eye out for sunning monitor lizards, darting kingfishers, circling fish eagles and sounds of hornbills, gibbons and macaques. For fishing, boats and guides for hire ferry you to deep fishing holes to catch a variety of freshwater fish only in selected areas of the park. The river ride entry into the park lingers past Malay and Orang Asli villages, local fishermen and other scenic rural vistas that gets you in a natural mood. CavingCarved out by underground rivers eroding limestone rock, caves are unique habitats that shelter bats, bat-eating racer snakes and some interesting insects able to survive guano covered cave floors. Several caves (gua in Malay) located near Kuala Tahan, upriver or in more distant areas of the park are all ready for exploration.
Give caving a try if you've never ventured into one. It may take a bit of scrambling to enter these unique habitats, but the experience is usually worth the effort. Taman Negara HotelsWhether on a budget, with a school group or wanting some remote rainforest luxury, there are plenty of accommodations either at the park headquarters or across the river at Kampung Kuala Tahan. With floating restaurants and mini-markets nearby, all the activity centers around the jetty entrance at Kuala Tahan, where sampans ferry visitors through the evening. Mutiara Taman Negara HotelAt Mutiara Taman Negara, you can choose from cosy timber bungalows and rustic chalets equipped with all the comforts of home, to dormitory-style accommodation. Or just set up a tent at our camping site! Providing 108 Malaysian styled wooden chalets and bungalows, the hotel overlooks the Tembeling and Tahan Rivers. The four-star hotel provides guests with an endless amount of activities such as swimming in Lata Berkoh, boat rides, cave exploration, jungle treks, and visiting the night market of the local settlements. Both nature lovers and thrill seekers will enjoy the fascinating sights, sounds, and smells of this ultimate rainforest getaway. Seri Mutiara Restaurant offers sumptuous international fare and local delicacies whilst the Anjung Teresek Bar lets you unwind after an exciting day on the jungle terrain.
Rainforest Resort There are places that promise opportunities to commune with the environment. But at Rainforest Resort Taman Negara you can truly be at one with nature. Enjoy natural wonders from the resort?s cosy, guestroom or lounge and enjoy activities like jungle trekking, caving, and white water rafting, to bring guests closer to nature and fully appreciate its beauty. Adventure, comfort, and relaxation are the essential ingredients for a great holiday where the forest views are simply captivating. The resort's 100 guestrooms were designed to blend nicely with nature, with large windows or balconies that open to the lush jungles or hills. What better way to enjoy the captivating views of the verdant Taman Negara than in complete comfort?
Wau Hotel & Cafe (Jerantut)Located in Jerantut, the town nearest the Taman Negara jetty in Kuala Tembeling, Wau Hotel and Cafe offers a good place to prepare and pack before heading upriver. Within walking distance you can find amenities such as a bank, bus, taxi and railway station, supermarket, money exchange, food, restaurant, tourist attractions and a small town atmosphere. Housed in a double storey building, the colorful hotel comprises sixteen tastefully decorated and cozy rooms. Each room is spacious and adorned in a contemporary and chic style, with modern facilities including TV, hot and cold showers, DVD player along with essential air-conditioning. The hotel has a small and comfortable cafe area where breakfast is served. We welcome guests from all ages and cultures and are more than able to meet the needs of the most discerning traveler.
Taman Negara Kuala Tahan: Getting ThereGet to the park by bus, train, boat and/or car. All roads lead to Jerantut in Pahang where the jetty at nearby Kuala Tembeling ferries visitors upriver to the Kuala Tahan headquarters. By Car (4 hours) Photo: wazari
By Bus (6 hours)Coach buses depart daily in the morning from several locations in Kuala Lumpur:
By River (3 hours)Entering the park by riding upriver on a boat exposes you to the elements and sets the scenery for your journey into the rainforest.
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