A fortunate group of teenagers from Europe was part of an Asia-Europe Exchange Programme, which brought these students away from their homes in Europe to rich and eclectic Malaysia. They found themselves in two contrasting homestay programmes, giving them a diverse and guided experience of the country.
Taman Negara (National Park) is the first and the oldest official Protected Area in the country, originally named King George V National Park. Declared in 1938 by the Sultans of Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu (during King George's Silver Jubilee), it was gazetted to preserve the land's indigenous nature in perpetuity. The park was renamed Taman Negara after the nation gained independence in 1957.
The most popular activities at Taman Negara are river cruises and jungle trekking. The canopy walk is also a must-see, offering a fantastic close up view of activity in the rainforest canopy. Observation hides are another great way to observe wildlife. Simple huts built high above the ground allow guests to stay overnight to catch opportunities to observe animals in their natural habitat. Cave exploration is also available, either by boat or by foot.
Taman Negara is actually one of the oldest rainforests in the world, estimated at 130 million years old. The abundance and diversity of nature here is phenomenal, making it one of the world's most complex and rich ecosystems.
Key
Tips
Wear light, loose clothing; comfortable long-sleeved shirts and long pants for protection from insects and abrasions. In certain conditions, the forest can be very cold. Bring a waterproof jacket for comfort. When jungle trekking, choose a trail that you can complete before dark and do let someone know when to expect you back. It is best to stick to the marked trails in the jungle.
How
to get there
By Train Kuala Tembeling - the jump off point for the park - is also accessible from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore or Kota Bharu (via Tumpat) by rail. Trains from these stations stop at Tembeling Halt, about half an hour's drive to the jetty at Kuala Tembeling.
By Boat The staging point for visits to the park is Kuala Tembeling, from which a 3-hour boat ride upriver takes you to Kuala Tahan at 9 am and 3 pm daily, except for Fridays when the afternoon departure is at 2.30 pm. Mutiara Taman Negara Resort also operates a speedboat service that takes only 45 minutes to reach Kuala Tahan. The speedboat leaves Kuala Tembeling at 10.30 am and 1.30 pm daily. The most accessible gateway to Taman Negara is either through Jerantut, a 3-hour trip from Kuala Lumpur. If you are driving a four-wheel drive vehicle, you can take the logger trail right up to Kuala Tahan, where you need to take a boat across the Sungai Tahan (Tahan River) to enter the park.
By Bus or Taxi Jerantut-bound taxis are available at the Puduraya Bus Terminal in Kuala Lumpur. Alternatively, buses to Jerantut are found at the Jalan Tun Razak Bus Station in Kuala Lumpur. From there, hop on a local bus or taxi to Kuala Tembeling.
Who
to contact
For more information, please contact: Department of Wildlife and National Parks. Km 10, Jalan Cheras.56100 Kuala Lumpur. Phone: +603-90752872Fax: +603-90752873. Email: pakp@wildlife.gov.my/ pro@wildlife.gov.my
Accommodation
Overview
There are chalets, hostel-style rooms, a camping ground and a resort in the National Park area.
Impiana Cherating Resort
- In this picturesque resort hotel in Kuantan, every room allows a picturesque view of the ocean.
Best Western Cherating Beach Resort
- One of the best-kept hidden treasures of Malaysia is located at Suria Cherating Beach Resort. Famous among the locals and foreign visitors for its inviting and long sandy beach, Suria Cherating provides the perfect environment for an ideal getaway.
Genting Hotel
- Offers pleasant hilly views and easy access to theme parks and the casino.
