Malaysia Tourism » Travel to Taman Negara Trails

TRAILS IN TAMAN NEGARA
TRAILTIPS
To make the most of any walk in the forest it helps to be prepared. While prior jungle-trekking experience can be an advantage for walks that involve overnight stays in the forest, a few simple tips can enhance the experience of the first-time visitor.

• Walking in the humid tropics can be energy-sapping. Bring plenty of drinking even on short trails.

• The best time to be on the trails is at dusk or dawn when animals are most and the temperature is cooler.

• While walking, be alert for the small things as well as the large. Big animals appear, but the tiny details of plant or insect life are always there.

• A guided night walk is most rewarding after having done it by day to fully ate the difference. Experienced guides will often spot even the tiniest insect from Bring a torch, and look out for spider’s eyes and glowing luminescent fungi.

• Pit toilets are provided at some campsites but elsewhere walkers must use discretion. Do not use streams, since this can pollute them.

• All rubbish that cannot be completely burnt must be returned to Kuala Returning GunungTahan walkers must account for their rubbish with the rangers.

• For trails to the best fishing locations, refer to Activities and Adv Fishing.

• Unfortunately, difficult terrain makes most trails unsuitable for the physically hand

TRAILS AROUND KUALA TAHAN
There are many trails through the Pahang side of the park and, unless otherwise all those described here start from Park HQ at KualaTahan. The Canopy Walk is the most walked and certainly a must for all visitors.

TRAILS AROUND KUALA TAHAN: I a – I g
Start Park HQ at Kuala Tahan.
Finish Park HQ at Kuala Tahan.
Distance From I km (1 /2 mile) to 18 km (I I miles).
Duration: From I hour to I day
Best time: February or March, but worth a visit any time of the year. Conditions: Lower altitudes: rainforest and rivers. Higher altitudes: hillsides and ridges.
Fitness: Moderate fitness preferable for longer walks.
Equipment: Good walking shoes and raincape, leech socks, insect repellent, binoculars and camera.

1A CANOPY WALK
This is a relatively easy 3.6 kilometre (2 ¼ mile) return walk through lowland dipterocarp forest. At the end, the world’s longest canopy walkway is suspended 40 metres f 130 feet) above the ground and provides a bird’s eye view into the tall trees of the forest canopy. The 450 metre (500 yard) walkway is made from timber and suspended wire rope and while it sways a bit as people walk, it is quite safe. As a safety precuition, numbers are restricted at any one time and there are several viewing platforrm around sturdy trunks of emergent tualang trees. The walkway was originally developed for research purposes and while some of this still continues, it is now mum the domain of inquisitive tourists keen for a slice of adventure and the opportunity to see the rainforest from a unique perspective.

In many ways, the canopy is a different habitat from that at ground level and the plants and animals that live here are not always found in other parts of the rainforest. Squirrels, birds, monkeys and the occasional gibbon may be seen. Look out for orchids and other flowering plants as well.

First time visitors should engage a park guide to interpret the rainforest for them along this trail as it will make subsequent walks more meaningful. The TNR provides guiles and the rates are clearly stated at the reception. The trail is however, well marked for those who want to walk independently of a guide.

Just beyond the TNR the understorey is lined with an iridescent blue-green club moss. Along the trail you will notice huge clumps of bamboo one of the world’s tallest grasses rattan and buttress roots of huge trees.

The Canopy Walk is open from 1100-1445 Saturday to Thursday and 0900-1200 on Friday. Rangers stationed here sell cool drinks and collect fees.
An alternative to the return walk to Park HQ is to hire a boat from the nearby jerry for a five minute trip back.

1B BULATAN RIMBA TRAIL
This is a loop trail, less than a kilometre (about half a mile) long, that starts from back of the TNR. The trail is steep in places, but should be within the capability most able visitors and only takes about one hour to complete.

Bulatan Rimba offers a wonderful introduction to the forest. It is a good and Bible trail through lowland dipterocarp rainforest. In an anti-clockwise direct trail initially follows the sloping sides of a small valley to its head, then drops into a streambed, and finally winds its way back up the ridge. The trail exhibits classic rainforest features such as epiphytes, lianas and buttress roots. Look animal tracks in any muddy patch along the way.

1C BUKIT TERESEK TRAIL
At 334 metres (1,096 feet) above sea level, Bukit Teresek is just 1.7 kilomecresd mile) from Park HQ, with much of the journey up a steep ridge. The popular to the summit and back takes about two hours and offers rewarding views of Sungai Tembeling and GunungTahan in the far distance.The trail, like the Canopy Trail, is one of the most accessible from Kuala Tahan. It offers a good introducing the highlights of the rainforest as well as the more distant views.

The initial part of the trail is the same as the Canopy Walk Trail, running to the flat riverbank for about 400 metres (440 yards). It then climbs steeply up the ridge of Bukit Teresek where there are two look-out points, one at either end the ridge.

The flat part of the trail at the beginning passes through patches of tall forest secondary forest not far from the river. Birds representative of these habitats can found here, and this is considered one of the best bird watching areas in the despite the regular flow of trekkers heading to the Canopy Walk.

The long melodious song of the White-rumped Shama can be heard, Straw-headed balbuls are found along the river and the Greater Coucal can be heard, well off in the distances. There are also drongos, babblers, malcohas, hornbills and woodpeckers. The semen areas near Jenut Muda offer good opportunities to find pittas and the Malaysian Rai Babbler.

The going becomes more difficult as the trail winds its way up the ridge, passing Trough impressive stands of tall trees. The exposed roots of the emergents make walk more difficult and one needs to keep a steady footing. Giant Squirrels may be seen in the trees, and White-handed Gibbons can often be heard hooting in the distance.

From the first look-out a small section of the Sungai Tembeling can be seen, and beyond are the forested hills on the other side of the river and outside the park ,boundary. The semi-rounded boulders at the look-out are sandstone and typical of much of the rock found in the park. From here the rounded crowns of the canopy trees can be viewed from above. Rising above the canopy are the solitary emergents.

The second look-out, ten minutes further on, provides a spectacular view of the laugh mountains in the centre of Taman Negara and the Sungai Tahan below.

If the weather is clear, Gunung Tahan, to the left at 2,187 metres (7,176 feet) is the 1-thest peak visible. From the look-out the flat profile of the mountain is deceptive and makes Gunung Tahan look lower than the surrounding peaks.

Straight ahead from the look-out is the Upper Tahan Valley, and on the horizon is conical peak of Gunung Perlis at 1,280 metres (5,000 feet).

Walkers may retrace their steps to Kuala Tahan or return via a path leading down to the left from the second lookout-This steep path winds down to Sungai Tahan, and may be difficult in wet weather.The hillside is covered in tall forest, with many palm species including rattan vines.This path passes by Jenut Muda, an area probably rich in mineral salts that attracts animals.Take time to approach the area quietly and animals may be spotted. Look carefully for animal tracks in the soft mud. This route takes a little over an hour from the summit of Butik Teresek, with the final path to Park HQ running parallel to SungaiTahan.
Another trail leads down to Sungai Tahan and from the river on to Bumbun Tabing and Lata Berkoh.

I D JENUT MUDA
While the presence of mineral salts in the soil around Jenut Muda has yet to be confirmed, pigs, deer, and occasionally Tapir visit these two muddy Masked in foot pools at the head of a small gully. Tracks in the soft ground give an indication of the many types of animals that visit this area. Like many animals, the Tapir is well camouflaged although it is black and white. It feeds mainly in the evening, which makes it even harder to see. Wild pigs are more commonly seen as they forage for tubers and roots. Being omnivorous they also eat reptiles, invertebrates and small mammals. Visitors to TNR can hear wild pigs at night in the forest or even under their lodges. They rarely go far from water, so the salt lick is a good location for viewing them.

Visitors willing to move slowly and wait patiently may sight or hear Banded Leaf-monkeys and White-handed Gibbons along this trail. It is also a rewarding area for birdwatchers.

From Lubuk Simpon to Jenut Muda the trail undulates along the ridge, crosses a deeply cut stream, and then traverses flat ground to the muddy area. It then crosses another small stream before climbing steeply to join the BukitTeresek Trail.

The Jenut Muda Trail offers an ideal route for those coming down the main trail from Bukit Teresek and contemplating a swim before returning to Kuala Tahan. The journey from the summit through to Lubuk Simpon takes less than 40 minutes while it takes a little over an hour from the summit to reach Park HQ.

IE BUMBUN TABING
This return walk takes about 3 hours and forms part of the main walk to Lata Berkoh and then on to Gunung Tahan. A few sections of the trail to this hide are steep and slippery, especially after rain.

At the start of the trail, just beyond the campsite at the TN R, look for the tall green stems of ginger plants which may be flowering, producing large red pine cone-like flowers.

The trail passes the swimming hole along the Sungai Tahan called Lubuk Simpon, then the turn-off to the right to Jenut Muda and BukitTeresek.

At dusk and dawn, Crested Fireback and Argus Pheasants may be seen along the trail, usually in family groups foraging for food on the ground. The male Argus Pheasant has a dancing ground of up to 2 square metres (21 square feet) kept bare of vegetation. Here he displays his ornamental feathers to attract a female. Seeing males and females together indicates mating pairs. Both male and female Crested Fireback have erect crests and are very dark-coloured. The male has conspicuous white tail-feathers and an nailed Forktails hopping along the water’s edge. Along the riverbanks walkers should look out for Lesser Fish Eagle, Black and Red Broadbill and the skulking and secretive Masked Finfoot (the latter only from February to June). The Lesser Fish-eagle is one of 41 Malaysian birds of prey. It can often be seen perched on branches overlooking streams or rivers searching for prey in the waters below.

After the second Bukit Teresek Trail junction, the trail climbs over steep spurs before reaching the Sungai Tabing crossing. The hide is just a few minutes upstream from the crossing. Barking Deer (or Indian Muntjak) may be encountered at this lick during daylight hours. This species gets its name from the short, loud barking sound it makes, usually to frighten away predators. Other common animals to frequent the salt lick include Tapir and wild pigs, which may be seen by visitors who spend the night in the hide as they tend to be more active in their search for food after dark.