Spanning 4,343 sq.
km and sprawled across the mountainous interiors of Kelantan, Pahang,
and Terengganu is Taman Negara, Malaysia's premier national park. Formerly
known as King George V National Park, the area was declared a national
park by the three sultans of the above mentioned states as early as 1939
for the sole purpose of protecting and preserving the flora and fauna
indigenous to this area.
This is seen as a
natural move as Taman Negara is thought to be one of earth's oldest rain
forest, with a history that stretches back to 130 million years ago. Undisturbed
for a millennia, it maintains a natural habitat for a variety of flora
and fauna, many of which have become highly specialized and are inter-linked
with other species in both parasitic and symbolic ways. Although Malaysia
has promoted Taman Negara as a popular tourist destination, the government
has, over the years, taken careful steps to ensure its continuous conservation.
Lush riverine vegetation
and trees that form a giant canopy above you plays a warm welcome to the
start of a great adventure into an unknown and mysterious world that is
reputably older than that of the Congo and Amazon.
Within this area,
around the central masif of Gunung Tahan (the Peninsula's highest peak
at 2,187 meters), there are countless limestone hills covered in thick
forest, fast running streams, and abundant wildlife. Mind you, the rain
forest is not a quiet place. In some respects it is as noisy as any big
city with a cacophony of insect noises, bird calls, and animal cries that
goes on night and day. This makes it a particularly favorable destination
for trekking as the park's biodiversity is matched by a good network of
jungle trails and the availability of expert guides.
Size
: 4,343 sq. km.
Highest Point :
Gunung Tahan (2,187 meters).
Flora Fauna :
Over 10,000 species of plants, 350 species of birds. Local mammals include
mouse deer, barking deer, tapirs, wild boars, elephants, leopards, tigers,
and monkeys.
Recreation :
Bird watching, cave exploration, jungle trekking, white-water rafting,
fishing, guided nature walks, mountain climbing, and more.
Jerantut, a town in Pahang,
is the main entry point to the park.
The journey take
approximately 3 - 4 hours form Kuala Lumpur or Kuantan via private or
public transport (e.g. taxi, bus, rented cars).
The train service
run by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) is available.
A 45 minute flight
is available form Kuala Lumpur. From Jerantut, the only way to the park
is by river. The 3 - 3 1/2 hour ride upstream Sungai Tembeling is in itself
an adventure.
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