Malaysia is known for its impressive rainforests and one of the best ways to explore them is to trek through Taman Negara National Park. We opted for a 2-day 1-night package that took us deep into the jungle, where we could experience the fascinating flora and fauna of this unique ecosystem up close.
2 days & 1 night in the Jungle
Arrival and start of the hike
Our journey began at the tour office, where we were given our sleeping bag, a sleeping mat, crockery, cutlery, 3 liters of water per person and other utensils. After we and our group, which consisted of 20 people including the 2 tour guides, had packed everything into our backpacks of at least 35 liters (also available to borrow on site for a fee), we walked about 10 minutes to the harbour. There we crossed the short distance by boat to the main office in Taman Negara. There, everyone had to buy a park pass, which entitles them to enter the national park and pay a fee per camera (including cell phones).
The pass entitles you to take as many cameras as you like for one euro each and to enter the park yourself for 20 cents. The pass must be carried at all times and is valid for one month. It also serves as protection in case something should happen to you in the jungle. After we had to declare how much plastic and clothing we were carrying, we boarded 10-person canoes that would take us on a one-hour boat trip up the river. In the whole area, only 4 men and their boats can make the difficult journey against the current.
So we relaxed on the boat trip and enjoyed the start to two unforgettable days. The boat meandered through the water, surrounded by dense greenery and we were repeatedly sprayed with water at the current points. When there were no more critical spots, we had our lunch of fried rice with egg in the boat. After arriving at our starting point, we laced up our hiking boots, sprayed everything with insect and mosquito repellent, used the bush toilet and began the approximately 10 km hike to the cave that would be our camp for the night.
We stopped for a drink every hour or so. Following the fast pace of our guide Boss, we walked along the relatively straight route between bushes, trees and through rivers. As well as sweating profusely, our shoes quickly got wet from the stream crossings. Boss explained to us that the trail was an old elephant path that is now taken as a hiking trail for us. As we ventured deeper into the jungle, we were accompanied by the sounds of the hornbill. These magnificent birds are native to the treetops of Taman Negara and their loud trumpeting is unmistakable. On the way we discovered elephant tracks, dung, trees with mud on which the elephants scratch themselves and resting places – an indication that these majestic animals are at home here.
The cave: our camp for the night
At dusk, we could already hear cheering from up ahead, which we took as a sign that the first ones must have arrived at the cave. We soon saw the rather inconspicuous cave entrance and, after a short climb over a few rocks, we were standing in the middle of the huge cave chamber. It even had an opening and we could see the sky between the trees. Happy to have arrived in the cave, our home for the night, after the hike, we prepared our camp for the night in the increasingly dark cave. Slowly, Boss had already lit the fire and we could hear the sounds of the bats above us as they prepared to take off into the night.
Boss and Rambo prepared our dinner while we had the opportunity to wash ourselves in the stream. For cooking, they used water that we had previously transferred from a river into bottles and the cave quickly smelled of delicious orange-cinnamon tea. Equipped with several candles, we were served the delicious dinner and it was an impressive backdrop to the sounds of the jungle.
An unforgettable morning
The next morning we were able to watch bats flying out at dusk. After we had refreshed ourselves & had breakfast, we made our way back. The almost 10 km hike back was just as fascinating as the way there. Today we heard the calls of peacocks and gibbons alternating in the distance, making the trees rustle.
The way back was really tough due to the ups and downs and we had to climb over fallen trees and use ropes to cross small rivers to the other bank until we finally arrived at the jetty. We had lunch there and were able to go swimming in the river. However, one or two of us were surprised by a leech. But as Boss likes to say, “Sharing is caring”.
The canopy walk
After our lunch, we took the boat downstream with the current, making it a wild ride similar to rafting. However, our trip wasn’t over yet. We now made another stop to explore the famous Canopy Walk. This is the longest in the world and offers breathtaking views of the rainforest from a bird’s eye perspective. A path similar to a suspension bridge ran through the treetops and we could see the impressive treetops stretching across the horizon.
Afterwards we went back to the main camp, to which we were taken by a jeep on the loading area at the harbor. There we returned the things we had borrowed and said goodbye to the really great group, exchanged numbers and were really looking forward to the shower.
It was definitely an adventure we won’t soon forget!
Night jeep safari: adventure with African flair
A special highlight of our trip to Taman Negara was the night jeep safari. This tour had a real African flair as we sat in the back of the jeep and searched for animal eyes with headlights. We drove through a palm oil plantation and were lucky enough to see four leopard cats. When the jeep switched off its lights, we were able to admire the breathtaking night sky in all its glory – an unforgettable sight. This adventure only cost €10 per person and we booked it at the local tour office.
Our guide gave us lots of information about the animals in the rainforest and we were amazed when we came across a herd of cattle and he told us that the black panther sometimes killed cattle here. Bears, leopards and other predators also pass by here and can be spotted if you are lucky. Even though we weren’t so lucky this time, this night excursion was very special and we can recommend it to anyone.
Night boat safari: pure Amazon feeling
Another unforgettable experience was the night boat safari. We sailed along the river in the dark for almost 3 hours with our guide. We saw a sleeping kingfisher, fish jumping out of the water and the Orang Asli bathing and fishing at night. Beautiful moths buzzed around and we spotted elephant tracks, which we even followed. The tour was accompanied by flashes of lightning from a thunderstorm in the distance, which lit up the night sky and offered a real Amazonian flair – also for just €10 per person.
Accommodation
The starting point for Taman Negara is the town of Kuala Tahan. There are various bus companies from the Perhentian Islands, Kuala Besut, Kota Bharu and Kuala Lumpur. Once there, it quickly becomes clear that it is a small place where everything really revolves around the rainforest. It consists only of accommodation, restaurants and tour operators. There are no ATMs and almost only cash is accepted, so make sure you have enough cash with you in advance. We stayed at the Abot accommodation. This is directly opposite one of the best and cheapest restaurants and only a few minutes’ walk from the jetty, which is the starting point for all tours.
Fun facts about the Taman Negara
- Age of the rainforest: Taman Negara is over 130 million years old and is one of the oldest tropical rainforests in the world.
- Wildlife: The park is home to a variety of animals, including tigers, leopards, elephants, tapir and the rare Malayan gaur (a large wild cattle).
- Orang Asli: The indigenous people of Taman Negara, known as the Orang Asli, have lived in harmony with nature for thousands of years. They are experts in traditional hunting and survival techniques.
- Night activities: Taman Negara is famous for its nocturnal activities such as night walks, night jeep safaris and night boat tours where you can observe nocturnal animals in their natural habitat.
- Park access: To enter the park, you don’t have to take a boat ride for a minute to get to the other side. The cost of a trip is RM 1 (€ 0.2). Everyone needs a permit in the park. This costs RM 1 per person and a camera/mobile phone license costs RM 5. This license is valid for one month and must be carried at all times.
Conclusion
Our hike through the Taman Negara was an unforgettable experience. The beauty and diversity of the rainforest, the closeness to nature and the sense of adventure made this trip a highlight of our stay in Malaysia. For nature lovers and adventurers, Taman Negara is an absolute must!
If you want the full program, you can book a 2 day / 1 night tour and even extend it up to 7 nights. This takes you further and further into the rainforest and the chance of encountering more animals or even a tiger increases significantly. Those who prefer a more relaxed approach can walk a few routes themselves or book a guide. There are various options from boat trips to visits to the locals and guided tours, with a lot of knowledge from the guides. So there really is something for everyone and some tours can be booked the day before or on the same day.
Don’t wait too long to plan your adventure in the rainforest and visit Taman Negara!
