Taman Negara tourist guide

In a country famous for its natural beauty and national parks, Taman Negara offers visitors that little bit extra. Covering an area twice the size of Luxembourg, everything in this mighty park is enormous, from the 130 million year old jungle and towering trees to the animals and insects that live there.

Visitors to Taman Negara have the opportunity to spot a large variety of animals such as elephants, tigers, otters, leopards and rhino. There are also a large number of different snake species slithering through the overgrowth as well as monkeys, deer and tapir.

There is plenty to see and do in Taman Negara such as cave exploration, river rafting and rapid-shooting. There are overnight treks available as well as boat trips up one of the park’s many rivers. It is easy to arrange group tours and trekking as part of a group with a guide can be a lot of fun and a good way to learn more about the park.

There are a good number of different treks to choose from. Particularly popular is the half day trek from the Ranger’s Headquarters to Teresek Hill with spectacular views from the top, while the Canopy Walk offers visitors an elevated view of the park. There are also sparkling waterfalls to swim in and plenty of places to picnic.

The size and natural beauty of Taman Negara means that this is a good place to spend a few days and really explore. There are a number of places to stay, both inside Taman Negara and in the surrounding area. It is also possible to hire camping, hiking and fishing equipment at the Mutiara Taman Negara resort shop if you prefer to get back to basics and go it alone.

The main entry point into the park is by riverboat from the town of Kuala Tembelin. The journey covers 60 kilometres and takes about three hours. This is a great way to see the countryside and on the way you will pass a number of fishermen and wildlife such as otters, kingfishers, hornbills and monkeys.

There is no violent crime within the park but visitors should take care of their belongings and not leave anything valuable (such as cameras) unattended as opportunistic thefts do occur. There are leaches all over Taman Negara and these blood-suckers love the rainy season most of all. Covering up with socks and trousers helps as well as using DEET spray. But carrying a lighter to burn the little blighters is a good plan as well.

Attractions and activities
Try caving or embark on fishing trips, spot leopards on night safaris or stay in overnight hides in the jungle. There are countless activities in Taman Negara for all ages… more

Hotels
Although most of the hostels and chalets around the main visitor settlement of Kuala Tanah are pretty basic there are also quite a few upmarket options for those that value their comfort… more

Restaurants and bars
Taman Negara is more a place for getting back to basics than indulging in haut cuisine, but there are a few choices for dining which provide flavourful meals at bargain prices… more

Transportation
Getting to Taman Negara is relatively simple and the journey itself contains ample opportunities for spotting some diverse flora and fauna, so read out complete guide… more