01_Malaysia National Parks, Johor, Endau Rompin兴楼云冰国家公园, 柔佛州属, 马来西亚
Malaysia
National Parks, Johor,
Endau Rompin
兴楼云冰国家公园, 柔佛州属, 马来西亚
The Orang Hulu (Indigenous people) of the area tells a story of an
old crocodile that lived in the pools above the waterfall. One day it floated
downriver and got itself trapped between the boulders where its body formed the
cascades of the fall. (buaya = crocodile, sangkut = trapped). Another less
popular story but entertaining all the same tells of a family who lived by the
banks of Sungai Jasin. The father dreamt of his son's death in the jaws of a
crocodile that lived in the river. He took it as a warning and with that, moved
his family upstream.
The recurring dream drove the family further upstream pass
the waterfall. True to the premonitions of these dreams, the crocodile had followed
them. On climbing the fall, the croc lodged itself between the boulders and the
father took this opportune moment to kill it. He made a drum from the leather
of the crocodile and hung the drum high in the house. One day as the son was
playing below the drum, it fell on him killing him instantly.
The Parks are sanctuary to many wildlife and should be developed
into a full fledged wildlife sanctuary for the endangered species. To date,
high on the list are:
· Sanctuary
for Dugong (Dugong dugon)
· Reserved
Santuary for dolphins (Tursiops turuncates)
· Sanctuary
for Burong Botak (Lesser adjutant)
· Protected
Sanctuary for sea horse (Hippocampus kuda)
Preliminary research on inventry of Dugong (Dugong dugon) has been
done by the Maritime Research Centre of Universiti Malaya through the Global
Environment Fund - United Nation Development Programme (GEF-UNDP)
The establishment of wildlife sanctuaries will help to ensure the development of holistic programmes and researches for the protection of the endangered species.
Kuala Marong has been selected as a campsite and fish sanctuary in
Endau Rompin National Park.
Climate
The weather is generally hot and humid all year round.
Temperatures ranges between 25 and 33 degrees Celsius.
Rainy season is between mid December to mid January.
Most appropriate clothing for the jungle are loose-fitting cotton
long-sleeved shirts and long pants to help keep insects at bay. Leech socks are
advisable.
Wear comfortable boots or sneakers.
Helpful to bring along a first aid kit, torchlight and insect
repellent.
Visitors are requested to help the Department of Wild Life
preserve nature' beauty by keeping litter and noise pollution to the minimum.
Getting There
There are 3 entrances to the Endau-Rompin National Park. You can
either enter through Johor (East or West) or through Pahang.
A different entrance would mean a different adventure as the Johor National
Parks Corporation manages the Johor portion of the park while the area
encompassed by Pahang comes under the Pahang National Parks Corporation.
The Johor Endau Rompin East approach (Kampung Peta) is the more
popular, time saving and easier approach. If you are driving, it's best to take
a 4WD, as there are no tarred roads for the last 20km of the journey, only mud
tracks. You need to inform the Johor National Parks Corporation at least a week
prior to your departure. If you are coming from Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru or Singapore, use the National Highway and exit at
Air Hitam. Turn right at the exit and drive on for another hour to Kluang.
Whatever last minute supplies you need would be best bought here.
From here drive another 40km along the route to Mersing
and you'll reach Kahang, where the last petrol station before the Park can be
found. About 3km from Kahang, turn at right at the park sign. The first 35km
will be through oil palm plantations, a rather uneven and bumpy track in the
beginning, followed by tarred roads and finally through a laterite track. Then
the last 22km will run through uninhabited rainforest. This is a mud track with
a lot of protruding rocks, potholes, and wooden bridges that don't allow room
for mistakes. (Please note currently, 31st of July 2008, the main bridge giving
access to the park over this road is broken.)
The Johor Endau Rompin West entrance is near the town of Bekok
near Segamat. Here, due to the condition of the
track, one can enter only by using 4WD vehicles.
The third entrance (from Pahang) is reached from the town of Kuala
Rompin. Drive along a paved road to Seladang, and then follow a 26km dirt track
to the park boundary at Kuala Kinchin.
By Road From Kuala Lumpur
Head South on the North-South highway for roughly 3 1/2 hours
before detouring off at Ayer Hitam. From Ayer Hitam take the Kluang Jemaluang
road (Route 50) and continue from there to a turn-off 7km east of Kahang town
(Look for the Endau-Rompin national park sign partly hidden amongst 15other
signs on the signboard). This turn-off will take you on a 56km rough terrain
drive through palm-oil plantations and then onto old logging roads and boggy
tracks before arriving at Kampung Peta, the park staging point. This will take
2hours.
· The Park
Headquarters: The office is housed in a large and beautiful two level wooden
structure. It has an excellent library with a collection of books, pictures and
samples of plants and animals. One can easily spend half a day there. It has a
superb suspension bridge, which spans about 100m over a pond. It also houses a
few chalets, a dormitory, a canteen and the staff's houses.
· Flora
and Fauna: The park has some wonderful plants and animals. Occasionally, a
herd of elephants might just wander in the vicinity. While hiking, you will
come across various plant life, one of that is a species of giant fan palm,
Livistona endaunesis, which can only be found here.
· Boat
Ride to Kuala Jasin: The first portion of your trip starts with a 45-minute boat ride
through very calm waters of Endau river to Kuala Jasin. You board the boat from
the Orang Asli settlement of Kampung Peta. The Park HQ provides you with a
guide who also doubles as your boatman. The water is clear and superb for
drinking. Occasionally you'll see schools of fishes. For most, you'll see dense
forests on both sides of the river.
· Upeh
Guling Waterfalls and the Volcanic Rocks: From Kuala Jasin, it's a
one and a half hour trek to reach the first stop, which is at Kuala Marong. On
the way, there are a couple of river crossings, one of which is truly exciting
during high tide as you really have to hold on to the ropes lest you get
carried away by the currents. At Kuala Marang, there is a campsite as well as a
huge wooden shelter and toilets. From here, a short 15 minutes away is the Upeh
Guling Waterfalls, with a series of whirlpools formed by ancient volcanic rocks
– supposed to be the oldest existing landmarks in Malaysia at 240 million years
old! The waterfall is rather wide and short but we saw at least 4
levels/cascades. Good place to get a free massage from the falling waters.
· Tasik
Air Biru (Blue-Water Lake): 15 minutes east of Upeh Guling is Tasik
Air Biru, a freshwater lake that is very calm, too calm. The water looks blue
due to reflection of sunlight on the white rounded rocks at the bed of the
lake.
· Buaya
Sangkut Waterfall: The next journey is to Batu Hampar waterfall that can be reached
40 minutes of walking. A nice waterfall to cool down and take some well needed
rest, as the ultimate physical test begins here. From here, you climb a steep
Semanggong Hill, which is 2307 feet. Use the rattan rope to assist you in
climbing the hill, as the gradient is around 45 degrees. After a backbreaking 3
hours, you will reach the awesome Buaya Sangkut waterfall. This tall and scenic
waterfall is your ultimate destination at the Endau-Rompin Park. Your guide
will probably tell you the legend behind this waterfall.
· The
Orang Asli: They live at Kampung Peta, 15 minutes walk from the Park HQ. They
lead a very simple life, selling handicrafts and pretty much self-sustained
through farming, raising livestock or hunting. Don't miss the solar panels that
dot their houses, which provide electricity.
Endau Rompin West Entry from Bekok (Johor)
· The 4WD: This is
a unique experience and the only means of reaching the chalet base camp at
Lubok Tapah and the camping ground at Lubok Merekek. It is better to hire a
local operator to bring you in as during the wet seasons the route is very
challenging and treacherous.
· Three
Beautiful Waterfalls As the waterfalls are not within easy reach, they have remained
pristine and almost untouched.
Takah Pandan has more than 50m of straight fall and is a
spectacular sight. It is also the site for the water abseiling activity.
Takah Beringin is harder to reach due to the terrain and almost
not passable during the wet seasons. The scenery surrounding the waterfalls is
mystical and enchanting.
Takah Tinggi is the largest of the three has easier access but a
longer walk but easier walk. The base of the waterfalls has a large pool
teaming with fishes. No fishing is allowed as the area is gazetted as a fish
sanctuary.
Activities at Endau
Rompin West - Entry from Bekok
· Orang
Asli (Aborigines) Village
· Rubber
tube rafting
· Night
safari and Night Trekking
· 4 x 4
off road adventure
· Three
beautiful waterfalls
· Adventure
Team Building
· Water
Abseiling
· Jungle
Survival Training
· Hill
Climbing at Gunong Tiong
Please take note that the rubber tube rafting, night safari &
night trekking, 4 x 4 off road adventure, the three beautiful waterfalls namely
Takah Tinggi, Takah Pandan and Takah Berangin , adventure team building, water
abseiling and jungle survival training are referring to activities available at
Endau Rompin Selai or Endau Rompin West (the entry point is from the town of
Bekok) in West Johore.
Activities at Endau
Rompin East - Entry from Kahang
· Orang
Asli (Aborigines) Village
· Water
Rafting from Kuala Jasin
· Fishing
at Kampong Peta
· Hill
Climbing Janing Barat
Planning
your Malaysia Nature &
Adventure with Cheng Pai Voyage
城派梦想旅游策划您的马来西亚 大自然和极限探险，
Cheng Pai Voyage 城派梦想旅游,
Dennis Loh, +6 012-359 1886
Ice Looi, +6 012-631 7638
Email : chengpai@gmail.com
Facebook : Cheng Pai Voyage
Wechat : chengpai60123591886 /
icelooi33
Whatspp / Line : 0123591886
We Welcome The World !
Comments
Post a Comment