Taman Negara

I visited Taman Negara (literally translates to "National Park" in English) twice: one in August 2008 via Sungai ("sungai" translates to "river" in English) Relau and another in May 2012 via Kuala Tahan.

First Trip via Sungai Relau (the climb to Mount Tahan, Peninsular Malaysia's tallest peak)

Sungai Relau was the entry point if you want to climb the tallest peak in Peninsular Malaysia, Mount Tahan (2,187m). That's what my friends and I did back in 2008. The hike to Mount Tahan began from the Sungai Relau park HQ in the morning. Then, it was followed-up by an off-road drive through the jungle into Sungai Juram where we continued by foot. The first day involved little elevation, and the hike took from the morning till late afternoon when we arrived to the campsite for the night, Kem Kor. Unlike the Pinnacles hike in Gunung Mulu National Park or Mount Kinabalu climb in Gunung Kinabalu National Park, the facilities were very minimal. There were no hostels, or sleeping huts built at the campsites in Taman Negara, just a small shed that functioned as a toilet (there was a pail for you to retrieve water from the creek next to the campsite). Instead, you are required to set up your own tents for the night. In terms of the flora and fauna so far, the only encounter of note the evening before in Sungai Relau, we were greeted by a pair of beautiful Rhinoceros Hornbills, perching right up on where …