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It's was a surprise when each of us has a T-shirt with Taman Negara map at the back which is quite useful and a small clock as souvenir. We parked our cars at the entry point(Kuala Tembeling Jetty) and it costs us about RM30/vehicles for a 3D2N trip. It was a long way from the entry point to National Park HQ at Kuala Tahan. We spent about 4 hours on the boat, snacks is required in this boring journey.
We accommodated at Ekoton Chalet (air-cond hostel), which located in local village. You can shop at the grocery stores, the most important thing is the bottled mineral water since the chalet does not provide drinking water. If you are going to accommodate at Nusa Camp, then you might have to prepare everything since it is far away from Kuala Tahan Town and I guess there is no store or village around the chalet. At Ekoton Chalet, you can also go online at the cybercafe which is just few streets away from the hostel. Hostel does not has attached bathroom, sometimes the water supply is not so stable that you got to be showered faster before the water pressure goes down. At a cloudless night, you'll see the galaxy hanging on the deep blue sky. You can hardly see any animal since this national park is too crowded to retain silence for the wild lives. However, you can pay additional money for a night safari trip, either on road (by a 4WD or maybe a small lorry, driving into the oil palm farm) or by boat. We only see a fews owls and a little "Musang". That's not a good experience, indeed. We were wondering how if we go for a night safari by boat. I hope to hear from those who have ever joined this, share your experience with us. Since we went there during the peak season, they couldn't arrange every passengers on the floating restaurant, we have our breakfast once only at the floating restaurant and the rest meals at our guide grandma's stall. It's not bad because most of us like the food and service, rather than the floating restaurant, they are too busy to serve.
Thing that impressed me the most was the "Orang Asli" lifestyle, living in a very simple and crude hut. Don't forget to try their hunting tool, a blowgun. (we don't call that a weapon since it not using to hurt human being) You can buy a short one or a bamboo comb as a souvenir. In Gua Telinga you can even touch the bats and if you are lucky, you will see the white snake. 4 hours jungle trekking to Teresek Hill to view Mountain Tahan exhausted all of us, but it is a good chance for those who need more exercises. We did not tube in the rapid, some like this activities very much but some said it was extremely boring. I think it depends on the current speed, the tube can hardly move during the dry season and you'll look like a fool. Most of the rivers there are muddy and murky, only few exception like Lubok Simpan, where we swam, is green but not very clear water. BY Shuttle Travel
Services(STS)
This is the easiest way to get to Kuala Tembeling (the jetty point to Kuala Tahan, Taman Negara Park headquaters). It will depart from Hotel Istana, Kuala Lumpur at 8.00 am. daily. A direct service to Kuala Tembeling with a short stop in a small town called Karak, a 45 mins journey from Kuala Lumpur. While you are in Karak, make use of the time to shop for last minute provision. The fare is only RM25.00/person per way and booking has to be made at least one day before departure and can be made at Taman Negara Sales office located on the fourth floor of Istana Hotel. BY EXPRESS BUS You must be prepared to change buses three times.
BY TRAIN:
BY TAXI From Jerantut (Gateway
to the National Park) to Taman Negara by Cupid, CUTI reporter |
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A Journal of Taman
Negara Kuala Tahan 
