NATIONAL PARKS OF MALAYSIA

Taman Negara, Pahang/Kelantan/Terengganu

Malaysia’s largest national park, Taman Negara stretches an area of over 4 thousand square kilometres and spans three states. The park’s native flora and fauna belong to one of the planet’s oldest and most varied ecosystems. Tapir, Sumatran rhinoceros, Asian elephant and Malayan sun bear all call this place home. With over 300 species of birds inhabiting the forest canopy, you’re very likely to hear rather than see them.

Niah National Park, Sarawak

The oldest human communities in Southeast Asia lived in the network of cavesin Sarawak. The first known human remains found here dated back nearly 40,000 years. The Great Cave is a spectacle with a 60m high opening that leads out to a gigantic cave chamber. Bordering the caves are rainforests populated by deer, partridges, long tailed macaques, tarsier and hornbills. Forest trails snaking through the jungle lead to the nearby park of Bukit Kasut.

Penang National Park, Penang

Although the smallest national park in the world Penang National Park still manages to pack a sufficient amount of wildlife and geographical marvel into its diminutive 2.500 hectares. Wildly differing habitats are much to blame  with rocky outcrop, mud flats, and wetlands housing an unbelievable variety of animal land plant life. Leaf monkeys, flying lemur, squirrels and a hundred species of birds inhabit the area, add to this the marine life and you’ll be stunned at the diversity of life in the area.

ENDAU ROMPIN - JOHOR

Endau–Rompin National Park

The river through Endau national par has shaped much of the topography. Scenic waterfalls and some of Malaysia’s most wonderful vistas skirt the many hiking trails in the area. The forests in and around the park hold a numerous amount of unusual plant genus, like fan palms and walking stick palm. Animal life is in abundance also, with bear cats and wild boars stalking the undergrowth as gibbons swing through the forest vines.

Easily accessible from Kahang and Bekok in Panang, tourists are often accompanied through the park by guides from local tribes such as the local Jakun tribe. If hiking is not to your taste then why not explore the local villages, go white water rafting or take a beautiful night safari through the blackened evening forests.

- happytimeblog.co.uk