Endau Rompin (Pahang)

Date : 25 to 26 May 2013

This post ends my quests in Endau Rompin.
My previous trips can be found here:
1. Selai via Bekok town - details can be found here An Outing in Endau Rompin (Selai)

2. Peta via Kahang town - details can be found here Endau Rompin (Peta)


How to get there :
As it was a weekend getaway for me, my travel time was from Tanjung Resang in Mersing to entrance of the park, 45 mins.
From Mersing town head towards Kuala Rompin.
Before arriving at Kuala Rompin, there is a road sign which says turn left into Endau Rompin National Park.
This road follows the Felda Selendang Road and it will lead right to the entrance of the park.

Entrance to the National Park (Pahang)

Campsite for the night

Start by descending down the stairs

Hanging Bridge

Beautiful Rock Forms

Sri Mahkota Falls with a nice big pool (maybe about 12ft deep)

My coffee fix at the fall

Endau Rompin (Peta)

Date : 31 Aug 2012 to 2 Sept 2012

My little quest for adventures in Endau Rompin.

As a little background, Endau Rompin National Park is the second largest in Peninsula Malaysia (after Taman Negara) and it straddles on the borders of Pahang and Johor.

In Johor there are two entrances into the park

1. Selai via Bekok town - details can be found here An Outing in Endau Rompin (Selai)

2. Peta via Kahang town - details below

And in Pahang there is one entrance into the park.

Usually when a person says he / she has been to Endau Rompin it is the Peta entrance as the famed Buaya Sangkut falls is accessed through this entrance.
The Pahang entrance is the least known amongst the three and least accessed, as far as I know.


How to get there :

Travel time : Approx 4 hours from KL to Kahang.

Travel on the North South Expressway and exit at the Ayer Hitam exit. After that follow the road to Mersing and you will pass by Kluang and then Kahang.

Kahang is a small town and make sure you don't miss it! 

The National Park office is just located beside the road on your right.

This is where you can park your cars and take the 4WD in.

Prior arrangements will need to be made with the park - bookings of 4WD and guide. Details are as below:

For bookings and enquiries:

Taman Negara Johor Endau-Rompin (Peta)
Endau-Rompin (Peta) Johor National Park
Tkt Bawah, No.11, Jalan Bawal 1
Taman Kahang Baru
86700 Kahang
Kluang, Johor
MALAYSIA

Tel: +60-07-788 2812
Fax: +60-07-788 2813
email: peta_er@yahoo.com 

Trekking time and terrain :
Day 1
From National Park Office,
- 2 hours 4WD ride
- 45 mins boat ride to Kuala Jasin
- 1.5 hours trek (flat) with 2 major river crossings to Kuala Marong

Day 2
- 4 hours trek from Kuala Marong to Buaya Sangkut Falls
Note :
Will go past another campsite which is smaller than Kuala Marong called Batu Hampar
Trek to Batu Hampar - 45 mins flat
From Batu Hampar the incline starts for about 3 hours - up and down with a terrain rating of 5/10

Day 3
- 30 mins trek to Upeh Guling waterfall (flat) with one river crossing
- 10 mins trek to Tasik Air Biru from Kuala Marong (flat)

Kahang Office

Where the 4WD drops us to take the boat ride

Boat ride to Kuala Jasin

Trekking to Kuala Marong - River crossing 1

River crossing 2

At Kuala Marong campsite

Trekking to Buaya Sangkut

Batu Hampar campsite

Upper section of Buaya Sangkut

Middle section of Buaya Sangkut

Buaya Sangkut

Upper upper section of Buaya Sangkut

Trekking to Upeh Guling

Upeh Guling

Upeh Guling

Tasik Biru

Trekking in Royal Belum

6 of us bought the Groupon offer for Royal Belum Resort and went for a short break with some trekking in the "famed" Royal Belum / Temenggor area.
For those of you who are not familiar with the Temenggor area, here is a map that may help.

One will need to have a permit to enter into the Upper Temenggor, which is known as Royal Belum Forest Reserve. You may call Perhilitan Perak 05-7911164 for a Guide to be arranged. I called Zul at 019-5900144 whom introduced Azmi to be my guide for the trip. (I have misplaced Azmi's number) Typically a day trip around the Temenggor area would take one to :
1. Rafflesia sightings
2. Sg Kejar Orang Asli Settlement (bring some food, chocolates, clothes if you can)
3. Jenut Papan Salt Lick
4. Sg Mes Waterfall
5. Sg Ruok Waterfall

The cost would be approximately RM 550 for a boat which can fit upto 8 pax. Boat would be the only way to travel around the places at Royal Belum.

The Lower Temenggor is known as just Temenggor Dam or Temenggor Lake and from Wikipedia, this explains it:

Temenggor Lake is the second largest lake in Peninsula Malaysia after Kenyir Lake in Terengganu, Malaysia. This man-made lake is located south of 1,533 m high Ulu Titi Basah peak, in Hulu Perak district in the state of Perak. It was created after the construction of Temenggor Dam to generate electric power. The lake is located about 45 km from the Hulu Perak district capital, Gerik. There is a man-made island, Banding Island (Pulau Banding) and Lake Temenggor Bridge on the East-West Highway which crosses the lake.

Date of travel : 26-28 November 2011

26 Nov 2011, Saturday

6.00am Depart from KL (3.5 hours drive to Lenggong) Exit at Kuala Kangsar and drive towards Grik. Lenggong is a small town on the road towards Grik.

9.30am Arrive Lenggong for brunch (It's a odd hour to arrive at Lenggong as places which are selling breakfast would have sold out by then and places selling lunch is not open yet) Thankfully we found one place with some noodles and the famous fish ball at Lenggong.

10.30am Leave Lenggong to Pulau Banding jetty (1.5 hours drive)

12noon Arrive at Pulau Banding, Royal Belum Resort (One can drive up to the resort)

We checked in and in the Groupon package a Pulau Banding Island Cruise and Night Trail was included. So we did the island cruise in the afternoon. Basically its just a cruise round Pulau Banding with nothing much to see.
Some sights around the resort...

3.00pm We started the island cruise and then went for a kayaking session

Kayak towards the bridge

8.30pm We went for the Banding Forest Night Trek. Its just basically a simple night trek, nothing much to see nor hear. But for people who has not done any night treks (or even day treks), it may be quite an adventure :) The trek was only for about 30 minutes.... there was a slight shower and probably because of this, the trek ended faster than it should.

To keep ourselves occupied that night, we played Boggle and Uno! My all time favorite games..... (somehow I don't have my scrabble set anymore and I can't remember where I placed it!) - The next game that I would like to have is Taboo :) Yes, I am a board game lover.

27 November 2011, Sunday

We did the day trek - Estimate timings from 9.30 - 6pm 

The starting place for Rafflesia sightings

Sg Kejar Orang Asli Settlement

Sg Mes Waterfall

Sg Ruok Waterfall

28 November 2011, Monday
Our return day and on the way back, we stopped by another waterfall. This is on on the road from Kuala Kangsar to Grik. In fact along this road, there are a few waterfalls that one can go! This is Lata Kekabu and the signage is visible by the road. Just follow it. There is a path to the falls. Easily accessible.

Lata Kekabu

An overall experience that I think I would only do once. Unless maybe its to return for a camp. If you do a day trip for trekking into Royal Belum, there really isn't anything much to see.... not much wildlife can be seen. The resorts are also quite pricey here. A cheaper alternative is to stay in hostels available in Grik and food is easily available. If you stay at the resorts, you won't have many choices for food!