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Taman Negara, the National
Park, boasts of jungles that date back millions of
years, making them older than those of the Congo or
Amazon. With more than 4,300 square kilometers of
luxuriant tropical rainforest, this famous tourist
attraction in Malaysia is a perfect destination for
adventure travel and has been a 130 million year-old
sanctuary to a variety of birds and animals. Picturesque trails, limestone
caves, excellent fishing spots, exciting river trips and
ample jungle trekking trails offer a multitude of such
adventure opportunities which are rare to come by. The park's canopy walk which is
25 meters high and over 400 meters long is the world's longest. As
it lies on the top layer of vegetation in a forest, you
will have an extraordinary view of the plants and animal
species found there and you cannot miss the giant trees
with mammoth buttress roots nor the Orang Asli
settlements.
Wildlife observation can be
done from observation hides built around the many
salt-licks and the best time when most animals appear is
at dusk or late in the evening and the further away you
are from the park headquarters, the more likely you will
see more animals. Mountain climbing buffs would enjoy scaling Gunung Tahan, which at 2,187 meters is the highest mountain
in Peninsular Malaysia. River trips are an enjoyable
activity within the park, especially those involving
shooting the rapids.
For the less stalwart, there
are meandering cruises that let you enjoy the
surrounding scenery at a leisurely pace. Fishing is best
done in February, March, July and August and it takes
two days to reach the best fishing areas located along Sungai Tahan near Lata Berkoh and Sungai Kenyam. Camping
grounds in verdant surroundings are to be found in the
park. Accommodation at the park is available in the rest
house, chalets and a hostel which are all fitted with basic
utilities and the best time to visit is during the Taman
Negara July Festival which gives a carnival-like
atmosphere to the resort with exhibitions and cultural
shows.
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