Taman Negara, which simply means “National Park” in English, has existed for the past 130 million years and is acknowledged to be one of the oldest rain forest in the world. The bulk of park lies between 75m and 300m altitude ( 250-1,000ft ), fringing the central highland core that rises to be the summit of Mount Tahan, which is 2187 meters (7186 ft), ranking the highest peak in Peninsular Malaysia.

As the first and oldest officially protected area in the country, Taman Negara was originally called King George V National Park declared in 1938 by the Sultan of 3 states of Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu. Upon King George’s Silver Jubilee and to preserve the land’s indigenous nature in perpetuity, it was gazetted separately by each state’s Enactments in 1938-1939. The park was renamed Taman Negara after the nation gained independence in 1957. Taman Negara is the largest of all protected areas in Peninsular Malaysia with 4,343sq km. The Pahang section of the park is the largest at 2,477sq km, followed by Kelantan’s portion at 1,043sq km and Terengganu’s at 853sq km.

The flora and fauna species list in Taman Negara is impressive, with an estimated 10,000 plants, 150,000 insects, 25,000 invertebrates, 675 birds, 270 reptiles, 250 freshwater fish and 200 mammals. Even today new species are being discovered. Mammals such as Tapir, Sumatran Rhinoceros, Asian Elephant, Seladang, Gaur or Wild Cattle, Sambar or Rusa Deer, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Wild Pig and Black Giant Squirrel. Primates Animals such as Long-tailed macaque, Dusky Leaf Monkey, White handed Gibbon and Siamang. Carnivores Animals are Malayan Sun Bear, Malayan Tiger, Leopard, Golden Cat, Smooth Otter and Common Palm Civet. Birds species are Horn Bills which can be found nine species, Red Jungle-fowl, White breasted Waterhen, Green-winged Pigeon, Lesser Fish eagle, white-breasted Kingfisher, Mountain Peacock Pheasant and Crested Argus Pheasant. Reptiles and Amphibians are Snakes like King Cobra, Pit Viper and the world’s longest Snake – Python, Water Monitor Lizard, and Fishes Micro fauna as spiders, leeches, ticks, mites, centipedes, ants and scorpions. The forest are dominated by the sheer number abd variety of plant species. Palms, Rattans, Mosses, Ferns, Fungi, Lichens, Gingers, Parasites, and Orchids.

Visitor’s Activities like Canopy Walk – the world’s longest canopy walkway about 500 meters, 10 platforms, 11 bridges, 40 meter above the ground and was built in 1992. Jungle trekking to Bukit Teresek at 334 meters, Rapid Shooting, Lata Berkoh, Cave exploration, swimming, fishing, bird watching, mountain climbing, night jungle walk, night safari and taking photographs.

Forest People – Orang Asli the Batek (Bateq). While many Orang Asli people have settled in permanent communities near the park, there are still Batek people living a semi-traditional life in Taman Negara. The Batek people are one of the Negrito tribes and have similarities to people from the Andaman Islands, Philippines, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. There are true nomads and are classified by same anthropologists as pygmies due to their short stature. About 500 orang Asli live in the park at any one time. It is possible to visit their communities as long as a recognised guide accompanies you. There isn’t a great deal to see as the Orang Asli live a very simple hunter-gatherer lifestyle. The camp usually comprises 10 to 30 family members living in temporary shelters and they used bows and arrows but early this century they converted to blowpipes they still using 1.5 metre (5 foot) bamboo blowpipes and poisonous darts to hunt on a daily basis. Darts are dipped in the poisonous sap of the Ipoh Tree.

The drive from Kuala Lumpur to (Jerantut which is the nearest town) Taman Negara is about 3 hours. From Jerantut to Kuala Tahan is about one hour journey or from Jerantut to Kuala Tembeling Jetty is 16km, boat trip is about three hours upriver to reach Kuala Tahan.