Visit Malaysia

Mention Mabul Island and visions of swaying coconut trees and idyllic water villages come to mind. And that’s just above the water. Located only about 15 minutes by speedboat from the famous Sipadan Island, Mabul has gained its own recognition as one of the best muck-diving (a term used to describe limited visibility dives at shallow sites with usually sandy bottoms) sites in the world.

Mabul is a small oval shaped island fringed by sandy beaches and perched on the northwest corner of a larger 200-hectare reef. The reef is on the edge of the continental shelf and the seabed surrounding the reef slopes out to 25–30m deep.

Mabul is also renowned for its amazing array of macrolife, making it an underwater photographer’s dream location to capture some of the rarest ecological species on film. Flamboyant cuttlefish, blue-ringed octopus, spike-fin gobies, frogfish and moray eels are just some of the spectacular critters you will encounter beneath the waters of Mabul.

Although all the excitement is underwater, you can always set your scuba gear aside for a day to laze on Mabul’s soft sand to work on your tan.





Where to stay
When in Mabul, opt to stay in any one of these excellent resorts:
Borneo Divers & Sea Sports (Sabah) Sdn Bhd
Explore Asia Tours Sdn Bhd (Sipadan-Mabul Resort)
Seaventures Tours & Travel Sdn Bhd
Sipadan Water Village Resort Sdn Bhd
* Resort rates may vary

How to get there
 
From Kota Kinabalu, take a 55-minute flight to Tawau and enjoy an hour’s drive to Semporna. From here, Mabul is another 45 minutes by speedboat. Be sure to pre-arrange transportation with your respective resort/dive operator.

Extra information
 
Contact Borneo Divers & Sea Sports (SABAH) Sdn Bhd (KPL 1510)

When you feel a yearning for space, and the urge overtakes you to toss that deadline, ditch your handphone and take a break, it's time to pack your bags and experience the thrill of nature!

Endau Rompin, located north of Johor and south of Pahang, is the second National Park proclaimed by the Government of Malaysia. It covers an area of approximately 50,000 hectares of rich flora and fauna, encompassing the watershed of the rivers Endau and Rompin, from which it derived its name.

The park is home to many species of birds, mammals, frogs, insects and many other wild animals, as well as varieties of orchids, herbs, medicinal plants and trees. A scientific expedition undertaken by the Malaysian Nature Society in 1985 uncovered some new and rare plant and animal species. One of the most spectacular discoveries was the fan palm (Livistona endauensis), endemic to the Ulu Endau area.

This centuries-old rainforest is also home to the largest surviving population of Sumatran Rhinos still left in Peninsular Malaysia. Primates, including the leaf monkey, the long-tail macaque and the white-handed gibbon are a common sight. Other wild animals inhabiting the area include tigers, leopards, elephants, and various types of deer and tapirs. There are also numerous rapids and falls awaiting adventure lovers and river trekkers here.

To protect the pristine environment, only limited areas of the park are open for ecotourism purposes. Entry to the park requires a special permit from the Johor National Park Corporation. Permits can also be obtained at the District Office, which is just alongside the Police Department in Kuala Rompin before reaching the FELDA Selendang turn off from Lanjut Beach. Upon entry to this park, trekkers will be guided by forest rangers to ensure safety at all times.




Getting There

From the North South Expressway (NSE), take the Ayer Hitam exit (Interchange 244) and proceed to Kluang town (20km form the interchange), then onwards to Kahang. From Kahang, drive for another 7km before turning left at Felda Selendang. From there, its another 2 hours drive through a dirt track that meanders through palm oil plantations and logged forest to Kampung Peta.

Straddling the borders of Pahang, Terenggganu and Kelantan, Taman Negara is a totally protected area of 4,343 sq. km., and is home to one of the richest and most complex ecosystems in the world.

A must-try attraction here is the canopy walkway, 30m high and stretching a distance of 500 m. It gives visitors a rare opportunity to view the jungle from above. Throughout the park, there are wildlife observation hides near saltlicks, where animals come to supplement their mineral intake. The best way to see the animals is to stay overnight at the hides.

Anglers can check out Sungai Kenyam and Sungai Sepia. The park is also a premier birdwatching site with over 300 species of birds recorded. The long trek to the top of 2,187m Gunung Tahan, the highest mountain in Peninsular Malaysia, may not be for everyone, but can be a rewarding experience. A less strenuous trail is the one to Bukit Teresek (334m), just a few hours' walk from park headquarters.

Along the riverbanks just half an hour's walk from park headquarters, visitors may come across the huts of the indigenous Orang Asli of the Batek tribe. The Batek used to live a nomadic life, but today, many of them have joined the cash economy. Some have become jungle guides while others work as porters, labourers or boatmen (a few have their own motorised sampans).

 

GETTING THERE


By Rail


Kuala Tembeling is also accessible from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore or Kota Bharu (via Tumpat) by rail. Trains from these stations stop at Tembeling Halt, about half an hour's drive to the jetty at Kuala Tembeling. Please contact Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd for details on train schedules and fares. The contact number are 03-2267 1200.

By Boat
 
The staging point for visits to the park is Kuala Tembeling from which a 3 hour boat ride upriver takes you to Kuala Tahan at 9am and 3pm daily, except for fridays when the afternoon departure is at 2:30pm. The boat fare costs RM 19 for a one way trip. Mutiara Taman Negara Resort also operates a speedboat service that take only 45 minutes to reach Kuala Tahan. The speedboat leaves Kuala Tembeling at 10:30am and 1:30pm daily.


The most accessible gateway to Taman Negara is either through Jerantut, a three-hour trip from Kuala Lumpur. If you are driving a four-wheel drive vehicle, you can take the logger trail right up to Kuala Tahan, where you need to take a boat across the Sungai Tahan (Tahan River) to enter the park.


If you are relying on public transportation, take a public bus or a taxi from Jerantut town to the Kuala Tembeling Jetty, about 16km north of Jerantut.


Buses to Jerantut may be found at the Jalan Tun Razak Bus Station in Kuala Lumpur. From there, hop on a local bus or taxi to Kuala Tembeling. Alternatively, Jerantut bound taxis are available at the Pudu Raya Bus Terminal in Kuala Lumpur.


In addition, Kuala Tembeling is also accessible from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore or Kota Bharu (via Tumpat) by rail. Trains from these stations stop at Tembeling Halt, about half an hour's walk to the jetty.


From there, a longboat will take you to Kuala Tahan in about three hours (depending on the water level of the river).

FEEL THE WIND HERE...

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