"Janes of the Jungle" Top 5 Page for this destination Taman Negara by bpacker

Taman Negara Travel Guide: 218 reviews and 486 photos

Taman Negara National Park

After combing Scandinavia with my childhood girl pals, I decided not to under-estimate the power of an all-girl trip. Not only did it deepened our friendship, the sisterly assurance built up much of my confidence for adventure. I became a Lucy Lawless overnight, minus the biceps and homosexuality, of course. So when the opportunity came for me to explore Taman Negara with two other gal pals, I jumped at the chance. It helped that I had an understanding partner who knew I didn't want to wallow in cold, cold Korea! While hubby was freezing his butt off in -5c Seoul, I was happily gallivanting from tree to tree in the balmy, warm jungle of Pahang. It turned out to be an adventurous, girl-bonding trip. I never knew how much I missed those long and honest conversations, the lurid jokes and the slumber party feel. Now, if only every gal were to go on a trip like this, there won't be a market for Prozac no more. Yes, we were laughing our heads off, never mind if we were in a room that had no air-con and a stinky loo.

We were Janes of the Jungle enjoying each other's company and ready to conquer the park!

And conquer we did, we had a fantastic time exploring the intricate ecosystem of Taman Negara. I mean, how often do you find out that elephant poop is responsible for fertilising a big tree in front of you? We also shot the rapids, went into a claustrophobic bat cave and polished off all their droppings on our shorts and hands. Oh yeah, we never felt more primal than that. That was no way we could have done that in urban Singapore! Guess what really helped us forget our woes was another fun-loving group of new friends from Klang, Malaysia and ahem, Bavaria, Germany. Somehow, the group chemistry turned out right and everyone had a great time . Lillian, Alice and my new friends from M'sia and Germany, this page is dedicated to you.

The True Natives of Taman Negara

A child from the Orang Asli Tribe, Taman Negara

Like the Amazon, Taman Negara has a band of indigenous inhabitants called the "Orang Asli". They look nothing like the Malaysians. Instead, their strong Negroid features were more reminiscent of the Aborigines in Australia.Of course, there's where the similarity ends, these folks don't go on strike or complain about unemployment as they literally live off the land. Click here to see more pictures.

The other Natives - Flora and Fauna

Hornbill, Taman Negara

Other than the Orang Asli, there is a myriad of other inhabitants in Taman Negara. Too numerous for me to name (that's for sure) but I tried to capture as many as I could with my nifty Sony digi camera. Here's a jaunty little fellow with an unusually large yellow beak.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Indigenous flora and fauna, good clean air and water
Cons:Sandflies, Dung from Bats, Elephants and every other animal
In a nutshell:Pristine Virgin Jungle

Last visit to Taman Negara: Jan 2005
Intro Updated Dec 26, 2005
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Reviews (53)

Getting a tattoo at Lubok Simpon - Taman Negara

Doddling on your friend's back Off The Beaten Path (19)

If you grind a piece of clay long enough between two rocks, you just might create enough ink to create a butterfly... more travel advice

Uneven Terrain Warnings and Dangers (9)

Be prepared for the uneven terrain in many parts of Taman Negara. Heck, this is afterall a jungle! Just wear good shoes... more travel advice

View from Tembiling Jetty - Taman Negara

Tembiling Jetty Off The Beaten Path (19)

Ever noticed how beautiful it is at Tembeling Jetty? You know, the place where you board a boat to Taman Negara. Click... more travel advice

Before the abuse, the start of the trip.. - Taman Negara

Bring Good Hiking Shoes! What to Pack (2)

Bring good hiking shoes when you're in Taman Negara because slippers DO NOT offer sufficient protection, even if they... more travel advice

Nightlife (5)
See All Shots from the Night Safari
Restaurants (1)
Communal Dining
Hotels (2)
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Comments (30)

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mrjemm Nov 21, 2007 at 4:03 PM

Yay, bugs! Love the catapiller. Now I must remember, being a fat basty, not to go cave blocking. Cheers again Glen. Jemolski.
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jrs1234 Dec 26, 2006 at 4:55 AM

Just the pictures for a cold winter's day (as it is here) - brings back fond memories of my muddy walks around Taman Negara - cheers!
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robertgaz Jun 27, 2006 at 12:34 AM

Serves 'em right for forgetting the fling in the fries as well ;~)
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y_lyn Jun 13, 2006 at 8:50 AM

Moi going to Taman Negara tomorrow :D Your travel pages really help a lot in my planning... Thanks a lot!!
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meliaz Apr 11, 2006 at 11:59 PM

Awesome Tmn Negara page. I must try caving the next time I visit. Looks like fun! If you're into National Parks or adventure holidays, try the Belum forest in Perak, white water rafting in Jeram Besu Pahang or more caving in the Mulu Caves, Sarawak.
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i-s-a Apr 11, 2006 at 9:00 PM

One adventure trip that I truly enjoy...and I'm not even part of it! Thanks Glen! I love these kinds of travels but my back will kill me for sure. The suspension bridge and the views are so lovely. Hmmm...another place to add in my list of my wants LOL.
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doreeny Feb 16, 2006 at 8:26 AM

Went to Taman Negara prior to my Endau Rompin trip. Your VT page brought back fond memories :) I gather from ur travel page that u haven't try white water kayaking @ endau rompin?
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Redang Dec 22, 2005 at 10:11 PM

This park brings me good memories!
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CaiBingyu Dec 11, 2005 at 7:40 AM

Hi, Wow i learned a lot about taman negara from your article! I think it's very informative i cant wait to plan for an adventure there. Cheers~!
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Wafro Sep 28, 2005 at 12:05 PM

This is as complete as complete could be. Great pictures and helpful tips. GRTZ