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Introduction
Endau Rompin, straddling the Johor/Pahang
border, is the second National Park, after
Taman Negara. It covers an area of approximately
80,000 hectares of rich and exotic flora
and fauna, encompassing the watershed of
the rivers Endau and Rompin, from which
it derives its name. In other words, this
place is huge. 
The
entry point to the park is an Orang Asli
(Malaysian aborigines) village. Although
the natives have been influenced by the
modern world, they still practise a hunting
and gathering lifestyle. They are also the
custodians of fascinating myths and legends
about the jungle that have been handed down
from one generation to the next. But apart
from exploring this spellbinding cultural
aspect of the park, how can you get your
hands dirty in this giant, timeless Garden
of Eden? Easy. You can camp, hike, fish,
canoe, shoot rapids, explore caves, climb
mountains, bird watch and swim in this amazing
national park.
The
park is home to a vast range of species
of birds, mammals, frogs, insects and exotic
varieties of orchids, herbs, medicinal plants
and trees. It seems that every time a scientific
expedition returns from Endau - Rompin,
they discover a new species!
In
existence for over 130 million years, this
rainforest holds rare flora and fauna, many
of which are not found anywhere else in
the tropics. The most prominent of these
unique species is the Sumatran Rhinoceros.
Regular
treks through the jungle will give adventurers
sightings of leaf monkeys, long-tail macaques,
white-handed gibbons, elephants, deer, tapirs
and the occasional tiger and leopard. For
adventure lovers and river trekkers, there
are exhilarating rapids and fairly substantial
waterfalls.
To
protect the pristine environment, only limited
areas of the park are open for ecotourism.
Entry to the park requires a special permit
from the Johor National Park Corporation.
But
the much easier option is to get the permits
at the District Office, which is just next
to the Police Department in Kuala Rompin
before reaching the FELDA Selendang turnoff
from Lanjut Beach. Upon entry to this park,
trekkers will be guided by forest rangers
to ensure safety at all times.
How
to get there
By Road
Drive from Kuala Lumpur or Johor Bahru, using
the North-South Expressway. Once at Kluang,
take a detour to Kahang town. There, a four-wheel
drive vehicle will take you on a 56km jungle
track to Kampung Peta, which is the point
of entry to the National Park.
By
River
It is also possible to reach the park by
boat along the Endau River, taking about
three hours starting from Felda Nitar II.
There are camping facilities, catering for
up to 300 visitors. These are located at
Kuala Jasin, Batu Hampar, Upeh Guling and
Kuala Marong.
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