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Exploring Belum
The Wonders of Nature Come Alive
Located close to the Malaysian - Thai border and at over 130 million years old, the Belum Temengor Tropical Rainforest is one of the world’s oldest rainforests. It is a hilly to mountainous region ranging in altitude from 130 m - 1,553 m, stradding in the Main Range, Peninsular Malaysia’s backbone.
It encompasses around 300,000 hectares and at its heart is the 15,200 hectares manmade Temengor Lake.
The lake is dotted with hundreds of pristine islands including Pulau Banding with an incredible diversity of life, a place to find seclusion and be one with nature.
The Splendour of Nature's Flora & Fauna
This ancient rainforest is home to vast number of unique flora and fauna, many which are unfortunely nearing extinction. In fact this primeval forest remains one of the largest untouched forest reserve in Peninsular Malaysia, possibly the world. Imagine the secrets that it may hold and the potential it has to offer the world.
The Belum Temengor Rainforest complex is home over 3,000 species of flora, the best known probably being the majestic Rafflesia, but while a lifespan of less than seven days, she save her beauty for the fortunate few.
3 species of Rafflesia namely Azlanii, Kerrii and Cantley can be found in this area.
There are also 64 species of ferns, one of which seems blue from one angle, then green from another, an optical delight. Then there are the 62 species of moss which are not known to exist anywhere else in the world.
Scientists are still studying the forest’s flora and many exciting discoveries are expected to be made.
There are over 200 mammal species in Malaysia and many of them can be found here. Belum-Temengor’s relatively untouched forest is home to 14 of the world’s most threatened mammals such as the Malayan Tiger, Asiatic Elephant, Malayan Sun Bear, and Malayan Tapir.
Avians Haven & Hornbill Shangri-La
Belum Temengor Tropical Rainforest is ideal for bird watchers with over 300 avian species including the hornbill.
Adding more colour to the surroundings the 10 species of hornbill in the BTTR give the area’s reserve the appellation “Hornbill Capital of the World”. It’s one of the site on Earth where you can see all of the ten known species of Malaysian hornbills : Plain-pouched Hornbill, White-crowned Hornbill, Bushy-crested Hornbill, Wrinkled Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbill, Black Hornbill, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Rhinoceros Hornbill, Great Hornbill and Helmeted Hornbill.
The best way to get to see a hornbill is to locate a large wild fig plant (their favourite food) and hide nearby.
The Orang Asli the Forest's Custodians
There are two main Orang Asli groups that live in the area, the Jahai and Temiar.
The Jahai are semi-nomadic groups who inhabit the northen area of the Belum-Temengor forest.
The Temiar on the other hand are an agricultural community who cultivate areas in the southern region of Temengor.
Angler's Paradise
The artificial lake of Temenggor is the second largest lake in Peninsula Malaysia. Home to 23 main species of freshwater fish, and 5 species of turtles, and several aquatic and amphibian species too. It’s made of 6,050 million cubic meters of water covering an area of 15,200 hectares. This man-made lake was created after the completion of the Temenggor dam in 1974. The now forty years old body of water holds hydro-electric importance for the local population in the northern Perak State. Moreover, it had an historic military strategic role in cutting supplies and communication to communist guerrilla groups that used the rainforest as a shelter.
Given the secluded and peaceful nature that imbues the whole area, a very rich and dense population of fishes and aquatic species has since developed in its lake and surrounding streams. The “catch and release” policy is practiced in the rainforest. Four species of fish, known locally as sebarau, kelah, tengalan and temoleh cannot be carry out of Royal Belum.
