Endau Rompin National Park Malaysia

Last week I travelled down to the Endau Rompin National Park in the southern half of peninsular Malaysia to spend the weekend by the Selai river.  This is a beautiful area of rain forest rich in wildlife.  There is the option to camp or stay in chalets here and the site can only be reached by 4WD vehicles.

The Selai River upstream from the chalets.

After dropping our bags on arrival we hired a local guide to take us on a short trek to a lovely waterfall called Taka Pandan.  This was a great place to cool off and splash about in the pool under the fall.

Taka Pandan

Begonia rajah. A rare flower that grows at Taka Pandan

After about an hour at the fall we headed back. The trail to Taka Pandan has a few steep parts that are roped to make it easier as you have to travel in and out of the gorge formed by the river.  A number of interesting and unusual plants can be found growing around the waterfall.  The forest near the river appears to be in good condition and seemed alive with insects, including numerous butterflies, and plenty of bird life.

Drupadia ravindra moorei (Common Posy) 

Euploea radamanthus (Magpie Crow)

The River Selai near the chalets and camp site had plenty of fish and great places to swim or to go tubing.  I couldn't resist tracing the boulder strewn rapids up river up into the jungle where I found numerous large animal tracks in the sand on the river bank.

The Selai River

Wild boar and possibly Tapir prints

Back at the chalet I found lots of different moths that had been attracted out of the jungle by the artificial light including an atlas moth and these beautiful large moths from the same silk moth family (Saturniidae).

Antheraea larrisa

Antheraea helferi 

Waking up early on Sunday morning I took a stroll at first light to see what I could find.  The mist that collected at this time around the trees was beautifully atmospheric and as the sun started to burn it off I was surrounded by the plaintive hooting of white handed gibbons.

I was sad to have to leave this beautiful place and could have happily stayed a few more days.

Danaus melanippus (White Tiger) 

Arundina graminifolia found on the river bank by the campsite.