Takah Tinggi waterfall (October 2003)

Waterfalls from the massive Takah Tinggi waterfall to the small forest stream waterfall of Takah Selow, the Selai entrance to Taman Negara Endau Rompin is the home to several pristine waterfalls that are located along the main river of Selai and its smaller forest tributaries. This western gateway of Taman Negara Endau Rompin is much less well known compared to its eastern gateway of Peta, Mersing although a larger portion of the park is managed through the Selai gateway[1]. Taman Negara Endau Rompin covers an area of 252 km² and comprises mainly of low land tropical rainforest. It is a well-known refuge for big game animals such as Elephants and Sumatran Rhinoceros and was gazette as a National Park in 1993 [1].

The main activity here is forest treks to the waterfalls and it is estimated that there are more than 20 waterfalls. Takah Tinggi is the main waterfall along Sungei Selai and is one of the highlight of the trek. The trek also brings you to other smaller forest waterfalls such as Takah Pandan, Takah Selow and Takah Berangin. There are few visitors to this area and there is a pleasant tranquility walking on the narrow leaf-covered trails. However, this is no walk in the park as the trek involves going up steep slopes which require the use of ropes fixed to the side. The trek to Takah Tinggi easily takes more than 2 hours.

Takah Selow is made of 3 cascades, shown here is the last cascade(17 Oct 2003). Photo courtesy of Gerald.

Takah Pandan waterfall. Photo courtesy of Gerald.

Water gushing down from Takah Berangin being deflected by hard volcanic rock (18 Oct 2003). Photo courtesy of Gerald.

The Selai gateway is opened in 2003 and the facilities are very basic but adequate. There are toilets, sheltered dining hall, kitchen facilities and huts for rental. The huts are also very basic with bed and mosquito net covered windows, meant for visitors who prefer to sleep in a hut instead of tent. It is recommended to bring your own food in case the cafeteria is not in operation. Currently, there are not many visitors to this park entrance probably due to its poor accessibility.

A trip to Selai gateway of Taman Negara Endau Rompin requires private charter of 4-wheel drive vehicle. The nearest town is Bekok which you may reach by train and this is where the Endau Rompin Selai management office is located. Bekok is a small town and the park office is near to the railway station. You will need to register at this office before proceeding to the National Park [2]. The journey will pass through Orang Asli villages and forest muddy roads. You will also get a view of Gunung Tiong, the second highest mountain in the state of Johor on the way to the base camp at Lubuk Tapah.

Endau Rompin Selai is recommended for visitors who want to experience staying in a tropical rainforest but still having some basic amenities. The trails are clean and it has a feel of jungle exploration given the low number of visitors. This trek however, is not recommended for young children as it involves crossing rivers and difficult terrain.