Forest hikes – a safe and inexpensive way to enjoy the wonders of nature

Penang is a nature-lover's haven. It is home to one of the oldest and unique tropical rainforests in the world right in the vicinity of the island. It is home to many interesting species of plants and animals, some of which may not be found elsewhere in the country.

On the northeastern part of the island is found a gazetted area covering some 873 hectares called the Telok Bahang Forest Reserve. In here is located the 32 hectare Forest Park. Established in 1974, the Forest Park was set up to inculcate among people of all ages interest, appreciation and knowledge of Malaysia's unique biodiversity. In the effort to bring people closer to nature, a Forestry Museum was set up and several hiking trails were mapped out.

Various facilities are provided in situ to encourage outdoor activities- picnic and camping grounds, leisure-stroll paths, forest-educational plot, lecture hall, meeting rooms and hostel for men and women .

Getting there

The Telok Bahang Forest Park is located about 15 minutes away (if you travel on foot) from Telok Bahang town. Take one of the northbound buses from Komtar or the jetty to Telok Bahang. Depending on the traffic situation, this trip takes anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes. When you reach the town, get off the bus and walk past the eating shops until you reach a roundabout. Turn left and walk for about 15 minutes or so, past the Butterfly Farm on your left, until you reach the entrance to the Forest Park. There is no entrance charge.

Teluk Bahang nature hikes

In line with the country's emphasis on healthy lifestyles and promotion of ecotourism, the Penang State Forestry Department has cleverly packaged three products which are geared to instill an appreciation of Penang's natural heritage while providing a good physical workout for everyone.

According to Dr. Mohd Yunus Zakaria, the State Director of Forestry, the three products are a Forestry Museum, four hiking trails within the Forest Park and a fifth trail spanning the Forest Park in the north and Penang Hill in the south. These hiking trails are designed such that it not only focuses on physical stamina alone but also includes easy lessons on identifying and appreciating the island's flora and fauna.

Penang Forestry Department Director Dr. Mohd Yunus Zakaria holding up
a copy of Telok Bahang Forest Trails which he co-wrote. He hopes that this book,
together with the Forestry Museum, four hiking trails and Penang Hill Forest Challenge
will generate public interest and encourage ecotourism in Telok Bahang,
one of the world's oldest tropical rainforest.

Guides may be available but you can identify the trails and the plant species by referring to the hiking trail leaflet, which is available from the Forest Park grounds or the Forestry Department, Komtar. See contact details at the end of the article.

There are a total of five trails. They are all open to the public at no charge and each is planned according to different levels of difficulty. The four listed below all start from a common point and then divert onto different points within the forest reserve. Hikers need not worry about getting lost because the trails are marked with clear signs giving short explanations or story lines at 21 stops. In addition, forest rangers provide free tours and useful tips. The fifth trail is a separate product because of the distance covered and stamina required. We start with the easiest and work upwards:

Level 1. Monkey-Cup Forest Trail

(Distance: 800 metres, Duration: 1 to 1.5 hours, 5 station stops)
This short and easy trail, suitable for all age groups, allows trekkers a glimpse of the flesh-eating plant known as the monkey cup or pitcher plant in English, or pokok periuk kera in Malay. Botanists describe the pitcher plant, which belongs to the Sarraceniaceae family, as having leaves modified into pitchers in which insects are trapped and digested by means of liquids secreted by the leaves. The plant is harmless however and some people in Sarawak even use the plant to cook rice in. Other uses of the pitcher plant are in the treatment of high blood pressure, diarrhoea, cough and fever.

Other trees along the trail are the nyatoh taban merah (the sap was once used as a colouring agent), the meranti melantai, keruing (its resin is used as a base for ointments, perfumes and paints), bertam, the calophyllum sp. (this plant holds a potential cure for AIDS, says the Forestry Dept) saga, kapur and rengas kerbau jalang (the tree produces an irritating black sap).

Level 2. Simpoh Gajah Trail

(1,240 metres, 2 to 2.5 hours, 7 station stops)
This trail is described as of average difficulty and is recommended for all ages. It is similar to Trail 1 but hikers pass through an area designated as virgin jungle reserve. This trail is named after the simpoh gajah, a tree whose stilt roots resemble the shape of an elephant's trunk. An interesting feature of this tree is the hissing sound it makes when its bark is cut. Trekkers get to see such a tree during the hike.

Level 3. Charcoal Kiln Trail

(2,980 metres, 3 to 4 hours, 10 station stops)
This trail is described as requiring some strenuous uphill walking and is recommended for physically fit trekkers. It takes you up to an altitude of 150m above sea level. Some of the plants hikers get to observe and learn about are the bayan, a species of palm which is used as food, the famous tongkat ali, gajah beranak, kacip fatimah, selaganilla, petai (a pungent pod), a big climber, commercially viable trees and a charcoal kiln built in the 50s.

The tongkat ali, also known as the local ginseng is taken as a health supplement, lowers high-blood pressure, and also serves as an aphrodisiac. Both gajah beranak and kacip fatimah are taken by women during post-natal recovery and for general good health. Petai is a popular ingredient in Malay and Nonya cooking. It can be eaten raw or cooked and is widely believed to have cleansing properties.

Level 4. Ridge Top Trail

(4,280 metres, 4 to 5 hours, 10 station stops)
This trail is categorised as demanding. This means that unless you are physically fit or have lots of stamina, you should not attempt this. Like Trail 3, this trail includes some steep hill climbing.described as requiring some strenuous uphill walking and is recommended for physically fit trekkers.

It follows Trail 3 until you pass the bayas palm, ascend upwards to 150 metres, then branch off eastward and ascend some more until you reach an altitude of 400m, or the ridge of the hill. You pass some pitcher plants before reaching an open area which overlooks a panoramic view of Telok Bahang. Then you head back towards the Forest Park via a buffalo logging trail.

Penang Hill Forest Challenge

(11.3 kilometres, 8 hours, 10 station stops
between Recreational Forest and Penang Hill) - Trail 5

This forest trail, called the Penang Hill Forest Challenge, is developed by the State Forestry Department. It starts at the Forest Park, winds through eight stops before reaching Bukit Laksmana and the permanent forest reserve. After reaching Western Hill, you continue your hike on a tarred jeep track until you reach the Upper Railway Station. From there you can use the jeep track to descend to the Botanical Gardens or Air Itam town (via Hye Keat). If you are too tired to walk down, you can always use the funicular railway. Apparently there are two ways of tackling this challenging trail. One is the tough version, which starts from the Forest Park and involves an uphill climb all the way. The other is the easier version, which starts from Western Hill and goes downhill until you reach the Forest Park. The distance between the Forest Park and the Penang Hill Top Station is approximately 11 kilometres.

Forest hikes are undeniably the best way of enjoying and appreciating natural wonders. Any number of people can participate and it doesn't cost very much. If you want to set up camp, it may be advisable to organise a team as heavy loads need to be carried over long distances. Don't forget to inform the friends/relatives before embarking.

For further enquiries, contact:
Pejabat Perhutanan Negeri Pulau Pinang
Tingkat 20, Menara KOMTAR, 10000 Pulau Pinang
Tel: 604-262 5272, 650 5250   Fax: 604-263 6335
Pejabat Renjer Hutan Telok Bahang: 604-885 1280
Museum Perhutanan Hutan Lipur Telok Bahang
Taman Rimba, Telok Bahang, 11050 Pulau Pinang
Tel: 604-885 2388   Email: jabatanp@sukpp.gov.my
The Forestry Museum is opened every day except on Eid-al-Fitr (Hari Raya Puasa) and Eid-al-Adha (Hari Raya Haji). 

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