Ride Around Krau Wildlife Reserve, Pahang

Krau wildlife reserve is one of four reservation areas for wild life animals in Peninsular Malaysia. Covering areas around 154181.40 acre, the park is located in Titiwangsa mountain range in Pahang and it is one of the oldest wildlife reserve as it is established in 1923 and was gazetted again in 1965 and 1968.

Malayan Gaur

This reservation area is designated to protect Gaur or Indian bison species which inhabits Krau river valley areas and there is a research station in Kuala Lompat to study on primates, bats and birds. Benom Mountain is it highest peak in and there are three rivers that flows from this area that are Krau River, Lompat River and Teris River.

Riding around a wildlife reserve always fascinate me as it offers good riding atmosphere of the jungle edge with lovely bends and turns.

My route around this area looks like this

It is still dark when I leave home that morning around 6.45am and heads to Kampung Hulu Yam.
It is here that the weather started to change to light rain and it is cold, foggy and wet by the time I reached Gohtong Jaya.

The road was very slippery and streams of water crosses the road from the heavy rain made my riding very slow around 60km/h going downhill towards Genting Sempah.

My riding apparels were fully utilized here as it is cold and wet outside and still dry and hot on the inside. By the time I reach Karak tollgate, the rain has subsided and I continue riding towards Temerloh exit.

A left turn just before reaching the town of Kuala Krau sent me through a small road of C141 that cuts through a lot of small villages with interesting names.

Modernized orang asli settlements are also visible throughout this stretch which offers a lot bends and hidden corners.

I had breakfast at a small warong in Kampung Ulu Cheka.

The route started to widen after a right turn in Damak towards Benta. I made a quick detour into Hutan Lipur Jeransang and rode on to the end of tarmac. The park seems deserted with the road gets smaller as you get deeper into the area and up to a point the overgrown plantation has made it even worse.

I continued my ride towards Kampung Budu and C159 where lovely bends and good condition small road is available. Although not as scenic as the route from Sungai Koyan to Tanah Rata, this route offers a good alternatives as riding through palm oil plantation and edge of forest reserve.

From there I continued through Sungai Ruan and finally reach Lembau Klau. I turned left towards Lata Berembun through Kampung Baru Sungai Chalit.

I tried to navigate the offroad track but deep waterholes filled with water and mud from the morning heavy rain stopped me halfway through it. I am not fully prepared for offroad challenge today and it is too risky to get through all that by myself. So I double back and continue to C149 and C138 towards Bentong.

Benom Mountain covered in clouds

I went back through Karak highway and made it back home around 3.00pm
This route is a good route for a day’s ride and if one is planning for a longer ride, camping in one of the available recreational parks or falls may be a good idea.

Towards the end of this post, what was in the boxes that I’ve carried throughout this journey?

Two side panniers and one top box full of Durian and purple mangosteen from Damak, Raub


Ride snippets
Rider: Mohd Rashidin
Distance: 430km
Duration: 8 hours
Petrol: RM55
Date: 9th August 2015