Return to Endau-Rompin National Park (Selai) with IIUM Riders

IIUM Riders are circles of riders made of my university alumni from International Islamic University where I did my engineering undergraduates study. Last year we rode to Fraser Hill, where the four of us camp for a night at Jeriau Waterfall. This time around, Asoi who had missed the last ride, pop the idea for another ride and Taman Negara Endau Rompin was selected.

The original plan is to ride to Kampung Peta, about 200km south of Kuala Lumpur but since the park is closed for maintenance until further notice, we settled for Selai, the park’s western entrance 17km from Lubuk Pacat. The first rendezvous point will be at Serdang rest area, where I’ll join Ibrahim & Zaki before we will meet Asoi at Bukit Kepong prior to lunch.

I departed from Rawang around 9.45am and the weather was clear with ambient temperature was around 30°C. The traffic heading to the city was clear and the highway surface was excellent. Riding through Plaza Tol Duta and exiting through exit 2302 to Seremban/Cheras was smooth and I arrived at Hentian Serdang around 10.40am.

Ibrahim with Zaki was already waiting at the rest area and after a quick chuckle we continue to ride south through E2. As it was a school holiday weekend, the traffic was heavy but still slowly moving along the north south expressway and the ambient temperature was around 34°C.

Zaki on Yamaha Y15Z

Ibrahim on Tiger 800 XR

We stopped for refuel at R&R Ayer Keroh as Zaki’s Y15Z range was only around 120km for a full tank of petrol.

Despite the hot weather, it was a smooth ride towards Exit Bukit Gambir around 12.47pm and continued through J33 towards Gerisek and Kundang Ulu. We made a right turn at J34 towards Bukit Kepong and making a left just after a bridge over Muar River for our lunch stop.

Warung Zie Resepi Mee Bandung Ketam
GPS N2.34687 E102.83919

Akashah, our alumni whom is from Muar was already waiting for us there and Zairul Hafiz (Asoi) arrived slightly later on his Wave 100 from Pagoh. I had this mee bandung ketam for RM24 for lunch.

After lunch, we said goodbye to Akashah and continued riding to Felda Maokil and made another stop at Petronas Felda Maokil for petrol. The road through Felda Maokil is a straight road with a slight elevation up to 70m offering magnificent views of the plantation plateau around Ladang Bukit Datuk and Chaah. We had a slight run of rain through here but it stopped as we approached J150 towards Bekok.

Asoi on Honda Wave 100

We arrived at the Park’s office in Bekok around 3.25pm for registration.

Endau-Rompin National Park Office at Bekok
GPS N2.29755 E103.13506
Campsite MYR 17/tent
Hike to Takah Pandan (for max 10 person per guide) MYR 200
Garbage Deposite MYR 50 (returned if campsite is clean & in order)

We continued riding towards Lubuk Merekek after 20 minutes and the weather was cloudy with ambient temperature was around 30°C.

The road surface was better than my last ride as sections with broken and botched tarmac was reduced with only around 15% of the entire 24km remains untreated.

We’ve passed through Kampung Kemedak around 4.15pm and a quick glance over to Sungai Kemedak shown the river was clear, signs that we have a good weather for the past couple of days.

The last 4km into the campsite was still a dirt road with some concrete and loose gravel surface at various climbing sections. We have finally arrived at Lubuk Merekek around 4.34pm and we began setting up our tents.

Lubuk Merekek
GPS N2.43170 E103.25389

Picture Credit to Ibrahim

Dinner for that night was oxtail curry with white rice and by 6.00pm everything was ready. There was a small group of tourists camping beside us and they are catered by a local guide.

Asoi seize the opportunity to sample out Ibrahim's Tiger

Dinner: white rice, oxtail curry & belacan with cucumber

Asoi brought us durian from his house.. what a combination, hot durian & cold river!

The Selai River by the campsite was crystal clear and very refreshing and we went diving and swimming until dark.

After dinner we chatted among ourselves and by this time Zaki said he was very cold and his body was aching.

I have suspected Zaki was having a mild fever. Around 10.00pm, Asoi prepared roti canai with coffee and by 11.00pm all of us retrieved to our tents while Asoi opted to sleep in a hammock.

Photo Credit to Asoi

I had a good night sleep and was awaken around 6.15am, the ambient temperature was around 20°C.

After Subuh prayer, we were visited by the caterer whom served the tourists and provided us with breakfast.

Around 8.30, our local guide came as promised yesterday. Zaki said he is not feeling well so he stayed while the three of us went hiking to Takah Pandan.

The weather was cloudy as went through Lubuk Tapah and hike along Selai River towards Takah Pandan. The word Takah means waterfall in Jakun language and there are 4 waterfalls hike-able from this site.

We took slightly more than an hour as our guide stopped a couple of times to explain about the surrounding trees including the most famous root in this country, which is Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia). Generally believed to provide extra energy and improve men’s blood circulation, it was the most sought after plant along the trail.

Picture Credit to Ibrahim

We went diving and swimming in the icy-cold water cascading from above 14 foot cliff and it was very refreshing.

Picture Credit to Asoi

After about 25 minutes of swimming, we went back through the same trail and it took us around 45 minutes on the return trip.

We have returned to campsite around 11.35pm and we began packing out tent and stuff. We went to the park’s office beside Lubuk Tapah for pictures and began riding out of Selai around 1.00pm, heading towards Bekok.

After collecting the garbage deposit, we went through the same route as yesterday towards Bukit Kepong to have lunch.

Warung Tok Nuar Baung Berapi
GPS N2.35884 E102.80897

Ibrahim & I went to buy durian at the roadside and at RM8/kg for D101, it is a good price.

After lunch and a quick prayer break at a mosque beside the stall, we went back to Bukit Gambir. It has started to rain from Bukit Kepong through Kundang and it was dark as we arrived at Shell Bukit Gambir. We said goodbye to Asoi here as he’ll continue towards Bukit Rambai and we need to get back to Klang Valley.

It was raining all the way from Bukit Gambir through Senawang and the traffic was very bad, as it is the end of the school holiday week. The rain eased off from Seremban and when I rode through Nilai it was completely dry. The traffic was again heavy after KLIA and I have finally arrived home around 7.00pm.

The ride went smooth without any incidents despite the heavy traffic and downpour on the return leg. The overnight camp felt too short for me to rekindle our memories during our undergraduates program but it is enough for the relationship to last for many years to come.

Ride snippets
Riders: 
1. Myself - Kawasaki Versys 650
2. Cikgu Ibrahim Zulkifli – Triumph Tiger 800 XR
3. Zaki – Yamaha Y15R
4. Zairul Hafiz – Honda Wave 100

Distance: 678km
Duration: 2 days
Petrol: RM90
Date: 24-25th March 2018

Average moving speed: 77km/h
Lowest temperature: 20°C (Campsite)
Highest temperature: 36°C (Bukit Kepong)