Wildlifeof Malaysia
Places
Where to see Peninsular Malaysia's wildlife, from Taman Negara to the hills and coasts.
Why the central rainforest
The lowland dipterocarp forest at the heart of the peninsula is among the oldest rainforest on Earth. Taman Negara and the forests around it still hold tigers, elephants, Malayan tapirs, gaur and sun bears, plus hornbills, pittas, trogons and the great argus. Big mammals are shy and hard to see; birds, primates and night walks reward patience. Heavy rain from the north-east monsoon (roughly November to February) closes some trails and river routes.
Why the hills
The Titiwangsa range runs down the spine of the peninsula, and its old hill stations make montane forest easy to reach. Fraser's Hill and the Cameron Highlands are among the best birding sites in Southeast Asia, with laughingthrushes, barbets, trogons and the endemic Malayan whistling thrush. Siamangs call across the valleys at dawn. Cooler air, good roads and forest trails from the hotel door make them an easy first trip from Kuala Lumpur.
Why the north
Near the Thai border, the vast Belum-Temengor forest is one of the peninsula's last big wildernesses, with all ten of its hornbill species, elephants and tigers. Further west are the limestone hills of Perlis, where Thai and Malaysian species overlap, and the islands of Langkawi and Penang, with dusky langurs, colugos and some of the easiest rainforest walks in the country.
Why the south
Johor's forests include Endau-Rompin, a large park of lowland and hill forest with fan palms, waterfalls and some of the peninsula's rarest mammals, and Panti, a birding site known for its forest specialists. The southern tip at Tanjung Piai is mangrove, the southernmost point of mainland Asia and a wetland of international importance.
Why the coasts and wetlands
The west coast is lined with mangrove and mudflat, where tens of thousands of shorebirds spend the northern winter, smooth-coated otters hunt the channels and fireflies light up the river banks. Inland, old tin-mining lakes have become wetlands full of herons and storks. The east coast and its islands have coral reefs and turtle nesting beaches, with green and hawksbill turtles still nesting on protected beaches. Seasons matter: the east coast islands mostly close to visitors during the north-east monsoon.