PENANG NATIONAL PARK

7) Teluk Kampi

Teluk Kampi has the longest beach in the park. Tell signs of trenches were found along the northern coast indicating a defense post for the Japanese Army. Historically this could be the best landing place for seafarer. There are many artifacts and past history to be found if one is to venture further.

Flora: The beach is long and plants are aplenty ranging from rocky bonsai to timber and herbal plants. Wild orchids found on steep rocky slopes are common. An old fruiting pokok malacca can be found along the beach. The tree bear fruits throughout the year welcoming hikers to refresh their taste buds.

Fauna: Fish are wild. Campers will never have to bring food if they care to fish. Wild boar and some wild cats have been sighted. A couple of sea otters can be seen basking on the beach from afar.

Tourism: - A stroll from one end of the beach to the other offered a sweeping panorama over the blue ocean far beyond. Lazing on this isolated beach, the distant skyline with passing steamers and setting sun guarantee to refresh and charge up your life again.

How to reach there:

This is the furthest beach from any starting point. There are several trails that can lead to Teluk Kampi. The most common is the one from Pantai Kerachut over Tanjung Kerachut and down to Teluk Kampi. Use trail 1A-6A-6B-6D-6E-8A-8B-8C.

8) Pantai Mas

Pantai Mas is a golden beach. It was a beautiful beach until the pig farm at Pantai Acheh village polluted it with muddy discharge from the farm. The beach still looks ˇ°goldenˇ± with the golden sand if not for the enormous amount of rubbish. Being very close to civilization, mud and mangrove create a wilderness few people would like to go. The difficulty to access Pantai Mas by sea could be the reason why dwellers abandoned their homes here.

Flora: Formally a coconut plantation, it is now a wasteland overgrown with lalang and other undergrowth. Strangely not too distant from the coast a whole colony of nepenthes manages to survive the coastal habitat. The muddy seabed also helps mangrove trees to propagate. The soft wood sea hibiscus with the yellow flowers has flourish right to the edge of the beach.

Fauna: Lizards are common. Aroids and some exotic ornamental plants can be found. A resident otter family can be seen every day along the mangroves. Mousedeers, civet cats and small mammals are found in the interior.

Tourism: With muddy seabed and difficult accessibility by boat, Pantai Mas is an adventure beach. Here streams run throughout the year.

How to reach there:

Access to and from the sea to Pantai Mas was by means of small fishing boats during high tides. The next access is through the overgrown trails from United Hokkien Cemetry or the longer ridge trail starting from Teluk Bahang. The easier walking trail will be from Pantai Acheh village. It takes about 45 minutes. Use trail 15A-15B-15C.

The Hills

The vast stretch of hills stretching from Teluk Bahang to Pantai Acheh holds great potentials for adventure and tourism. It has undulating topography with ravines and little valleys and hills of irregular height linked by ridges. It is through these ridges that many trails crisscrossed each other to form an intervene web of trails in the park. The highest point is Batu Itam at 1500 feet on the southern flank of park. Bukit Telaga Batu is about 1100 feet and has potential folklore of a 6 inches deep well on a boulder on top the western flank of the hill. The magnificent serviceable lighthouse stands majestically on the Muka Head peak of 700 feet is still faithfully guiding seafarers into our Penang's water. The hill practically joins to form a ridge bisecting the park into West and East. It is fortunate that a dam has been built on the southern east of park providing the needed buffer zone whereby rich flora and fauna will thrive. The eastern side of the park is therefore a vital water source. This area should be a protected area for wild species against human intrusion. Most of the hills remind us of clear skys and dark forest, of steep climbing and flat terrains, of slippery leaflets, of large boulders, of cheerful friends shared by a common memories of pain and fun. Perhaps this could be the only place where hikers are free to roam in Penang.

The Safari

Each evening looking out on the distant setting sun, the raptors make their final catch before going back to the tall seraya trees. Hovering and guiding gracefully above and making a dashing dive, and emerging with a catch or two seem much more enjoyable than seeing caged exotic wildlife imported from far away places. This is best natural safari.

Resort

At present there is not much resort facilities at the park. The only available accommodation is at Sungai Tukun. Other beaches are suitable for camping. However, permission is needed for camping.

Tourism

Tourism forms the basis of northern Penang's economy, to which the park make a significant contribution. The beach tours were adequately promoted on the sun, sand and sea. The variety of unexpected sights offered by the coastline, the greenery, the greyish canopy tree tops, the acrobatic raptors, the golden beaches combed with fresh sea breeze, can be fully appreciated while on a boat.

Conclusion

Under the shadow of the Penang National Park, all wild life dwells. It is the last wilderness in Penang and must be preserved at all cost at its present state to face the constant challenges to that very distracting force seeking to pit against nature called development. With vibrant beauty, all flora and fauna sing in harmony and invoke us to treat them with love and care. Nature has so extravagantly bestowed upon us this last wilderness called Penang National Park.

Visit Photo Galleries for pictures of Penang National Park.

Take care!
Forest Ang

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