About – Explo-cave Merapoh

ABOUT

Unveiling the wonders of Merapoh

Apa khabar?

Muhammad bin Othman, locally known as Mat is the owner and operator of the Explo-Cave Merapoh. Born and raised in Merapoh, Pahang, Mat witnessed the changes in the landscape he grew up in. Lush forests, quiet kampungs (villages) with small hold paddy farms, and cool weather gave way to commodity plantations and highways.

Now, he guides tourists, both local and foreign to the natural wonders within his landscape. Equipped with a nature guide license from the Ministry Tourism and Culture, he brings people into forests, caves, and streams alike.

Mat lives and works within the landscape of Merapoh, Pahang. Quaint kampungs pepper the land, with tracts of forests, plantations, and orchards forming an interwoven tapestry. Along your journey through Merapoh, jutting outcrops of white limestone karsts are the most distinctive features of the land. You may also chance upon signs of Taman Negara Sungai Relau, one of the entrances to Taman Negara.

During the non-monsoon season (February – September), Mat brings adventurers into the forests of Taman Negara. Travelling on dirt footpaths, the sounds of the forests are glaringly loud, birdsong, insect chirps, and the rustle of leaves fill your senses.

Along the riverbank, you might come across footprints of wildlife such as deers, wild boars, tapirs, and even elephants. For the very lucky few, the sounds of whomping in the air preludes the arriving of the mighty rhinoceros hornbill.

For those who seek a different adventure, Mat is very familiar with the limestone caves in the area. With the vast variety of caves, you can always find one that caters to your level of fitness, age, and desire for challenges. Some caves take only an hour or two to traverse its entire length, a relative walk in the park, albeit in total darkness. Other caves require you to use both your hands and legs, and you may get wet, or muddy, or both. Teamwork and cooperation is a must for the more challenging caves.

This website is produced as part of a project supported by the Michelin Corporate Foundation in France, and implemented by the grantee, the Malaysian Nature Society. The project, titled ‘Mobilising Local Rubber Community for Tiger Action in Malaysia’, aims to pivot local economic activities from unsustainable extractive activities to sustainable and environmentally friendly sources of livelihoods.

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