Tanjung Malim may not be a well-known camping site in Malaysia. But Forest 8 Senses proved to be a refreshing campsite with a tranquil setting and wide river perfect for tubing.
This nature retreat in Perak boasts tall looming trees, providing the perfect canopy against the scorching tropical heat. The top-notch facilities, the pristine forest, and careful waste disposal methods make Forest 8 Senses an idyllic refuge from hectic city life.
If you wonder whether monkeys are good swimmers, wonder no more as this nature retreat near Ipoh embraces the jungle like no other!
About Forest 8 Senses Campsite
Opening its doors on 4 March 2024, Forest 8 Senses is a fairly new campsite that caters to novice and seasoned campers.
The campsite is divided into 3 areas namely forest camping, car camping and the camping area next to the river.
The trees in the camping area closest to the stream have lusher leaves as opposed to the trees in the forest. Hence, the campsite closer to the river is cooler and provides better coverage against the sun.
The trees are not your conventional types, looming more than 50 meters into the sky. Occasionally, monkeys dispose of the fruits they devour from the branches, hence raining fruit droppings on your tent.
This campsite is designed with families in mind with kid-friendly toilets and lower basins and sinks. This grants children better independence while allowing them to wash their plates and cutleries after meals.
At the center of the campsite is a fairly huge campfire for barbeque parties and chit-chat.
The stream next to the camp is wide and shallow with crystal clear water. If you watch intently you’ll find small fishes swimming along the river banks!
During our stay at the forest campsite, we were lucky to witness a pack of monkeys in a heated brawl. Besides, a group of 5 monkeys attempted to swim across the river. But to no avail due to the rising water after downpour.
At night, the ambiance lighting transforms the campsite into a mystical camping ground, accompanied by the soothing symphony of chirping crickets and bellowing frogs.
As a sign of respect to nature, lights are turned off at 10 pm every night and campers are advised not to make excessive noise thereafter.
In addition, the owner, Mr. Hong, and his crew stay on-site to assist campers.
Prioritizing campers' safety while embracing the less-than-predictable weather, the campground is built 5ft above the river. This eases any fear or risk of flooding or potential damage to property and cars.
Best of all, the river is covered by majestic trees with thick foliage. Thus, the river remains shaded even during the day's hottest hours.
Be forewarned that monkeys prowl the campgrounds. So be sure to stash away any food in boxes or inside your tent.
Small monitor lizards, beautiful bugs, and plenty of birds add to the diverse flora and fauna this tranquil campsite has to offer.
Accessibility To Forest 8 Senses, Tanjung Malim
To get to this jungle retreat near Selangor, key in Forest 8 Senses in Waze. This campsite is located an hour away from Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya.
Alternatively, you can board the KTM Komuter train and disembark at the Tanjung Malim stop. From here, it takes only 10 minutes via Grab to reach the campsite.
Due to its proximity to Kuala Lumpur, one of the senior campers whose tent collapsed from the heavy rain chose to drive home to Mont Kiara. The following day, they were back on site to re-pitch their tent.
Facilities At This Nature Retreat Near KL
There are ample plug points available for rent at RM15 per night. You’ll need a small fan to keep you cool during the daytime.
Come nightfall, enjoy the cool breeze, and don your jacket as the temperature dips further.
The toilets, bathrooms, and sinks are spotlessly clean. There’s also a large refrigerator for campers to store drinks. Campers are not allowed to store meat in the refrigerator for hygiene purposes.
If you’ve not invested in camping equipment, fret not as rental of tents and camping equipment is available. Should you choose not to stay overnight, Forest 8 Senses accepts booking for day trips too. As a testament to their love towards animals, the operators have 10 rescued cats which are housed within its premises.
Forest 8 Senses is a pet-friendly campsite. Be sure to inform them if you’re bringing along your doggo or feline friend during the booking process. Dogs must be leashed at all times and owners are to bring along poop bags and dispose of them accordingly.
Another plus point of this camping place is that it is located 8 minutes drive to a small town. Drive 10 minutes further and you’ll find civilization dotted with popular franchises like McDonalds, KFC, and Zus Coffee. If you’re not up to cooking, turn on your Grab app for Grab food delivery straight to the campsite.
The local ice cream man on his bike enters the premises to serve campers cooling delights perfect on sunny days.
The air is dense and humid in the forest. So you’ll find the campsite shrouded in mist after rain and early morning.
We also like that water does not stagnate on the surface but instead seeps into the ground. Thus you won’t find muddy puddles at the campsite.
However, the forest campsite was thriving with ants. Come nightfall, the mosquitoes prove to be a hungry lot. Lighting up 2 mosquito coils and zipping up the tent kept the mozzies at bay.
This camping site near Selangor is also erecting a bamboo surau hut for the comfort of Muslim campers.
Forest 8 Senses boasts an aesthetically pleasing 6-cubicle toilet allocated for males and females respectively.
The biggest toilet is wheelchair-friendly and has a seating toilet for an adult and children. The other 3 are equipped with a squat toilet and shower, while the 2 smaller cubicles have shower facilities only.
The largest toilet is fitted with a water heater thus making it easy to bathe and care for babies and toddlers. Water pressure is strong despite all 6 toilets running at full throttle.
The water is not piped from the river but is sourced from the adjacent Tanjung Malim water reservoir.
Washing Area
The washing area is at the center of the campsite and is closest to the car camping zone.
Most importantly, Forest 8 Senses has a designated container for campers to dispose of used cooking oil in the washing sink area.
This ensures that oil is not piped back into the ground or river, which is a major problem among many other campsites we’ve been to.
Cleanliness
The campgrounds at this nature retreat are clean with designated trash bins.
Activities
The kid-friendly shallow stream is the main highlight where kids and the young at heart can tube the whole day. You can even set up your chair in the river and enjoy the therapeutic gush of water that relieves aching muscles.
For hikers, a short 20-minute drive from the campsite will lead you to the Kuala Kubu Waterfalls and hiking trails.
Campsite Distance To Parking Area
River campsite campers can drive up to their campsite and park there. As for forest campsite campers, you can unload your gear at the campsite and move your vehicle to the designated parking spot thereafter.
Phone Coverage
Phone coverage is seamless for Maxis and Digi and you will not need a portable Wi-Fi. As for the other networks, we can’t attest to it, and neither can the operator guarantee their connectivity.
Price
Despite its upscale facilities, the price to rent a base (tapak) is modest and very affordable.
Pricing is differentiated according to the size of the campsite. The biggest campsite costs RM120 per night, mid-size at RM100 while the smallest costs RM80 per night. The price for a camper car is RM100 per night.
Conclusion
The allure of Forest 8 Senses is none other than its pristine beauty and wide, lazy stream perfect for tubing or extended hours of soaking.
This camping place in Perak is still in its infancy stages. With more comforts and amenities built progressively, we foresee Forest 8 Senses will be thronged by campers yearning to unwind in a verdant jungle.
We like that the campsite operator upholds sustainable practices that respect nature. The monkeys continue to frolic with unbridled care, and proper disposal of garbage ensures that primates source food in the wild without foraging food waste.
We applaud the management’s standards in keeping clean river water and its environment.
After all, a clean river that threads through a clean campsite attracts happy campers!
Address: Lot 24, Simpang Empat Dalam, 35900 Tanjong Malim, Perak
Contact: 012-811 8871
Link: Facebook
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