Anybody know how to get to Ken Waterfalls at Kota Tinggi?
I was chatting with a friend over on MSN a couple of weeks back and we decided that after their school term ends in May, we will be putting down everything we have to do and go for a (very) short trek together.
After exchanging a few emails with the group, we figured most of us wanted a trek where we could just nuah (relax!) in the waterfalls, and isn’t too physically demanding. In the past, we always chose Lumbong (Pelepah) falls for a quick no-need-to-plan weekend getaway, but word has it that now there is a need of a permit (which costs money!) to enter the grounds, and we are not allowed to camp overnight there anymore.
So, the discussion brought us to the idea of exploring Ken waterfalls in Kota Tinggi. According to the BOAC website (that seems to be the only agency doing a trip there now), it seems to be a fairly easy trek - sounds even easier than Pelepah, with less than an hour of uphill trekking.
But the issue is that there doesn’t seem to be any resources online about where exactly the trail is, the administrative procedures (if necessary), how to get there and the condition (or availability) of a campsite.
Anyone been to Ken waterfalls before? Care to share some details?
March 30th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
Visit Shi Hengcheong
The idea to “nuah” at a newly discovered waterfall so near home is great!
And I like the physically not demanding part too. Please count me in. Can?
March 30th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Visit Kian Ann
Shi, I think the first trip there would be a very… “recce” type of trip, cos we’ve never been there ourselves. You want to come along? If not, I can always do up another trip.
March 31st, 2007 at 12:12 am
Visit Shi Hengcheong
On lah! When?
I’ll make sure I’m physically fit enough to do the recce mission.
Technically, I am equipped - got an old GPS and an engineer compass. So I can help to do the mapping.
April 1st, 2007 at 11:47 pm
Visit Kian Ann
Hey Shi,
We are planning for 12 - 13 May!
April 11th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
Visit Bob
Ken waterfalls? Is that the full name?
April 12th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Visit Kian Ann
Hey Bob, there is only one agency that goes there (BOAC), and they call it Ken waterfalls, just that.
Its sounds weird actually - considering that it is not a very well known trek, but it has an English name. Even treks like Berkelah doesn’t have an English name ;P (Or does “Ken” mean something in Malay?)
April 23rd, 2007 at 6:18 am
Visit viajero
Which are the ideal places in Singapore to realize Treaking and other extreme sports as the rafting?
April 23rd, 2007 at 6:25 am
Visit Kian Ann
Hey Viajero,
Unfortunately, Singapore is a *very* small country, and we don’t have big rivers, so most of us actually travel up to Malaysia, or down to Indonesia when we look for extreme sports!
May 1st, 2007 at 6:14 pm
Visit bernard
hi kian ann,
is the recce trip to ken waterfall confirmed to be 12-13 may 07? if it is, i am considering to tag along, if u r all right with it….
bernard
May 1st, 2007 at 7:25 pm
Visit Kian Ann
Hey Bernard,
Unfortunately, after some discussion, we decided not to go to Ken already - really got no idea at all where the place is.
May 1st, 2007 at 9:13 pm
Visit bernard
i must say boac somehow managed to keep this ken waterfall a secret. worse to worse, i’ll join boac and find out exactly where is this ken waterfall. :-p
May 2nd, 2007 at 1:56 am
Visit Kian Ann
Hahah.. Bernard! When you do make it to Ken with BOAC, do let me know! Bring me there!
May 3rd, 2007 at 12:13 am
Visit bernard
once i have the info, definitely not a problem to let the secret out of the bag. but on the condition that ken waterfall is that nice for me to go again. :-p
May 3rd, 2007 at 12:15 am
Visit Kian Ann
Well that is true Bernard. It really stinks to know that some campsites are really full of litter and decomposing food.
May 6th, 2007 at 3:14 am
Visit tjan
hi, i just found your blog. am a trekking enthusiast who unfortunately haven’t got much trekking done.. like when i was schooling got no money, now work already got money no time. so will be interested to join the pool of trekking kakis… short trips to m’sia preferred. btw, so sad to hear the lombong waterfalls closed to camping. had good memories going there with nus rovers, then few yrs later organised a trip there with some frens. btw, can you send me the details for an ophir trek? planning to go there in next 6 months but working out the details. thanks!
May 6th, 2007 at 11:53 am
Visit carlo
Hi, i been reading your post regarding Ken waterfalls and same as you i really wanted to visit the place. I love to do some exploration on Ken waterfalls but info is too limited. I have managed to talked to the chief ranger of Kota tinggi and he dont know this waterfalls. Is there a way we could buy a topographic map of Kota tinggi? we need this for the exploration of Ken waterfalls, this would be a big help for the exploration trip. Thanks in advance for your help and if ever you would like to push thru with your Ken waterfalls trip pls. count me in, ill be willing to help you find the place.
May 6th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
Visit Kian Ann
Hey Tjan, sure I will email you the details for Ophir - need to go and dig my files, so maybe tomorrow I email you ya?
Carlo - Hahah! Looks like we have a whole team waiting to go to Ken.
June 17th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
Visit Rachel
Heya. Used to work at BOAC and woah no it’s not that the company tried to keep it a secret, just that it’s not easy to publish the details. Just getting to the trailhead is a mini 4wd adventure navigating the maze of logging trails. If you ask the company to bring you there for free, of course cannot be done lah, people running a business mah. But if you manage to get hold of the trek leaders then it’s a different story. Btw, it’s no longer a 1-hr trek to the waterfall as parts of the logging trail are broken and not passable by vehicle, have to trek 1hr+ in. Oh, Ken is the full name & coined by the peeps who ‘found’ it since there’s no local name, the locals don’t seem to know about it.