Tasik Bera, or Lake Bera, in the southwest of Pahang, is Malaysia’s first Ramsar Site. Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance recognised through a UNESCO treaty and named after the Iranian city where the treaty was signed. In other words Tasik Bera is a globally important wetland. Malaysia’s largest freshwater swamp-lake system is surrounded by forests and agricultural estates, which are the traditional lands of the Semelai Orang Asli people. Tasik Bera is one of the Malaysia’s seven Ramsar wetland sites, and the country’s second-largest wetland with a protected area of 38,446 ha.

The lake is a shallow and seasonal river system that flows into the Pahang River at Kuala Bera. While the actual lake only forms a small part of the total river catchment, it has huge ecological and economic importance. Its catchment covers 60,000 ha and supports four different wetland types - Pandanus- Lepironia swamp, peat swamp forest, freshwater swamp and secondary swamp. Fishing for some 100 species is important to the locals and a popular activity among the tourists. There are a total of 200 birds and 50 mammal species have been identified here. Tasik Bera is less than five metres deep, and thick clumps of pandanus plants thrive in and around the lake. Pandanus leaves are harvested by the Semelai and used in many ways, from building materials to handicrafts.

Visitors can get close to the lakeside vegetation by hiring a boat from the Semelai. The local people traditionally fished and hunted here, but now most of them are farmers. However, some still source forest products with one important commodity being oleo-resin from the native Keruing tree. The Semelai cut the bark and use fire to allow the resin to flow from the cut. Known as minyak keruing, it is used for caulking boats, lighting, medicines as well as an essential oil for perfumes. Access to the lake is restricted to a few locations, with Jeti Sudin on the lake’s northern perimeter being the best site and venue to enjoy the basic facilities offered at Pengkalan Sudin Homestay. The homestay especially appeals to those who enjoy fishing.

Tourist Centre Directories In Bera

Rompin State Park is a vast expanse of pristine lowland forest that adjoins a similarly large forest in neighbouring Johor. The combined park has two sections, with the Pahang Park Headquarters located at Sungai Kinchin Base Camp, 35 km from Kuala Rompin. This remote and rugged park of 870 km2 is mostly a wilderness, with the only infrastructure around park headquarters. Facilities here are good, with chalet
accommodation, an interpretation centre, campsite, suspension bridge and an observation tower. Visitors can experience the magic of the rainforest with its towering trees, wild rivers and the 50 m-drop of Seri Mahkota Waterfall.

The Rainforest Discovery Centre has an interactive interpretation display with detailed information on the park’s flora and fauna, including the giant fan palm, Livistona endauensis. Birds like hornbills, kingfishers and pheasants are just part of the 250 species recorded here. Well-prepared adventurers can head upstream to remote camping sites and mountain summits. Guided walks with a local Jakun Orang Asli are highly recommended, especially for jungle treks into the remote areas. Fishing is possible along the Kinchin and Kemapan Rivers.

Rompin State Park official website - https://rompinpark.my/ 

"Its shafts and subterranean tunnels reached depths of between 450 meters to 650 meters, reputedly the deepest in South East Asia."

In the early 1900, Sungai Lembing was a hive of activities where businesses of every kind of mushroomed and prospered. The main activity then was tin mining. Sungai Lembing in fact boasted itself is having the second richest tin deposit in the world and the biggest underground tin mine in the world. Its shafts and subterranean tunnels reached depths of between 450 meters to 650 meters, reputedly the deepest in South East Asia. The mine was a complex of underground tunnels estimated to be some 322 kilometers long if joins together. Sungai Lembing was however abandoned when tin prices fell sharply during the late sixties, and the result, most of the town folks left for greener pastures.

Sungai Lembing can be reach from Kuala Lumpur heading east to Kuantan using West East Highway. It takes about 3 hours to reach Kuantan interchange. Exit from the here and follow the sign board to Sungai Lembing. It takes another 45 -60 minutes to reach the town. From Kuantan, take Indera Mahkota road and onwards to the Kuantan bypass. Follow the road sign (about 50km) and you be in Sungai Lembing in 1 hour.

Top Activities In Sungai Lembing

• Hanging Bridge
  Sungai Lembing has a few hanging bridges to connect people from the other side of the river to the main town. 'Jambatan Gantung' means hanging bridge and it is used by the local to walk and you can even ride a motobike on this bridge. If you are planning on seeing the rainbow, you need to plan ahead and start on your journey early, as it can only be seen in the morning. It will take around 1 hour drive on 4W drive and another 45 minutes trekking to the fall. The trail is well-signposted and it will lead your way to the waterfall.

Contact Rainbow Waterfall Association : + 6014-828 2453

• Gunung Tapis Park
  It is about 16 kilometers away from Sungai Lembing. It provides excellent opportunities for the more adventurous to shoot the rapids on rafts. Camping sites are available for visitors, who can have side activities like jungle trekking, bird watching or simply soaking themselves in the natural hot-springs.

Contact Pesona Adventure Camp : + 6014 - 828 7121

• Charah Caves

The Gua Charah (Charah Caves) complex, along the Sg. Lembing Road about 25 kilometers away from Kuantan is hidden in the hills surrounded by the Pancing Plantations. About 1,000 meters above sea level, the complex is believed to be a site of early human settlement that dates back to prehistoric times. Eight separate caves make up the Gua Charah complex that spreads over an area of 92 hectares. One of them, Gua Buddha or Gua Gelap, is home to an 8.1 meter long statue of reclining Buddha. It was discovered by a monk named Tham Achran Sakatapunya in the 1950s. the others are Gua Batu Nesan Raja, Gua Pecah, Gua Gajah, Gua Tiga Beradik, Gua Puteri Bersikat, Gua Lubang Dalam and Gua Lubang Hidung. Gua Gelap is open to the public since 1972. Apart from the famous statue of reclining Buddha, the rock hills that house the cave resemble a bearded man, a couple with a child, and an eagle. These rock formations are believed to be landmarks that provide useful guides to sailors plying the area. Gua Charah is still surrounded by mysteries. Apart from the complex's unresolved origins, a mysterious 2-meter wide tunnel was recently discovered. Estimated to be between four to five kilometers long, the tunnel connects the cave to Bukit Pecah Batu.

• Sungai Lembing Museum

• Pasir Puteri River

• Sunrise Hill

• 3D Gallery Sungai Lembing

Pahang's Mystical Gem

Located about 85 kilometres from Kuantan, Lake Chini is Malaysia's second biggest natural freshwater lake, with an area of 12.565 acres; Lake Chini consists of 13 interconnecting water bodies, each with its own charateristics. Historians believe that Lake Chini is the site of an ancient Khmer city but the local folks, on the other hand, believe that the mysterious lake is guarded by a Loch Ness type monster named Naga Sri Gumum . There were reports of occasional sightings of the monster but unfortunately they were not scientifically proven.

Lake Chini is blessed with vast treasures of nature, which is rich in biological resources. There are 138 species of territorial flora, 300 species of non-aquatic vertebrates and 144 species of freshwater fish. Thousand of white and pink water lilies will emerge on the lake from August through September, transforming the lake into a floating multi-coloured garden.

On the fringe of the lake, especially at Kampung Gumum, there is a large concentration of the aborigines of the Jakun tribe. They still live their old traditional ways and fine woodcarvings and blowpipes are available to visitors.