Info Wanted for Birding Bukit Tinggi and Genting Highlands, Malaysia (1 Viewer)

[Barbets48]

I will be making a trip to Kuala Lumpur in the coming month and would like to do a day trip of birding to a place within easy reach of the city. Would love to go to Fraser's Hill but the distance and time necessary is too much for this visit. I'm open to the possibility of a local guide which would definitely help for ID, but cost could be prohibitive.

I've found a good amount of info in terms of bird species possible at Bukit Tinggi and Genting Highlands, but I have some logistical questions I'd appreciate help with. At this point, I'd most likely plan to be taking a private car to one or both of these locations, probably driving up early in the morning and spending most of the day birding.

1. If I am not spending the night at one of the hotels, are the areas free to come and bird for outside birders? My understanding is that Bukit Tinggi has some gates along the road which may not open to the public until later in the morning for those not staying at the hotels (are they open access later in the day)? How about Genting Highlands? Would birding along the Pump house Trail or the area by the Radar Station (Gunung Ulu Kali) be possible just by driving in and parking along the road, and then walking the trails? Would those areas be accessible very early in the morning?

2. If I needed, what might be the rough cost for paying for a car with driver from Kuala Lumpur to Genting for the whole day?

3. Given the choice between birding the Genting area or Bukit Tinggi, which would be preferable in terms of bird species possible and ease of birding without a guide? I can see that Mountain Peacock-Pheasant is a specialty of Bukit Tinggi.

Thanks for any tips you can give,

Mike

 

[JLS]

I went to Fraser's Hill on a day trip from KL a few years ago, it did not require an excessively early start to get there by sunrise (which is around 7am), although I don't remember the exact time we left KL. I would not consider it infeasible.
That being said, Bukit Tinggi is also a great place. I also went there on a guided day trip, so I don't know about the gate situation.

If you do consider hiring a guide, I can warmly recommend Cheong Weng Chun, who in my opinion is a great bird guide.

 

[Steve Babbs]

Driving in Malaysia is very easy: just hire a car and drive yourself. We stayed at BT so not sure about getting in early but I know people have done it. I think there has been a recent thread on this.

 

[Nohatch]

Hi Mike,

Bukit Tinggi is an easy trip from KL and the traffic shouldn't be too much of a problem early morning. The site is freely accessible and you don't really need a guide as it's a small site with clear, wide paths and lots of overlooks (worthwhile for eye-level views of canopy species). If you need directions for the Peacock-Pheasant, feel free to DM.

Access is tricky first thing if you're not staying at the resort. There is indeed a barrier at the start of the access road and nowhere convenient to leave your car. When I arranged early access at the hotel they needed my room number, which suggests it's only for guests (it's one of their guards who mopeds down to let you in). I cannot remember when exactly they open the gate for the general public, but it's quite late...like 8 or 9 am.

Genting is incredibly built up....it's a weird hotel/casino/theme park area on top of a hill. I found navigating and finding parking there tricky outside the big hotel garages, but others may have more experience. Basically, when I showed up around noon the heavens opened and I could barely see 50m. Bukit Tinggi, being somewhat lower down, has more variety.

Personally, I would hire a cheap car and drive up the evening before. Stay at the funky faux-medieval resort and bird Bukit Tinggi for a full day. But I know the local tour companies in KL offer it as a drive & guide day trip (full day).

Good luck and have a great trip!
Joost

 

[Steve Babbs]

Bukit Tinggi is so naff that it's almost out of the other side. I do remember them only selling water in very small expensive bottles which was annoying. Food expensive by Malaysian standards but cheaper than UK. There's a bar but I suspect that would be expensive.

 

[Dave Boyle]

If you go into the little town of Bukit Tinggi, before you turn off the main road up the hill, there's a really good supermarket where you can stock up on everything you need before going up to the resort. There are two small 7-Elevens in the resort now, which I don't think used to be there, so you can get some stuff up there now - twice I had to raid the trolley when they were servicing a room to get more coffee!

 

[Nohatch]

The Colmar "resort" is something else for sure. Don't try the food....just don't. They even messed up a Margarita pizza. Location is gorgeous though