Avian Birding Site Sept 2025 - Endau Rompin Forest Reserve Johor

 This is the one of the virgin tropical rainforest in peninsula. You can stay in the Rompin State Park when you are there.  It is fortunate that it was gazetted as a permanent Forest Reserve in 2000 covering an area of 31,800 hectares managed by Perhilitan It is about 3.5-4.5 hours journey from Kuala Lumpur depending on the driving speed vie Senawang NSE or thru the Ulu Langat trunk road to winding  Ulu Klawang passing Telapa Buruk "Hornbill valley" reaching  Keratong then detour thru Bandar Muadzam to reach Kuala Rompin.  We just follow Waze or Google map for guidance to avoid traffic. In our case  otw back we followed the trunk road as the Seremban NSE was expected to be jammed up during the weekend. Pity the people sitting behind the car though; with speed my driver was taking on the winding hilly stretches I have to bear with it.  

I wish to thank AT for the wonderful 3day/2nite itinerary. The total trip cost only about RM700 per pax for a group of 3. I enjoyed the good food there too.

We stayed in for a day  but you still have to pay entrance fees of RM 30 for adult whilst Senior resident  pays half. Birding here is wild; encountering elephant and black panther happened before. So don't be surprise if you encounter elephant dungs or cat growl when you are in the trails. It  is compulsory to hire a bird guide at RM250 per group to go birding in the various trail. The guide are trained with parang and air horn on standby just in case we do encounter wild animals. Compared to  Merapoh this is cheap. However there is no bird hide for now which I hope they will create one or two to attract birds for armchair birders. Currently the bird list is about 270  species which will climb to 300 as more is recorded. 

Our target bird in the trip  was the Cinnamon Headed Pigeon which is a sure sighting here. Any other rarity like Rufous-tailed Sharma, Hooded Oriole,  Cinnamon rumped Trogon and Large Wrenbabbler; Rufous bellied Eagle, Japanese Sparrow hawk and Van Hasselt's Sunbird or even Short-toed Coucal will be a bonus. 

Food wise you must try out :-
Udang Galah Simpang Tiga Chondong 

UdangGalah in a bowl RM35

Udang Galah meal is a must when in Rompin. These big head are caught from river tributaries nearby. The prawn is graded in size; the A size can cost a whooping RM35 a piece; we picked the RM35 a bowl of 6 pieces of grade B/C prawns in tomato chilli sauce and kunyit curry. There is also set meal of 1 kg of prawns for 4-5 persons costing only RM145. 

The shark fish skin was good till the last sauce

Another Chinese Restaurant in Rompin that we  highly recommend is Rest FuManLou Seafood. Though a bit pricey their dishes are unique. Its serving is small but fulfilling till we add rice to go with its sauce.

Stayin in RSP is quite pleasant and serene during off peak and weekdays. They cater to groups of family in chalets  2-5 pax and bigger group in hostel like dorm. Costing as low as RM350 for 2 with full 3 meals.

The meals is quite sumptuous and generous with self-served coffee and tea. If there is more than 10 patrons they will serve  buffet style meals. On our check-in they serve set  lunch as shown in picture. I would rate it highly @ 3/5 stars in term of variety of 10 dishes and quantity. In the evening we were lucky that another group came and we have enuf quorum for buffet dinner setting. 

There are several trail for birding chalet trail, waterfall trail and along the main entrance road. Here are some photos we managed to shoot. Many of the encounter are at high storey top canopy except the babblers. We also manage to do owling in the night and the collared scoped was responsive and friendly.

Rufous-tailed Sharma

Japanese SH

 

Yuhina

Cinnamon?

Lesser Racquet-tailed

Orange bellied

Hairy-backed

Crested Goshawk

Common KF

Changeable White morph

Stripe tit

Grey-headed canary

Treeswift