Kukup Island National Park
Pulau Kukup National Park is the second largest uninhabited mangrove forests in the world. It is located at the most southern part of Johor, 1 kilo meters offshore the main land. In the interest of preserving its unique habitat, Kukup Island was gazetted a national park at 1997 under the Johor State Park Corporation Enactment 1989. The aim of the national park is to preserve the natural ecosystem of the island, which is a home to abundance of flora and fauna.
The island was declared a “Wetland of International Importance” or RAMSAR Site by Geneva- based Ramsar Convention Bureau in 2003. The island shelters an extraordinary array of wetland-associated plant and animal life. Concealed by the dense foliage, the sound of the residential birds can be heard echoing though the woods. The abundant vegetation is a magnet for many kind of creatures, from the playful mud skipper and the industrious crab, to the wild boar and the monkeys.
The boardwalk of the national park provides a scenic and easy walk through the forest. It is built with five levels of elevated platforms, enabling a bird’s-eye view of the island in its entirety.
This island is shrouded in legends of princesses and curses. A local folklore tells the tale that Pulau Kukup was an abode for five celestial princesses. Their peaceful existence was shattered when one of them fell in love with a sailor eloped. A curse befell the island and it was submerged by the sea. The island later resurfaced, but it was covered in mangroves. Many have tried to live on the island, but none last long. Rumor has it because the island is the gateway to the spirit world.
Image by: Pulau Kukup Johor National Park FB
Operating Hours
Monday – Saturday: 9.00 a.m – 5.00 p.m
Sunday: 9.00 a.m – 1.30 p.m
Admission
Adult
With MyKad: RM 5.00
Without MyKad: RM 10.00
Child
With MyKad: RM 3.00
Without MyKad: RM 5.00
Hear From Others
For me, Kukup Island National Park is high light of the trip and should not be missed. It has one of the world largest enclave of mangroves. The world tallest mangrove tree, and the mangrove tree with the highest root can both be found in the park. The walk on the mini suspension bridge was exhilarating/exciting, and the view from the top floor of observation tower was very refreshing!
HuanKee
RememberOldDays
The view from the top of the four floor observation tower was really a highlight of the trip. Looking out across the mangroves – whose branches and leaves have a very distinct look compared to regular jungle – we were impressed by the size of the island. It’s good to see that it is largely unspoilt and that even the hiking trails touch only a small part of it. You can see from the GPS trail below just how much of the island we covered.
If u r looking for a cheap weekend getaway with great seafood, maybe this is not a bad idea. I just feel we are so lucky that there are many interesting stuffs in Malaysia. Which many of us take it for granted. Need to teach the kids to learn to appreciate the green grass in our own country 😉
mellymilly
ChitChatOverCoffee
Nearby Attractions
Atv Park Johor
ATV Park Johor is located at the UTM Recreational Forest, Skudai. The place offers outdoor activities such as ATV rides, Paintball, Soft gel, Nerf, Archery Tag, Bubble Soccer, Sumo and Jungle Trekking.The park offers 26 ATV for the those who wants to ride.
Tanjung Piai National Park
Tanjung Piai is a cape located in Pontian, Johor. The name Tanjung Piai is derived after a local fern, known as the “Paku Piai’. The Tanjung Piai National Park covers 526 hectares of mangroves and another 400 hectares of inter-tidal mudflats. It is an interesting place to visit due to its many unique features.
Gunung Pulai
Gunung Pulai is a 654 meters tall mountain located in Kulai, Johor. It is also a dipterocarp forest highland. It is also a famous spot for mountain climbers. Besides mountain climbing, the mountain offers attractions such as Pulai Waterfall and Mount Pulai Recreational Forest 1 and 2. The visitors can indulge in activities such as swimming, picnicking, trekking and strolling there.