Franz ElizThere’s a rainforest in KL city that welcomes both tourists and locals: KL Forest Eco Park. Also known as Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve or Hutan Simpan Bukit Nanas, KL Forest Eco Park is a great place to enjoy nature without even leaving the city.
Located at Bukit Nanas, KL Forest Eco Park has been opening its gates since 1906. It aims to provide the public with a recreational area where they can unwind in nature or spend time with their loved ones. The park’s canopy walkway is its main highlight, but picnics and camping are also popular.
KL Forest Eco Park is one of the oldest forest reserves in Malaysia. It’s also the only rainforest in the middle of Kuala Lumpur city. Keep reading to learn more about the park.
A Forest Reserve in Kuala Lumpur With a Canopy Walkway
Do you know that the KL Forest Eco Park is one of Malaysia’s oldest permanent forest reserves? It’s located at Bukit Nanas, which is just a stone’s throw away from the KL Tower. If you’re going to the KL Tower, it may be a good idea to visit the KL Forest Eco Park as well.
The following explores the forest reserve in more detail:
You Can Walk From KL Tower to the KL Forest Eco Park
Since the KL Forest Eco Park and KL Tower are located within the same area, you can easily visit them on the same day. Even if you stop by the animal zoo and the Upside Down house nearby, you’ll have time. Consider starting your day trip early so that you won’t need to rush.
Unless you plan to visit the KL Tower in the evening – and maybe have your dinner there – I suggest visiting the KL Forest Eco Park after your trip to the KL Tower. Going to the park first thing in the morning is also a good idea as the morning weather isn’t too hot.
The KL Forest Eco Park has 3 entrances: E1, E2, and E3. The entrances are as follows:
- E1: gate near Bukit Nanas Convent
- E2: gate at the park’s head office, which is at Jalan Raja Chulan (near the Telekom Museum)
- E3: gate at the KL Tower
It makes sense to enter from the park’s head office if you’re going to or coming from the Telekom Museum. Otherwise, you may enter from the KL Tower. I prefer entering from the KL Tower as I find it more convenient for me.
To enter from the KL Tower’s entrance, walk up the hill and you’ll find the park’s entrance on your left-hand side. If you’re coming down to the park from the KL Tower, the park will be on your right-hand side.
International Tourists Might Find the Entrance Ticket Expensive
I was surprised to see the price of the international tourist adult ticket. I thought it was quite expensive. No wonder many tourists complained about it. But it is what it is. The guy at the ticket counter jokingly told me and my friends that foreigners can get the local price if they can speak Malay.
I only had to pay RM10 since I’m an MYKAD holder; in other words, Malaysian. Some locals would consider RM10 expensive, though.
You Can Get the Park’s Digital Map at the Ticketing Counter
After getting our tickets, the park’s staff at the ticketing counter asked me and my friends to scan the QR code for the park’s map. He didn’t give us any paper map. So, we scanned the code and used the digital map to guide us.
I’m not sure if the other entrances have the QR code, but they should have. Even without a digital map, visitors can refer to the physical map within the park. I’m not sure how many there are; I only saw one.
Visitors Can Have a Picnic or Camp at the Park
Many people visit KL Forest Eco Park for a day trip. The park is surprisingly big, so one can easily spend 2 to 4 hours there.
For those who want to have a picnic, the park has benches where they can relax amongst the trees.
There’s also a pavilion at the park’s campsite where people can enjoy their picnics. Nearby is a public toilet and water taps.
The Canopy Walkway Is the Park’s Main Highlight
Within the rainforest is the park’s canopy walkway. If you haven’t been to Taman Negara’s canopy walkway, the KL Forest Eco Park one is a good start.
The canopy walkway is 200 metres long and stands as high as 21 meters above the ground. Like any hanging bridge around the world, jumping on the bridge isn’t allowed. It’s also advisable to cross the bridge one person at a time. You can see KL Tower from the bridge, so why not take a picture or two with it?
Landslides Can Occur at KL Forest Eco Park
A landslide occurred in 2014, which led to some trees getting chopped. During my recent trip, I noticed a landslide warning sign. It looked like a landslide just occurred, so the park had to close one of its routes for restoration.
That said, always stay alert and be careful, especially when exploring the park during the rainy season.
It Can Get Quite Hot in the Afternoon
My friends and I visited the park in the afternoon, and heck, it was hot, especially during the canopy walk. We felt like we were cooking under the sun. Perhaps it’s better to do the canopy walk in the morning or in the late evening.
After we did the canopy walk, we spent some time exploring the park. Despite having trees around, the jungle wasn’t as cool as many others we’ve been to around the country. That’s probably because it’s located within the city.
The Park Is Home to Many Plants and Wildlife
Visitors can see different plants and trees at the park. The park has beautiful ferns, bamboo trees, herbs, climbers, and more. You’ll know the name of many trees because they’re labelled.
There are all kinds of wildlife, too. I saw a beautiful lizard, but that was the only animal I saw. There were birds at the park and I could hear them chirping. Cricket sounds were everywhere at the park and they were loud. You might come across some of the park’s popular primates, such as the Long-tailed Macaque and Silver Langur.
Be careful when you walk in the jungle. Avoid getting off the trail. The park is home to animals that can be threatening to you, such as scorpions, wasps, venomous snakes, and centipedes. You might want to be careful with bees as well. Carry a bug spray with you to protect you from mosquitoes.
You Can Explore the Park on Your Own or With a Guide
To know more about the park and its natural wonders, you can opt for a guided tour. Your tour guide can tell you more about the park’s plants and wildlife.
You can get more information from the park’s Visitor Centre. Guided tours operate at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 4:30 p.m.
As mentioned earlier, the park’s map can guide you, so be sure to scan the QR code at the ticketing counter to get it. Even if you don’t have the map on your device, you may find a physical one along the way.
The chances of you getting lost in the park are low as long as you stay on the trails. By referring to the map, you can see the information on the different trails to take, the locations of the park’s field, campsite, toilet, prayer room, and more. It also shows you which gates are closed.
The Park Has Slopes and Slippery Areas
It’s important to wear proper shoes or hiking shoes/sandals when exploring the park because it’s a jungle after all.
The park has proper trails for your convenience, but some areas require you to walk on soil that can get slippery, especially when wet. There are also many rocks around, so you’ll have to be careful when stepping on them.
The orange pathway below the canopy walkway is steep and can easily get slippery, especially on a rainy day.
E1 Entrance Is Closed on Saturdays and Sundays
The park has many trails, including the following:
- Jelutong
- Penarahan
- Bamboo
- Arboretum
- Shorea
- Hopea
When we came across the Shorea trail, we saw a notice regarding the E1 entrance. The E1 entrance is closed every Saturday and Sunday. Visitors are asked to use the E2 (KL Tower) or the E3 (Raja Chulan) entrance instead.
Article you might like: Camping and Picnic Spot in KL: Hutlista 2
Opening Hours and Park Fees
KL Forest Eco Park is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. However, the ticket counter closes at 4.30 p.m. The park used to be free, but there’s a fee to enter the park today.
You can refer to the entrance ticket prices below:
| Ticket Price | MYKAD Holder | NON-MYKAD HOLDER |
| Adult | RM10 | RM40 |
| Children (6 to 12 years old) | RM1 | RM5 |
| Children under 6 years old | Free | Free |
| Senior Citizens (above 60 years old) | RM1 | RM10 |
| Persons with disabilities | Free | Free |
For camping, the daily rates are RM10 for MYKAD holders and RM40 for non-MYKAD holders.
Tips for Exploring the KL Forest Eco Park
The KL Forest Eco Park is a safe place in general. But accidents or encounters with dangerous animals (or people) can happen, so it’s always to be careful when exploring the park, especially when alone.
Below are some tips for exploring the KL Forest Eco Park you might find useful:
- Stay on the trails.
- Carry bug spray with you to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes.
- Avoid wearing scents that may attract certain insects such as bees.
- Take good care of your belongings. You might come across monkeys.
- Put on sun lotion for sun protection, especially in the afternoon. It can get very hot on the canopy walkway.
- Certain parts of the park get dark around 6 p.m., so make sure you have a light source with you.
- Be careful when walking on the slopes, trails, and stairs. They can get slippery, especially when wet.
- Consider leaving the park if there’s heavy rain or a storm. The park won’t be held responsible for any accidents.
Would I Visit the KL Forest Eco Park Again?
I would visit the KL Forest Eco Park again if a loved one invites me. A trip to KL Forest Eco Park is worth it for me because it’s not every day that I get to visit a jungle in the middle of the city. Getting there is also easy thanks to public transportation. Furthermore, I only have to pay RM10.
But it might not be in my best interest if I had to pay RM40 to enter. There are many other forest reserves in the country that are more interesting. However, for tourists spending only a day or two in Kuala Lumpur and wanting to explore KL as much as possible, I’d say go for it.
Final Thoughts
KL Forest Eco Park is a forest reserve in the middle of Kuala Lumpur that allows people to unwind in nature without leaving the city. Even though it’s quite hot for a jungle, in my opinion, spending time there is worth it, overall.
The adult entrance ticket for foreigners is RM40, which many find expensive. So, if the price is a concern, I suggest going to other forest reserves instead. But they’re usually not as easily accessible as the KL Forest Eco Park. Alternatively, there are many recreational parks around KL and Selangor that might interest you.
