Penang National Park

Among The Smallest National Parks In The World, Holding A Rare Meromictic Lake Where Fresh And Salt Water Lie In Layers That Do Not Mix · Teluk Bahang, Penang

PENANG NATIONAL PARK IS OFTEN CALLED THE SMALLEST NATIONAL PARK IN THE WORLD, WHICH IS ARGUABLE, AND IT IS CERTAINLY TINY - around twenty-five square kilometres at the north-western corner of the island. THE THING WORTH COMING FOR IS EASY TO WALK PAST: PANTAI KERACHUT HAS A MEROMICTIC LAKE, A SEASONAL BODY OF WATER IN WHICH FRESH WATER LIES ON TOP OF SEAWATER IN LAYERS THAT DO NOT MIX. There are very few anywhere and this is the only one in Malaysia; it forms when the sandbar closes and drains when it opens, SO IT IS NOT ALWAYS THERE. The same beach has a GREEN TURTLE HATCHERY. YOU GET THERE EITHER BY BOAT FROM TELUK BAHANG OR BY WALKING - roughly two hours of hot, rooty, up-and-down coastal jungle - and the walk is better. There is a CANOPY WALKWAY and MONKEY BEACH at the other end. Registration at the gate is compulsory and enforced, you sign out on the way home, and the sensible plan is to walk one way and take the boat the other - agreeing your pickup time carefully, because missing it means two hours in the dark.

Penang National Park, Teluk Bahang, Penang, Teluk Bahang, Penang, Malaysia

THE PARK ENTRANCE IS AT TELUK BAHANG, about forty-five minutes from GEORGE TOWN by road or bus. ENTRY IS FREE BUT REGISTRATION AT THE GATE IS COMPULSORY - you sign in and sign out, and this is enforced. THE TWO WAYS IN ARE ON FOOT OR BY BOAT: boats are hired at the jetty for a fixed price to Kerachut or Monkey Beach and BACK-PICKUP TIMES ARE AGREED IN ADVANCE, so do not miss yours. THE WALK TO KERACHUT IS ROUGHLY TWO HOURS EACH WAY, hot and rooty with real up and down - it is not a stroll. THE MEROMICTIC LAKE IS SEASONAL AND MAY SIMPLY NOT BE THERE. THE TURTLE HATCHERY keeps its own hours. TRAILS CLOSE AFTER HEAVY RAIN. Carry all your water; there is very little inside.

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