Air Hitam Dalam Educational Forest

Located in the Seberang Perai North District of Penang, Air Hitam Dalam Educational Forest, also known as Air Hitam Dalam Recreational Forest, is a fresh water swamp and is home to various wildlife and plant species.

The park has an area of about eleven hectares and is managed by the State Forestry Department and unlike other reserve parks in Malaysia, Air Hitam Dalam has been praised for its environmental preservation and cleanliness.

When translated from Bahasa Malaysia to English, Air Hitam means black water and many locals think and believe that it refers to the features of its lake – deep and bottomless. This park is open to the public and is a hot destination for nature photographers (especially bird photographers), enabling them to capture the natural beauty of the hundred species found within the area. They consist of monitor lizards, otters, owls, eagles, long-tailed macaques, mangrove pitas, plantain squirrels, woodpeckers, kingfishers and many more!

In terms of flora in the park, the most common are putat, ficus, jangkang and the nipah tree. The facilities of Air Hitam Dalam include a 1000m canopy walkway, rest hut, hanging bridges and observation towers. The deep reserves of Air Hitam are quite a distance away from George Town, but they are nonetheless a must-see for nature lovers touring in Penang.

Entrance to the park is free and and it is a great place to discover Malaysia’s natural heritage or simply have a stroll around one of the best reserves in Malaysia.

Images Courtesy of Air Hitam Dalam Educational Forest

Comments

Never Enough of Little India

Welcome to the streets of George Town. Every issue, we bring you on a vicarious tour of the heritage trails of Penang highlighting its history, attractions and more! Made up of several lanes boxed in by Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, Lebuh Gereja (Church Street), Lebuh Pantai (Beach Street) and Lebuh Chulia (Chulia Street), Little India is a mesmerizing maze of wonders. Back in colonial times, Lebuh Chulia was allotted to the Indian migrant settlers who took up a variety of professions as agricultural labourers, textile merchants, money-lenders, jewellers and spice traders. Despite being around for generations, this pre-war cocoon of culture only received its ethnic distinction some years back as recognition for its value as living history. A day will not be sufficient to cover the plethora of shops, restaurants, sights and sounds. Not to mention all the delicious aromas from the variety of Indian cuisines available here from the common mamak to the more exclusive...

Sunrise & Sunset Beaches of Penang

Penang beaches are divided into two large pools of secluded beaches without amenities and popular easy-to-access beaches that provide all the fun activities. Dotted along Batu Ferringhi’s coasts and within minutes walk from the beachfront resorts and holiday apartments are Tanjung Bungah and Batu Ferringhi that draw a steady crowd of tourists and locals throughout the year. With downtown Georgetown just 30-minute drive away, these locales are situated along the northern coastline of Penang. Here, you can choose between an iced-cold cocktail or activities such as parasailing, jet skiing, and windsurfing. For those who love a hike, it is all worthwhile to check out some of the beaches located within the circumference of Penang National Park. Monkey Beach, Pantai Kerachut and Teluk Kampi may well be some of the quietest beaches on the island. While Pantai Kerachut boasts as the most remote beach on the island, it also serves as a nesting ground for green turtles, hawksbill tur...

Never Enough of Air Itam

If you are keen to explore off the beaten tracks of old Penang and survey the activities of the local Penangites, Air Itam may just be one of the best choices we have for you in this issue. Air Itam, an old suburbia of Penang, is nestled within the central valleys of Penang Island and is approximately 7 km southwest of George Town. Geographically, its location between Batu Lanchang Hill, Bukit Penara and Penang Hill is highly suitable for agricultural ever since the 18th century. To this day, vegetables and fruits are grown at the hills surrounding this valley where fresh produce are then brought to the wet markets around the island. Funicular Train, Penang Hill ©Penang Hill Air Itam, meaning black water in Malay, got its name from the murky waters of the Air Itam River. Since the arrival of British East India Company led by Captain Francis Light, the exploration to revitalise the area for agriculture and other sustainable efforts have brought more families and labourers inland...

iNPENANG

Search This Blog