The Batek people are from the Negrito group and historically are considered to be true forest people having inhabbited the rainforests of this region for tens of thousands of years. The Batek currently have a population of around 1500 individuals the majority of whom now live in or around Taman Negara National Park. Many have been settled into villages on forest edges although some groups still retain their nomadic lifestyle deep within the park.

 

Bencah Kelubi is a small village located close to Merapoh home to around 60 Batek people. This group have been settled in a permanent village but still retain their nomadic roots, often moving into the forest for extended periods, setting up traditional shelters,  particularly when the weather is hot. The villagers now do some farming and trading with their Malay neighbours but are still most at home in the jungle where they undertake many of their traditional practices, such as hunting with blowpipes as well as forraging for food and other forest products including rottan and building materials. 

 

We are offering you the opportunity to meet some of the Batek people in their natural environment and explore Malaysia's tropical rainforest with some of its earliest peoples. There are two options available:

 

Learn about Malaysia's rainforest from the Batek men on an interprative trek through the jungle where they will tell you about the traditional uses for trees and plants that you find along the way and may even collect things that they need. You will stop in a suitable place to try your hand at making blowpipe darts and flights and then later try your aim shooting blowpipes and trying out your own dart to see how straight it flies! You will be amazed at the Batek men's skills which have been passed down countless generations. We will pause for a tea-break where you can help to build a fire and make cups from bamboo while enjoying the tranquility of the jungle and the calming peaceful nature of the Batek people.

 

Or

 

Follow the Batek ladies on their regular forraging trips into the forest. Every trip is different depending on the season and what we discover so this adventure is always full of surprises. The ladies may collect Rottan or Nipah leaves for building or fruits from the trees, often Ubi (a kind of tuber rather like cassava and a favourite of the Batek!) is found and dug out, or occassionally the ladies come across a jungle rat which they will try to smoke out of its hole or catch fish in the river. Nothing is certain on these trips but it is always interesting to observe the ladies and get involved helping with whatever activity they do that day. The ladies will always find beautiful forest flowers to wear in their hair and we will stop for a unique  tea-break Batek style, where you can help to make bamboo cups and enjoy tea or coffee made with water heated in bamboo over the fire in the rainforest!