The "rainbow" Waterfalls

Profile of Waterfall
Water Source	2	Stream
Waterfall profile	5	Misty Waterfalls
Accessibility	2	Trekking 1 half hour
Suitability for a picnic destination
Place for dipping	5	Very good -but rocky
Water quality	4	Fair
Picnic area	4	Special mossy places

The main waterfall

How to get there?

On this topic of the "Rainbow Waterfalls" beside knowing how to get there? You also need to know when to be there? This is a rather unique waterfall not so much for swimming but more for sight-seeing.

But before I unveil the answer to the mystery question that I pose, I think I better describe how you would reach the place. It is tricky place and fairly far from civilization. Your starting point is the historical mining town of Sungei Lembing. About 30 kilometers inland from Kuantan.

From the town, you need to get a 4X4 vehicle to transport you over 18 kilometers of ex-logging track. Then you will have to walk on a rocky bank of a river and finally make a short jungle track - all the trekking, total up about an hour and half to reach the Waterfall.

That's not so bad isn't it? More joy if you only know that there are a few operators in Sungei Lembing that can transport you in or even show you all the way to the Waterfall.

The big mystery? You need to be at the place of the waterfall before 9.00 am. So deduct your breakfast time, transportation time and trekking time etc- you can figure out what time you should be starting.

Next - one more. You need to know which time of the year when you will get the best display. The effects to create the best looking rainbow depends so much on the quality of the spray and the lighting at that place. I can only tip you off but could not furnish you with a guide or time table. Perhaps it will be best to establish your contact in Sungei Lembing and constantly keep in touch. Who knows he may even provide you with more definite guidelines to downplay my cautions.

My Waterfall Collection # 18/84

21 kilometers from Sungei Lembing Town , Pahang State, Malaysia

Description of place

Gunong Tapis is known to many as a hiking destination. A place to see clouds floating over the peaks of low hills in the wee hours. Not much is mentioned about a "Rainbow Waterfall". Waterfalls - Meaningful to only those out door climbers who has a passion to seek out waterfalls. OR Some guides may offer to their clients an extra side trip. So for many visitors and those who had seen the place, it is not impressive at all. Just look overhead and water splashing into your eyes. Worst still will be those hikers drawn there by the myths and in dry weather. Hardly any sight of a waterfall but a spray of mist. Many who were there are unaware of the "rainbow" and also those who knew, had not seen the "rainbow"

The picture you see above is taken by my friend Stanley Leow and the model his girl friend, Pit Har, to give an impression of the beauty and size of the place. The water dropped approximately 100 meters hitting the jutted edges of the cliff many times. Then dispersing into finer spray on each impact.

What I am about to write about subsequently with the pictures was what I instructed Stanley who was a local to act on my behalf. Get to the place prepared, the timing, equipment to bring along as well as where and what type of pictures do I need. In fact the pictures came from several trips.

For others who just wants to "be there". I am not sure whether how much efforts are you prepared to invest. First, it is better to combine the outing with a camping trip. The contract vehicle will bring you to the camp sites by the river. Enjoy your night in the wilderness and beautiful river views. In the morning make a nice and leisure walk into the jungle and finally the waterfall. Not forgetting the walk on the river is not that straight forward too. But upon arrival, there is plenty of energy left to climb over boulders and getting the best viewing spot when the sun do move to the right height. Yes, I am advocating that you reserve your energy in moving about the area of the pool.

As this is a seasonal waterfall, the heavy downpour had carved out a fairly deep pools at the base. The down side is that the bottom of the pool is not sandy but of broken irregular size rocks. So swimming is possible at most times.

What is recommended?

I am so awestruck with this place. Too much emphasis that I could decide on what is appropriate to write in this section under "recommendation". All I can say is that the picture above is stitched. If you wants to have that picture, make sure you a good wide angle lenses. Getting the lights for all segments of the waterfalls as close to one another as possible. Poor Stanley influenced by my passion for this waterfall, made several trips in different seasons to record the mood of the waterfall. Dry season and arriving there at wrong time - no rainbow. Wet season with nice looking waterfall but insignificant rainbow formation. You will have to see my final collection to form your own impression. Follow the link here