The Habitat Penang Hill

The Habitat Penang Hill (4 February 2017)


B. Melayu

The Habitat (GPS: 5.42557, 100.26802) is a recreational forest park on Penang Hill. This ecotourism project is a place where people who appreciate nature have an opportunity to get close to it, and observe nature at work in its natural habitat, and at close range.

Straddling the area between the cluster of historic buildings on top of Penang Hill, namely Bel Retiro, Convalescent and Fern Hill, and the gazetted Bukit Kerajaan Forest Reserve, The Habitat is the result of the Penang State Government's Request For Proposal (RFP) back in 2010, to develop the hill station in a sensitive manner that protects and celebrates its fragile ecology.

Latest Updates on The Habitat

28 June 2020
The Habitat introduces Forest Bathing session.

August 2017
The Habitat Penang Hill now holds sunset walks every weekend in August. The guided walks are at 6:00pm, 6:30pm and 7:00pm, and are priced at RM60 for adults and RM35 for children and senior citizens.

Featured Attractions of The Habitat Penang Hill

A living tree of Penang Hill's flora and fauna forms The Habitat Penang Hill's creative logo (4 February 2017)


The garden path leading from the Main Entrance to the Ticketing Office of The Habitat (4 February 2017)


The company that won the RFP, now calling itself Flagstaff Holdings Sdn Bhd, underwent a brainstorming process to ascertain how best to present the ecology of Penang Hill to the general public in a way that is sympathetic to its flora and fauna. A decision was taken not to turn the area into some form of zoological gardens, where non-native fauna is brought in, but rather to maintain the ecological balance as is. In keeping with this desire, all constructions are as unintrusive to the ecology as is possible, and are put there to help nature enthusiasts appreciate the natural environment.

As far as possible, The Habitat preserves extant structures of the site. The Ticketing Office, for example, is a handsome stone building from the early 19th century. Originally called the Convict Lines or Coolie Lines, it was used as living quarters of the coolies who carried visitors to Penang Hill on sedan chairs. It also served as a stable or mews for the horses and other beasts of burden and carriages. When The Habitat took over the building, it was a Staff Quarters for the Penang Island City Council.



The Ticketing Office of The Habitat (4 February 2017)


Visitors getting ready to enjoy The Habitat Penang Hill (4 February 2017)


Stringing the length of The Habitat, like a leafy garland, is the Nature Trail. This is a paved forest path that slithers through the terrain, just above the boundary line of the 130-million-year-old Bukit Kerajaan Forest Reserve. It traces the route of an existing forest path carved during the time of the British Administration to check soil erosion. The Nature Trail is paved with a special porous material that allows rainwater to seep right through, thus preventing water retention and flooding. Gazetted in 1911, the Bukit Kerajaan Forest Reserve is one of the oldest forest reserves in the country.

My wife and I paid a visit to The Habitat Penang Hill on 4 February, 2017, and who do we have to show us around than its Managing Director himself, the affable Allen Tan.



Allen Tan, Managing Director of The Habitat Penang Hill, admiring its signature attraction. (4 February 2017)


Ready? Let's go! With Allen himself as our guide, it's laughter all the way! (4 February 2017)


The Habitat Penang Hill (6 January 2018)


Map of The Habitat
© The Habitat

Most visitors to The Habitat arrive via its main gate, which leads to the Ticketing Office. This is where the Nature Trail starts. Qualified naturalists are on hand to take visitors on free guided walks along the trail, offering interpretation of the forest, the flora and the fauna on the wayside. While visitors may undertake the trail on their own, they will certainly benefit from the company of the naturalists.

I met Farah, one of the qualified naturalists to help visitors enjoy a more engaging experience of Penang Hill (4 February 2017)


There are two ways to explore The Habitat. Most visitors go from north to south, exiting at the southern entrance (officially the Exit), and walk back to the Penang Hill Upper Station along Jalan Tuanku Yahya Petra, or taking a buggy ride. The alternative is to go from south to north, exiting at the otherwise main entrance. Visitors are also allowed to go back the same way, and those who do discover that retracing the route offers a refreshing take on the same vista.



Soaring forest trees tower over us. (4 February 2017)


Some of these trees support a host of epiphytes. (4 February 2017)


There's even a rock garden in the forest, sort of. (4 February 2017)


As we explored the lush undergrowth, we chanced upon this thing on the forest floor. It turned out to be the egg sack of the common tree frog. (4 February 2017)


And here I am, hanging around in a Teardrop Hammock. (4 February 2017)


The best way to appreciate The Habitat is to go slow, taking your time to observe and discover. Do not rush through - you won't see much if you do that. The first thing we ought to know about wildlife is this: they don't do instant gratification. Do not expect to take your seat, and they will start performing for you like trained seals in a zoo. At The Habitat, we are visiting the plants and animals in their natural habitat, not they ours. We are not spectators. We are Peeping Toms. Peeping at them as they go about their daily lives. Just as we value our space, so too they deserve theirs. For this is after all their habitat.

There are ample places for you to stop and chill out, including a few giant swings and a teardrop hammock. I am particularly impressed with the Bromeliad and Orchid Pavilions. They have reflective surfaces that help to bring surrounding greenery into the sheltered space.

We had a most educational tour of The Habitat in Allen's company, and learned so much in the process. He showed us the giant ferns that grow wild on Penang Hill. The young leaves, or fronds, are curled up in a tight spiral. Inside is a jelly-like substance favoured by monkeys. Allen also showed us the edible flower of the red button ginger (Costus woodsonii). He let us try it. The flower has a taste like sourish jambu.

This is the young leaf of the Giant Fern, all curled up. (4 February 2017)


Allen explained to us that the flower of red button ginger is edible. (4 February 2017)


Now smell this, said Allen to my wife. (4 February 2017)


Men In Black - Allen Tan and I at The Habitat. (6 January 2018)


Down the Nature Trail, we came upon an interpretive board of the butterflies of Penang Hill. (4 February 2017)


And the interpretive board of the Birds of Penang Hill. (4 February 2017)


Taking a break at the Habitat. (6 January 2018)




While the park can go so far as to erect interpretive boards, like the one explaining the various birds and butterflies endemic to Penang Hill, or to point out identified locations where the tarantula or the red trapdoor spider have been spotted ton build their nests, but it is still up to the visitors themselves to patiently wait for the wildlife to manifest itself. If you are an avid bird watcher, bring along a good pair of binoculars.

Wildlife aside, the scenery itself is worth the visit. As you negotiate a bend, a new vista unfolds, revealing verdant growth that undulates towards the Andaman Sea. As you continue step by step through The Habitat, enjoying the lush greenery, admiring the soaring forest trees with their huge canopies, take a moment to remind yourself that within twenty minutes from where you are, there lies a bustling metropolis, and one of the country's biggest no less.

Right at the heart of The Habitat is its signature attraction, Curtis Crest Tree Top Walk. This unique circular canopy walk crowns the top of Penang Hill, offering unsurpassed views of the dense rainforest below. To know more about Curtis Crest, click on the thumbnail below, to visit a page all about it.

Visitors to Curtis Crest at The Habitat Penang Hill. (4 February 2017)


Even though The Habitat has been in the works since 2010, it only opened as a Sneak Peek to the public on 8 January, 2016. A year later, it is still not completed. One highly anticipated attraction expected to be ready in the later part of 2017 is Canopy Walk Bridges, a pair of ribbon bridges spanning a total length of 230 meters over the forest canopy. Also in the plans is the 700-meter long Big Zip, which will transport not-faint-hearted visitors across the valley into the rainforest and back again! Also in the works, and should be completed very soon, is the open-air events area right below Curtis Crest.

My wife and I had a most wonderful visit to The Habitat Penang Hill, and we extend our thanks to its Managing Director, Mr Allen Tan, for giving us such undiluted hospitality.

Our tree at The Habitat Penang Hill

As a small part of our conservation effort, we sponsored a tree on The Habitat Penang Hill. The sapling selected for us was a rhu bukit (Dacrydium elatum).

The Ru Bukit that we adopted at The Habitat, Penang Hill (9 February 2019)


Here we are with a tree we sponsored at The Habitat Penang Hill (6 January 2018)


Our tree at The Habitat Penang Hill: Dacrydium elatium or Ru Bukit (10 October 2018)

Shop On The Hill

When you are done exploring the nature of Penang Hill at The Habitat, proceed to Shop on the Hill, the souvenir shop at the Exit. It has a wide range of souvenirs, from soft toys to jewelry, and from essential oils to umbrellas. And located adjacent to Shop on the Hill is The Habitat Café, which offers various meals and snacks to help you recharge.

After exploring the rainforest, it's nice to enter into the air-conditioned comfort of Shop on the Hill. (4 Februari 2017)


Shop at the Shop on the Hill. (4 February 2017)


At the Shop on the Hill. (4 February 2017)

Address

The Habitat Penang Hill
11300 Bukit Bendera, Penang.
Phone: +60-4-826 7677



Getting there
Exit the Upper Station of the Penang Hill Railway, continue along the main path you see the Penang Hill Police Station on your right, and junction of Jalan Tuanku Yahya Petra on your left. Walk in the direction of the Bellevue Hotel, and take the left fork of the road leading downhill, and you will see the entrance of The Habitat Penang Hill to your left.

Ticket Price

As prices are subject to regular updates and promotions, it is best that you refer to the Habitat Penang Hill's official website for the details right here.

The Habitat is open daily from 9:30am to 7:00pm, with ticket counter closing at 6:00pm. Complimentary guided tours start at 9:30am and is available at every subsequent hour from the briefing area.

For groups of 10 visitors or more, The Habitat offers Fast Lane access for the Penang Hill Train at concessionary rates: RM10 for Malaysians & RM24 for Non-Malaysians. To enjoy these concessionary rates, groups have to provide The Habitat a list of participants with their IC/Passport numbers 24 hours beforehand, to be handed to Penang Hill Corporation.

Membership

Membership to The Habitat Penang Hill entitles the holder to unlimited admission for one (1) year from date of membership commencement. Members also enjoy discounts of selected merchandise at the Habitat Shop (also called Shop on the Hill), and get to participate in The Habitat programs including workshops, talks and other activities.

Adult Membership: RM180.00 per year
Child Membership: RM80.00 per year
Family Membership (2 adults, 2 children): RM480.00
Sign up for membership at https://thehabitat.my/membership/

The Habitat is on the map of Penang Hill

Photos of ourselves at The Habitat

My wife and I at entrance of The Habitat Penang Hill. (4 February 2017)


Allen and I on the Giant Swing. (4 February 2017)


My wife and I on the Giant Swing. (4 February 2017)


Allen and I on the stair landing of Curtis Crest. (4 February 2017)


Allen and I on Curtis Crest. (4 February 2017)


My wife and I on Curtis Crest. (4 February 2017)

At The Habitat Penang Hill

Penang Hill main page

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