It was a crisp morning and I was standing in the empty carpark of Taman Negara Sungai Relau in Pahang. With me was a small group of eager hikers led by Naza and Mo – two seasoned Taman Negara guides. My familiarity with the place didn’t prepare me for the experience I was about to have, walking to an elephant cave deep in Taman Negara. Gua Gajah (“elephant cave”) is located some 5km off the main trail and is only accessible when led by certified Taman Negara guides. Close to 350 Asian elephants call Taman Negara home – a significant number considering that there are only about 1,677 elephants living in Peninsular Malaysia.

Source: The Star February 24, 2026 09:04 UTC