Teraja Waterfall Walk

1. Teraja Waterfall Walk • Description: A relatively easy and short walk through some good primary rainforest along the river. • But be prepared to get wet feet and/or dirty clothes. And have a nice swim at waterfall. • Length: 2 km • Time: 1 hrs (1 way). Can be done at any time of day (shaded in forest) • Start: Teraja longhouse, end of Labi road (1.5 hrs drive from Panaga) • Grade: Simple but not for the totally inexperienced, since there is a chance of losing your way. Suitable for adventurous families with older children (six and up) or toddlers in back pack (be careful with rattan overhanging the path). • Equipment: No specific, but Parang (jungle knife) and GPS can come in handy. Mosquito repellent or salt against the leaches. Sturdy, no slip footwear that will get wet. Swimming trunks worn under your clothes. As usual leave a set of dry clothes at your vehicle. • Things of interest: • GPS track: D:\Brunei\Brunei_GPS\TerajaWalk.kmz Labi road Teraja waterfalls Teraja longhouse Teraja longhouse path The walk starts at the end of Labi road (app. 10 km beyond kampong Labi) at the longhouse, Rumah Panjang (RP) Teraja. The end of the road can’t be missed, as the road literally vanishes where the trees are starting, while at your left you will clearly see RP Teraja. It’s best to park your car on the road and not in front of the longhouse. The longhouse hosts some seven large families and is nowadays an interesting blend of old traditions and modern influences. If you are lucky to be granted a look inside you will find the place equipped with all thinkable modern facilities. Around the longhouse you will find plenty of life stock and fruit trees like durian, mangosteen and rambutan trees.

2. Walk Description The track starts at the longhouse and you pass in between the longhouse and the river. Follow the path across the big clearing behind the longhouse where the inhabitants are growing their fruits and vegetables, like “cempedak” (jackfruit) and “pisang” (bananas). You follow the tiny track through the clearing into the far left corner; here you will hit the Sungai Teraja, which will eventually lead you upstream to the waterfall. At the Sungai you can practice your jungle walking skills straight away, as you need to cross the river at this point to reach the bamboo bushes on the other side. The track start between these bamboo bushes and leads you upstream the river you just crossed. You should never get further away than 20-25 m from the river; if this would be the case follow your trail back and try to pick up a track that stays closer to the river. Along your trail you will find a variety of jungle treats, such as jackfruit, durian, manga and many wild fig trees. Closer to the ground you may also find wild ginger. While you are looking around, you may also occasionally want to check your feet and legs for leeches, as they do get around here as well. If confronted with a leech do not kill it unnecessary; bear in mind that, being part of this complex ecosystem, it has more right to be there than you. If you are lucky to find one (or to be found by one) take the opportunity to have a close look at the beautiful colour pattern of the tiger leech, which is very specific to this location. On your way up the river you probably need to change riverside several times and/or wade through the river depending on the path condition, natural obstacles and fallen trees. After app. half an hour the river bed widens a little, admitting more sunlight to the river and the lush vegetation. From here on you follow the river bed up north for 10-15 more minutes along the natural sculptures of fallen trees covered with epiphytes until you reach the waterfall. The tiger leech is the only leech that will let you feel its bite. The bite from other leeches is normally painless since they inject both an anticoagulant and give you a local anaesthetic. The effects of the anticoagulant will last well after the leach has taken its fill and vanished. Your legs dripping blood might be in many cases the first inkling you get of having been leeched. Leeches are not commonly spreading diseases and to this day are still being used in surgical operations to keep the blood flowing freely. After a refreshing dip you follow the same way back to the longhouse. Though abundantly and sometimes loudly present it will be difficult to spot many birds on this track, but high up the trees you may see some hornbills in a more natural environment than Panaga camp. Compiled by Hans Dols, Mark Hessels, Peter Engbers Teraja longhouse