It is only 400 metres high (1,312 feet) and can easily be climbed in an hour but it is steep and challenging enough to get the heart pumping and lungs puffing.
What’s more, it is about the only hill or mountain in Peninsular Malaysia covered in lalang grass instead of trees so the views from the top are excellent.
The trail
From the car park, which is amid the trees of an oil palm plantation, you walk for ten minutes up to the start of the trail, marked by an archway erected by RHB Bank.
The trail is well worn and easy to follow. It gets busy, especially at weekends and at dawn when many climbers like to witness the sunrise.
Thousands of feet have eroded the path so stay on the main path to avoid causing further damage to the hillside.
The trail climbs through a forested area for 15 minutes or so before emerging at the foot of a steep hill covered in grass.
Here the tiring ascent begins but you will soon find yourself enjoying the fine views over the surrounding countryside.
There are three viewing points marked by RHB signs at 880 feet, 1,150 feet and finally at the top at 1,312 feet.
Take care, especially when coming back down. The path can be slippery with mud if it has been raining, or with loose sand in the dry weather.
At the top of the hill, if you still have energy, the path continues on for a further 3.1 km to Gunung Tok Wan (675 m) but this is not a very straight forward hike.
Once you’ve completed your descent from Broga, there is a coconut stall at the foot of the trail where you can enjoy a refreshing drink.
Good place to train for climbing Mt Kinabalu?
If you are thinking of climbing Mt Kinabalu or a similar peak, you could get yourself in shape by practising at Broga.
Although Mt Kinabalu (4,095 metres) is over 10 times higher than Broga, the main trail at Kinabalu starts at 1,866 metres so the actual height climbed is only 2,229 metres or the equivalent to climbing Broga five times.
In terms of distance covered, Broga is 1.7 km each way and Mt Kinabalu is 8.7 km each way, so again about five times further.
In other words if you were to climb and descend Bukit Broga five times in succession you would have an idea of the effort needed to climb Mt Kinabalu.
And don’t forget that Mt Kinabalu is usually climbed over two days so you could climb Broga three times one day and two times the next for a more realistic simulation.
Of course Broga hikers do not have to worry about altitude sickness unlike Kinabalu.
What to bring
• Plenty of water and a snack.
• Hat and/or sun block.
• Trekking pole is useful.
• Phone/camera.
• Suitable footwear (not flip flops)
Location of Broga Hill
Broga Hill is located at Broga, a small town on the border of Selangor and Negeri Sembilan. It is 50km from Kuala Lumpur and 33km from Seremban.
The entrance to the car park is directly opposite Rabbit Fun Land (since moved to Lenggeng).
The car park used to be RM2 and there was no charge for climbing the hill. It has now changed to free parking and an entrance fee of RM1 per person.
They probably got fed up with people parking outside and walking in to avoid paying the parking fee!
There is a sign saying pets are not allowed.
This path you see in the picture is well signposted and it takes you through a rubber plantation before turning to ascend the hill.
This diversion joins up with the original trail about one-third of the way up, allowing you to reach the summit.
The damage caused by unauthorised bulldozing of terraces will take a long time to recover.
You should note the following:
• There are a lot more mosquitos on this second trail.
• when you rejoin the old trail, the path is even more eroded, steep and uneven than it used to be. It could be dangerous and care should be taken.
• After the first viewing point, the lalang grass is overgrown since the number of climbers has decreased.
Take your rubbish home with you. Nobody is collecting it now. An empty water bottle is not heavy.
This article first appeared in malaysia-traveller.com