When talking about firepark parks in Malaysia, it is well-known that Kuala Selangor is the place to watch fireflies by the riverbank. You might be able to find a few locations providing firefly watching tours, but it all started right here at this small village: Kampung Kuantan.
I have never really thought of visiting this place, until one day, a Ukraine couple suggested this activity on Couchsurfing and, spontaneously I invited them to form a small group to visit the firefly park in February 2020, together with my other friend from Couchsurfing.
Why choose Kampung Kuantan?
Firstly, you’ll be supporting the local community who are doing honest work. Secondly, the tour provides minimal environmental impact. Sampans (small traditional wooden boats with paddle) are used instead of motorized boats, eliminating noise, air and water pollution. This also ensures visitors to be able to get as close as possible to the blinking ‘Christmas Trees’ without causing disturbance to the fireflies (just don’t touch/blow them!).
Kampung Kuantan Firefly Park Operating Hours & Ticket Price
- Time: 7.30pm – 10.30pm (daily)
- Fee: RM50 per sampan, each sampan seats four passengers, plus the guide who paddles the boat.
Notes:
- It is recommended to come in groups of four, so the boat is fully utilized, hence minimizing the cost per person. You could also wait for other people to fill in and share your spare seats, or join another group with spare seats.
- Life jacket is provided (mandatory)
- DO NOT CATCH OR DISTURB the fireflies
- Flash photography is STRICTLY PROHIBITED
- Throw away your worries and enjoy the moment. I often hear people saying the sampan is scary and feel like it’s going to flip over or sink. Based on my experience, the boat is quite stable and safe (at least we went in & out the boat steadily). Those people are just being paranoid XP
Photo taken with a smartphone without using flash
Best time to visit:
According to the guide, the best time to watch the fireflies are around 8pm+, when the time the sky just turns dark, has the highest concentration of flashes. As time goes by, more fireflies have already found their mating partner and stop flashing.
Also, the tour would be cancelled if there is rain, as the fireflies would not come out and you won’t see the flashes.
Starting your journey early? Why not take an early evening hike at Bukit Cherakah & Bukit Botak? You can also drop by Cendol Bakar Kuala Selangor on the way to the Fireflies Park, to fill your stomach with a bowl of refreshing cendol and delicious snacks!
How to get to Kampung Kuantan Firefly Park
While there are public buses you can take from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Selangor. You won’t be able to get a return trip after the firefly watch, as the bus services end around 7pm. You can search Google Maps on how to get there by bus.
The best way is to go there by car (around one hour). If you are a traveller, try asking around in online communities to see if anyone would like to join and to share the cost or a car.
Firefly Watching Experience
Surrounded by ‘twinkle stars’ in the dark. The video cannot show the actual experience, you need to be there in person to feel it: the lights from the fireflies are much brighter, the surround sound of singing crickets, the calmness of the water…
Somehow, a pair of fireflies decided to land on my hand to mate. And they won’t go away until they are done! In the dark I could only see a flash on my hand, only to realise there were two fireflies when we returned to the jetty with some lights.
Talking about being a third wheel…
Have this guide helped you? Tag @meowtainpeople in your hiking stories & posts!
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*Captain Planet passing by* Remember, please take care of our environment, and please don’t destroy the Nature. Leave no trash behind and take back only photos and memories (and also some trash if you can). BE ONE WITH NATURE *flies away*
