Kuala Selangor
Kuala Selangor Fireflies, Kampung Kuantan
There are two places in Kuala Selangor where tourist can see fireflies or kelip kelip, at Bukit Belimbing and at Kampung Kuantan (kampung means village). Located about 1 hour driving from Kuala Lumpur both fire flies park actually located about 14 km from each other.
The fireflies at Kampung Kuantan are the sight to see. Kampung Kuantan is thought to be only one of two places in the world where fireflies congregate in huge number. The fireflies are type of beetle. It is active during the night and its tail shines on and off in the dark. The species that thrive here is the Ptreroplyx Tener. They shine their lights in unison at a rate of three flashes per second. As there are thousands of fireflies, the effect is a glittering brightness. The fireflies are only 6 centimeter long, the male shines brighter than the female, this allows them to attract the female during courtship. Fire flies only live for only two to three month.
Kampung Kuantan are located in a mangrove area. The Berembang tree, Sonneratia Caesealaris, which grows on the banks of the Selangor river is rich source of food for fireflies, which feed on the sap of its leaves. The three needs marshy conditions and grows well on wetlands. The wetland in Kampung Kuantan filters water from the river and is also a feeding ground and nursery for many aquatic animals.
Kuala Selangor Fireflies
Located by the coast of Malaysia and a two-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Selangor is well-known for two things—fresh seafood and fireflies. The best part for visitors is that these usually come together.
Since the fireflies only come out at night, it’s best to have a leisurely seafood dinner first when reaching Kuala Selangor. The local fishermen that ply the river (Sungai Selangor) will return with the fresh day’s catch, which are then served to visitors at the seafood restaurants by the riverside. Meals are relatively cheap there, so watch out for some tour packages that charge excessively high prices for dinner. Hiring a personal tour guide often cost less than joining a pre-packaged tour, so compare prices before going.
After a delicious dinner of fresh seafood, you can move on to see the fireflies at around 8pm. There are two areas in Kuala Selangor where you can view the fireflies. The first is the privately-run Firefly Park Resort at Bukit Belimbing and the second is the government-managed firefly viewing point at Kampong Kuantan. The Firefly Park Resort is a more developed location with chalets along the riverbank, while Kampong Kuantan is a more idyllic location.
Ticket prices are slightly lower for Kampong Kuantan, but both places offer boat rides on the river (which last about 30-45 minutes) to take you to parts along the riverbank where you can view the flashing green lights of the fireflies. At Kampong Kuantan, traditional wooden rowboats called sampans are used instead of the motorized boats used at the Firefly Park Resort.
When planning your trip, try to avoid going on a night when the moon is full as the firefly lights will be harder to see on a bright night. It’s also important to go on a day when the weather is clear as fireflies will generally fail to appear on rainy nights.
Dubbed kelip-kelip in Malay (which means blinking), fireflies are flying insects that can create their own light. During your boat ride, the fireflies will usually be found near the mangroves by the riverside as these trees (called berembang in Malay) provide their main source of food.
The hundreds of congregating fireflies flickering green lights are a sight to behold at night. Flash photography is forbidden during the boat ride, but even so, it can be difficult to capture the subtle beauty of the fireflies on camera, so it’s a good idea to just relax and enjoy the sights without worrying about trying to capture it.