Kampung Kuantan Fireflies Park, Kuala Selangor

There’s a place on earth where stars dwell a fingertip away.

That was the quote I read online before I set my own two feet at the Kampung Kuantan Fireflies Park, Kuala Selangor. I’ve always loved fireflies and find the way they communicate with one another by emitting light from their bottom (literally) is very cute.

Kampung Kuantan is located about 9 kilometres from Kuala Selangor town. Visitors can come here via car. It is not confirmed if there are public buses coming here for the Fireflies Park tour but visitors can purchase tickets for the Kampung Kuantan Fireflies Park packages that also includes Eagle Feeding (before sunset) and transportation to the park at many tour outlets in Kuala Selangor.

What Do We Know About Fireflies?

Not many people knows what fireflies really are. The Lampyridae comes from the family of insects in the beetle order of Coleoptera. There are many subfamilies of this species, most probably from the evolutionary relationships of the fireflies.

Fireflies emit chemically produced light from their lower abdomen in colors of yellow, green or pale red. However, the colors emitted by the fireflies at the Kampung Kuantan Fireflies Park are predominantly yellow. Fireflies can be found along the mangrove river of Kampung Kuantan Fireflies Park. In the day, they retreat to the grasses behind the mangrove. At night, they move to the mangrove trees or known as Pokok Berembang in Malay.

The fireflies feed on the nectar of Pokok Berembang leaves. The synchronized lights flashed are to attract mates as well. Most male and female fireflies can fly but there are also some species where the females are flightless.

How To See The Fireflies?

Some friends before the ride
Some friends before the ride

Visitors can see the fireflies by riding the wooden boat or sampan along the river of Kampung Kuantan. The ride will take about 30 minutes moving along the river that starts after sunset, at about 8pm. When I went there, maximum passengers carried in a sampan is 4 people, not inclusive of the oarsman. A sampan is rented at RM20 per person. It is compulsory for you to wear life jackets, either you’re a good swimmer or not. This is for your own safety, since the ride is after dusk and it is dark out.

There is one rule you have to adhere to when you go fireflies watching though:

  • DO NOT try to touch or capture the fireflies and bring them home

So, no capturing fireflies in a clear jar, people. The number of fireflies are dwindling by the season, especially with weather hazards and human invasion near their habitat. So, do not further dwindle the numbers by bringing them home.

You can capture photos of videos of the fireflies though, for your own keepsake. In order to get a good and clear photo of the fireflies, do set your camera at long exposure.

Kampung Kuantan Fireflies Park Attraction Hours and Contact

Attraction is open from 8pm – 10.30pm daily (except for rainy days)

Contact +603 – 3289 1439 / 3289 1549 before dropping by.

 

Written by 

LizzaBella is a part-time traveler, amateur photographer and videographer and writer. Connect with LizzaBella through her social medias today!

26 thoughts on “Kampung Kuantan Fireflies Park, Kuala Selangor

  1. One of the researchers in UKM in doing her research on the dwindling numbers of the fireflies and also advocate her time in teaching the locals to preserve the nature to enable the insects to breed and live longer.

    Hopefully the future generations will be able to see the fireflies in person, not via TV or youtube only.

    1. Yeah, there are a few factors that made the number of fireflies dwindle lately. Maybe because of human trespassing their habitat as well. Certainly hope that we can preserve their habitat so that future generations can see them and also learn to care for them.

  2. Aliza sara says:

    Nice! i remember visiting this park when i was younger. The price has increased slightly more though 🙁 But i hope that reason to the increment was to provide better facilities. Well, theres only one way to find out!

  3. i remember going there long long time ago! Fireflies there were aplenty that time…now seems lesser eh?

    1. Yeah it’s lesser now than before. I’ve been there once few years ago too. Even the oarsman says the same thing too.

  4. Honestly did not know that they had this in Kuantan. It looks like a fun experience though, will take a look into it when I head back over there 😉

    1. Not Kuantan sweetie, this is in Kuala Selangor. But yeah it was a nice experience.

  5. last time my home here got fireflies in the night. But now not anymore. 🙁 My dear promise me to go this since dating time. Mmmm… more than 10 years now still waiting.

    1. Because of our weather and pollution also causes the dwindling number of fireflies. Hope you can go with your dear to this one at Kampung Kuantan one day.

  6. I always love seeing fireflies. My last time i saw it was in kuala selangor more than 10 years ago when I was in uni.

    nice experience!

    1. Me too. I love seeing them. It’s like a secret love message, sending love SOS to a partner. HAHA

  7. THis is the one in Kuala Selangor right…I think it is an interesting place but I haven’t got a chance to visit it yet… sighhhhhh

    1. Yeah this one is in Kuala Selangor. It is a very nice place and there are quite a lot of visitors here. Hope you can go here some day.

  8. Wow this is so cool, it is shining all the time at night! Gonna be very romantic if watch it with beloved one 🙂

    1. Yes, if you’re lucky, maybe you can even read the love message sent out by their lights – joking! 🙂

  9. Haven’t seen fireflies for a very long time since the kuala selangor one slowly died down

    1. The number of fireflies here is lesser now in comparison to 10 years ago but they still have them and maybe you could visit again before they’re totally gone?

  10. I been there twice, I really hope they will preserved the place because it’s really unique!

    1. I agree! You don’t get to see the fireflies everywhere. I hope they will improve on the upkeep of the place and hope visitors will also preserve and care for the place and the fireflies.

  11. This place is lovely, I was there many years ago. Hopefully now they still have as many fireflies as before.

    1. It seems like the fireflies are lesser now but hopefully it’s just temporary.

  12. Love this place so much, been always want to come for the beautiful fireflies scene 🙂

  13. Whoa such a beautiful quote. I always dream to just be around fireflies at night. If only our weather was a bit colder then the experience would be super enjoyable. Beautiful write up btw. Can even imagine the firefly next to me. 😀

    1. I love the quote too. Thank you Jessy. Hopefully will be able to return there again and take longer trip down the river. 🙂

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