Not to be Missed... The Fireflies of Kampung Kuantan

Evening falls at Kampung Kuantan

Having visited Bukit Melawati at Kuala Selangor, we could not neglect an opportunity to see the evening display of fireflies at Kampung Kuantan, just nine kilometres away.

Excursions take place from about 8pm until 10:30 on clear days... so make sure it is not raining. For RM15 per person, you will have a private boatman who will row your party, the whole journey taking about 45 minutes.

As our boatman rowed upstream, our first tree was barren. Yet the further upstream he rowed the more captivating our light show became. Here they were, thousands of flashing, enchanting ‘kelip-kelip’ in their 'berembang' tree homes. It was Christmas on a river. I was reminded of an older family member's stories of ‘bush’ torches, a jarful of 'kelip-kelip', and nights spent in the jungle during the torrid years of Japanese occupation of Malaysia.

During the journey we were not permitted to take any flash-photos... Please do check internet images because you will gain some understanding of what you might see.

Returning from the mesmerising firefly display 

For the local inhabitants the fireflies represent an opportunity to prosper from eco-tourism and they are diligent in attempting to preserve the 'berembang' trees and the fireflies which live within them. 

Unfortunately, however, fireflies like so many other creatures are affected by the modern world. Visitors returning to this magical place will have noticed that the firefly population is in decline. One hopes that the local and international movement to preserve these beautiful creatures and their fragile environment from encroaching civilisation enjoys the greatest success.

Every person should see this... 

To remind us of the fragility of our eco-system. 
To reconnect us with the natural world. 
To see what is real and magnificent in nature.