Kampung Kuantan Firefly Park is one of those tourist places nearby which I always wanted to go but never really got a chance to do so. Well, that was until Big Teddy came along and we started exploring new places together. So, one evening we decided to drive almost 70km into the wilderness to see the much talk about fireflies. 

The 1-hour drive was quite dreadful especially along the long and quiet highway. The last stretch of the drive towards the firefly park was even scarier along narrow road and without any street lights. Nevertheless, we made it to our destination in one piece around 9pm. Parking was ample and it’s free of charge. The place was quite well organized as compared to other tourist places in Malaysia. We went to buy a boat ticket for RM50 per  boat (max 4 person) and were given 2 mineral water (since there’s only 2 of us in the boat) before we headed to the jetty area. There wasn’t too many crowd on a Saturday night and we were soon in a boat rowing away to take us to see the fireflies.  

Kampung Kuantan Firefly Park is the home to thousands of fireflies living well along Sungai Selangor (Selangor River) river banks and feeding on the Berembang trees (Mangrove trees). Our boatman was quite good in rowing the boat to the Mangrove trees along the river which we started to see the fireflies lit up like Christmas trees as the lights from mainland slowly faded away. I was delighted to see this amazing insects up close. Our boatman gave us 2 live fireflies which I thought wasn’t the right thing to do. The fireflies should live free instead of being captured to be given to the tourists. Unfortunately, the one in my hand had broken wings but still blinking brightly. I hold it for a while before releasing it back to the Mangrove trees and hoped that it would somehow make it. 

The boat ride was a quick one and we were on our way back after 15-20 minutes. Overall, it was quite a serene and unique experience. I enjoyed it very much but wondered how clearly did Big Teddy see the fireflies as he forgot his glasses that night… Oppsss…