Kuala Selangor is a name that resonates with paddy fields and quaint fishing villages. It’s a great place to take a day trip or spend the weekend basking in nature and the charms of yesteryears. Located just 67 km southeast of KL, this former Bugis settlement which was popular with seafarers and trade merchants in the past is just an hour and a half drive away.
Today Kuala Selangor is a popular tourist destination for the locals especially families looking to spend the day together be it feasting on cheap seafood, watching the Fireflies at Kampung Kuantan, hiking up Bukit Melawati or exploring the Kuala Selangor Nature Park.
First up, seafood! There are many restaurants in Kuala Selangor along the riverbanks of Pasir Penambang. A meal for three came with butter prawns, Marmite crabs, kangkung belachan, stir fried lala and coconuts came up to just RM50! Be prepared to wait during weekends as the queue can get very long. If you’re looking to bring home some fresh seafood and dried delicacies, then don’t forget to bring along and ice box to keep them fresh.
The Kuala Selangor Nature Park covers approximately 800 acres of mangroves and mudflats and is popular among birdwatchers. There are also other wildlife such as monkeys, mudskippers, crabs and otters.
Its rather cooling thanks to the canopy of trees and expect to spend at least two hours here to truly appreciate the flora and fauna unique to these mangrove swamps. There are also several watch towers erected around the park for convenient bird watching, just don’t forget to bring along a pair of binoculars
If you’re planning to stay late, we recommend you catch take the Kampung Kuantan Kelip-kelip boat ride. It’s RM40 per boat trip for 4 people so its best that you get others to share with you or go with your friends.
The ride lasts for about 25 minutes and lets you get up close with fireflies which looked like Christmas lights on trees along the riverbank as the blink in unison. We were told that increased development in the area over the past decade has wiped them out faster than you can say light up! Sad but true. There are only two places in the world with fireflies, the other is in Brazil as fireflies only feed on the fluids of the Berembang tree. No photography or talking loudly is allowed to avoid scaring off the fireflies. Fireflies boat rides begin from 8 to 11 pm, but do come early as there are always plenty of visitors.
Overall, Kuala Selangor is worth a visit if only to escape the cliched hustle and bustle of city life. Don’t expect a joyride but much rather quite the opposite really. Remember to bring along a spare set of clothes, good shoes and slippers, and insect repellent if you’re prone to being bitten by mosquitoes!
