Butterfly Parks

Cameron Highlands

Where to Go ~ Butterfly Parks

The Butterfly Garden and Butterfly farm are two such parks in Cameron Highlands. Both are a delightful zoological paradise of insects, reptiles and amphibians tha tourists and visitors on holiday can discover in Cameron Highlands. The Butterfly Garden, being the first to be established, is located near Kea Farm, about 2 km up from Brinchang town. The Butterfly Garden stocks a variety of insects, reptiles, mammals and birds housed on a landscaped garden with festoons of over-hanging orchids, ferns, vines and greenery. There is also an attached garden filled with flowers such as roses and hibiscus with streams of Rajah Brooke butterflies. To get there, head down the main road after the Kea Farm, and then the Equatorial Hotel.

The big signboard at the right side of the road is hard to miss and you can park practically anywhere that has a space. At the counter, the ticket is priced very reasonably at RM5 per adult and RM2 for children. Children below 3 years of age go in free. After descending a series of steep stairs, you'll be greeted by a pleasant garden that is filled with festoons of vines and orchids hanging in the air, flowering shrubs along the rocky kerb and small trees providing shade over the enclosures. Butterflies will usually be soaring everywhere, but this may be seasonal. As the butterflies need to be restocked every week due to their short lifespan (14 days after metamorphosis), there are times when the butterflies can be few.

Fortunately, the butterflies are not the only thing to look at. Glass enclosures along the pathway house creatures such as snakes, lizards, insects and furry rodents. Some of the wildlife species you can see include the red mountain racer; a vibrantly-coloured red rat snake, giant forest gecko; a fiesty large lizard with beautiful turquoise eyes, Bell's crested lizard; a beautiful agamid with orange-tinged frills on the neck and the Malayan giant horned frog; a large amphibian with leaf-like camouflage. The variety of insects is also amazing; look for the large wire-mesh enclosures that have small trees or tall plants inside. Observe carefully and you will notice inconspicuous leaf and stick insects.

When motionless, these fascinating insects are almost impossible to spot in the actual rainforest!Also watch out for the orchid mantis, which is a tiny praying mantis that resembles a pink or white orchid. Millipedes, scorpions and tarantulas complete the rest of the picture. There is another more recently-established butterfly park called 'Butterfly Farm' which is actually located before the Butterfly Garden, with a similiar range of sights. They are both located next to each other and it is simply a matter of personal choice to visit either one.