Entopia Butterfly Farm

The Penang Butterfly Farm opened at Teluk Bahang in 1986 and was for a long time the standard example of the type in the region; in 2016 it reopened after a substantial rebuild as Entopia, which added a large climate-controlled indoor learning space to the original outdoor garden. The garden - the Natureland - is the better half: a netted landscape of planted beds, streams, waterfalls and rockwork with several thousand butterflies of dozens of species flying free, along with a walk-through of other invertebrates and small reptiles. Indoors, the Cocoon covers life cycles, breeding rooms with visible pupae, interactive displays and specimen collections aimed at school groups. Two or three hours covers both, and the flying is best when the sun is on the netting.

What you actually see

• A netted planted garden - streams, waterfalls and beds with butterflies flying free.
• Visible pupae and emergence - the breeding rooms behind glass indoors.
• Other invertebrates - beetles, stick insects and small reptiles in the walk-through.
• A rebuilt learning centre - the indoor half added in the 2016 refit.

When to go

All year; sunny mid-mornings for the most flying. Two or three hours.

Honest expectations

On cool or rainy days the butterflies stay still. Entry is not cheap. The indoor section is aimed at children and school groups. It is a drive from George Town.

Nearby

The Tropical Spice Garden is close; Penang National Park is at the end of the road.