The unique Silver Leaf Monkeys at the Bukit Malawati Hill in Kuala Selangor are one of the star attractions for anyone visiting this place. While most locals call them monkeys, these residents are called the Silver Leaf Monkeys (Trachypithecus cristatus) and are often seen roaming freely around here. They are generally harmless towards humans and are sometimes afraid of us.

Silver Leaf Monkeys at Bukit Malawati Hill

Silver Leaf Monkey by the lighthouse

As I visited Bukit Malawati on a Sunday evening at about 4.00 pm, I was greeted by two groups of Silver Leaf Monkeys. They travel in groups and are quite territorial among themselves. So, the larger group was at the main attraction, where the lighthouse was located, while the other group was seen circling the area, looking for food.

Monkey food is being sold here.

For those who prefer comfort, there is a tram service from the foot of the hill. The tram going up stops at the lighthouse to unload tourists, and these silver Leaf Monkeys know where the first stop is. Some locals are selling monkey food here, primarily long beans prepared in stacks and selling for RM 1.00 per bunch.

A Caucasian child is attempting to play with the monkey.

I saw at least 30 Silver Leaf Monkeys there that Sunday evening. Even some foreign tourists had their children play with the monkeys. Locals wondered why these foreigners were not afraid of the monkeys attacking their kids.

The father was just next to the little toddler as he kept trying to pull one of the monkeys. (The kid was not harmed in this picture)

Silver Leaf Mother with the Golden Baby.

One amazing thing about these unique Silver Leaf Monkeys is their newborn. The baby monkeys are born with a golden color, which eventually turns black like the adults. So, seeing one of the baby silver leaf monkeys was a bonus, and capturing them on camera was an added bonus!

See, hear and speak no evil.

These silver leaf monkeys are very family-oriented as they tend to hang around in large groups and are often seen all over the place. The babies will always stay close to the mother, and they can be very protective at times, so do not try to lure the golden baby silver leaf to you. You do not want to upset the mother.

Monkeys in the silhouette.

Silver Leaf Monkey sitting on a rail.

These silver leaf monkeys also love to hang out on the road barricade, sitting there with only one thing on their minds—food. At times, you may find a great Kodak moment when you see about 10 of them all sitting in a row. Sadly, my Kodak moment was with 4 of them only.

Silver Leaf Monkey profile shot.

This last Silver Leaf Monkey took the opportunity to do a profile for me. However, it took me 10 minutes to get close to him for this shot. There was also no Zoom involved. I did that old trick of sitting down and inching my way to him casually, just to get the shot.

Conclusion

It is a two-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur. For more information about this beautiful place in Kuala Selangor, please read my other article on Bukit Malawati, or you can also Google it.

If you are a photographer and enjoy shooting wildlife, you should try visiting this place, as the monkeys are around most of the time. The best times to visit here are in the mornings or late afternoons to see Silver Leaf Monkeys at Bukit Malawati Hill.