Selva’s Untold Stories in Langkawi
As modern life rushes by, the quiet wisdom of nature can be easy to miss. For Selvakumaran Rajamanickam, or Uncle Selva, the wild still speaks softly on his guided tours that are interestingly named Selva’s Untold Stories.
We spoke to the self-taught naturalist and soulful guide based in Langkawi, who curates heart-opening adventures through the mangrove forests that help connect visitors to the island’s ancestral rhythm.
A self-taught naturalist with a heart for storytelling
At 62 years old, Rajamanickam may first appear like any friendly Malaysian uncle on the block. Spend some time with him, and you’ll discover a depth carved by decades of living closely with the ocean and the mangrove forest.
Image credit: @selvasuntoldstories via Instagram
Born and raised in Penang, Uncle Selva moved from the state to Langkawi many years ago, seeking a life aligned with the sea. Eventually, this calling became Selva’s Untold Stories, a soulful nature experience that’s been his rice bowl since 2008.
Nature has always been in his blood. “My father was deeply into agriculture, medicinal plants, and poultry”, he shared with TheSmartLocal Malaysia. “And my mother…she was a storyteller. Her stories were always rooted in the forest”.
This blend of practical knowledge and inherited oral tradition flows through everything Uncle Selva does. “I became a naturalist because I love it. And because of the great minds I meet on these journeys”, he said with a warm smile.
Kayak through Langkawi Geopark Forest
Unlike your average eco-tour, a trip on Selva’s Untold Stories begins in stillness.
Guests rise early for a walk through the Langkawi Geopark Forest, a UNESCO-protected marvel filled with tidal creeks, ancient limestone formations, and hidden biodiversity. Tucked away in the jewel-toned embrace of Langkawi, the forest is a living testament to Malaysia’s ancient beauty.
Towering limestone formations, some over 500 million years old, rise dramatically above pristine mangroves and winding waterways.
On a guided tour through the forest, Uncle Selva doesn’t just point out the trees – he gives them meaning. You’ll get to see herbs like Pluchea indica and Pigeon Pea that have been used by generations to ease digestion and fevers long before modern medicine.
“The forest hums with life”, Uncle Selva mused.
From dusky leaf monkeys to exotic bird species, all thrive in a rare ecosystem where land, sea, and sky seem to coexist in perfect balance. There’s a quiet majesty to discover as you drift through the lush greenery of nature’s artistry.
When asked what makes the Langkawi mangroves special, Uncle Selva shared that it is where salt-tolerant trees and shrubs grow along shorelines, estuaries, and riverbanks. These resilient trees, with their distinctive tangled roots, thrive in the brackish waters where land and sea meet.
Far more than just a curious landscape, mangrove forests play a vital ecological role: they protect coastlines from erosion, serve as nurseries for marine life, and act as powerful carbon sinks, helping to regulate the global climate.
“Without the mangroves, there is no life”, he proclaimed.
Encounter exotic marine species at a fish farm
Image credit: @selvasuntoldstories via Instagram
Walking through a mangrove forest feels like stepping into another world – one that’s both serene and alive.
From the forest, the journey continues by speedboat, winding through narrow mangrove passages until arriving at a secluded floating fish farm. Here, Uncle Selva speaks passionately about sustainable fishing and how traditional, low-impact fishing methods not only protect marine life but also ensure that future generations can continue to rely on these waters.
For Uncle Selva, it’s more than just a livelihood – it’s a way of life rooted in respect for nature’s delicate balance. His voice echoes a powerful truth: “When we take only what we need and care for the ecosystems around us, we honour both the ocean and the communities it sustains”.
Image credit: @selvasuntoldstories via Instagram
You’ll also have the chance to encounter exotic marine species you may have never seen before, including the striking spotted grouper to the ancient, otherworldly horseshoe crab.
Each creature plays a vital role in this delicate ecosystem, a living web of biodiversity that’s both awe-inspiring and deeply vulnerable. Uncle Selva reminds us how crucial it is to protect these waters so that future generations can marvel at their beauty, just as we do today.
“It’s a quiet but powerful call to cherish what’s still wild”, said Uncle Selva.
Image credit: @selvasuntoldstories via Instagram
The final stretch of the experience is where guests paddle through the glassy waters in kayaks, weaving their way along the edge of the mangrove forest. “It’s not just about seeing nature”, Uncle Selva shared. “It’s about feeling it.”
In that stillness, surrounded by ancient trees and gentle ripples, the connection to the natural world becomes something deeply personal, felt more in the heart than through the eyes.
As you drift past the tangled roots of the mangroves and watch dragonflies glide across the water’s surface, you might catch the distant call of an eagle or feel the quiet breath of the trees around you. These are the gentle wonders that often go unnoticed – but not with Uncle Selva. With quiet reverence, he draws you closer to the hidden beauty of the forest, inviting you to see not just with your eyes, but with presence and curiosity.
With his hand on the paddle and his eyes always tuned to the rhythms of the wild, Uncle Selva shares a reflection: “If you divide Earth’s 4.2 billion years by your age, your time here is only a second. That’s why we must pay attention to what matters”.
Tour Langkawi’s mangrove forests with Selva’s Untold Stories
In an era of fast-paced travel and viral experiences, Uncle Selva offers something quieter and meaningful: connection and being grounded in the moment.
He doesn’t need big productions to move people – just his stories, a humble kayak, and the untouched nature that surrounds him. And maybe that’s exactly what more of us need: to be reminded of who we are when we truly slow down.
So next time you’re in Langkawi, let Uncle Selva take you on a journey into the island’s hidden heart – and into your own.
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Cover image adapted from: @selvasuntoldstories via Instagram
Some quotes have been edited for brevity and clarity.
TheSmartLocal Malaysia extends heartfelt thanks to Uncle Selva for his generosity and warmth in making this interview possible.