Far across the vast expanse of sea lies the mysterious, mystical Matang Mangrove Forest in Kuala Sepetang which is rich in ecological life support systems and home to marine and freshwater life.

Located in the Larut Matang district, it is the pride of Malaysia's conservation efforts and one of the world's best-managed mangrove forests.

Sprawled over 40,711 hectares along a 52-kilometre stretch on the northern coast of Perak, the reserve is the main attraction of Kuala Sepetang.

The scenic mangrove forest, with trees beautifully lining the banks of the Sepetang river, will undoubtedly capture the imagination of any visitor.

With such historical and natural wonders to behold, it is no wonder that Kuala Sepetang, Kuala Gula and the surrounding areas have been earmarked as tourist destinations for Visit Perak Year 2000.

The Matang wetlands offer first-time visitors a chance to savour their pristine beauty, and to learn how the forest supplies bakau timber for charcoal producing factories in the area.

For generations, this carefully-managed reserve has supported several fishing communities, cockle-breeding enterprises and over 300 charcoal kilns.

Tourists can see all this and more if they go on a tour organised by the Bukit Merah Laketown Resort.

The half-day excursion led by a tour guide includes a scenic boat cruise from the Sepetang jetty to the river mouth.

Traditional fishing villages lining the banks of the river are an eye-opener to the fishing and cockle-breeding activities of yesteryear.

Today many of the fishermen and cockle breeders still rely on conventional methods to bring in their haul.

As the boat glides down the river, visitors will see fishermen casting their nets and cockle breeders harvesting their catch with the cool river breeze on their faces.

The tour package also includes a walk through the Matang Mangrove Forest on a 250-metre boardwalk which has just been constructed by the State Forest Department so visitors can explore the forest comfortably and safely.

The tour also covers an educational visit to the charcoal factories.

The package, jointly managed by the resort and local travel agents, is priced at RM49 for adults and RM30 for children. Bookings can be made through the Bukit Merah Laketown Resort guest activities department.

The Perak Forestry Department also offers a package for tourists at a minimal charge. Lunch can be arranged for big groups.

From Kuala Sepetang, one can venture to the Kuala Gula bird sanctuary located at the northern tip of Matang.

Here, the Department of Wildlife and National Parks has built a nature centre stocked with brochures and information on Kuala Gula.

There are two riverside air-conditioned chalets for hire nearby. Tourists can also hire fishing boats from the fishermen for a cruise with local residents as guides.

While it is the mysterious allure of the Matang mangrove forest, the fishing villages and age-old charcoal kilns that capture the imagination of visitors to Kuala Sepetang, the appeal of Kuala Gula lies mainly in the thousands of migratory birds which stop over between the months of April and August.

Every year, up to 500,000 birds stop here on their annual migration between Siberia and Australia.

They include egrets, storks, terns and the occasional gull, all of which are in abundance in Kuala Gula.

This really is a sanctuary for birds and one can watch for hours the thousands of birds flying overhead. The screeching of the gull emphasises the remoteness of the area.

Kuala Gula can be reached through oil palm plantations and riverine secondary forests. You can arrange with the Forestry Department to hire a boat and have a wildlife ranger present.

While it is not impossible to reach this protected colony of birds, one cannot venture too close to the shoreline as the area is surrounded by marsh and mangrove swamps.

You can view the birds through a powerful telescope or on the bird-tower situated a few hundred metres away from the swamps and marsh.

At sunset, with the rich hues of light brushing the trees, gaily-coloured fishing boats on the river and the forest in the distance, the Kuala Sepetang and Kuala Gula area is spectacular, to say the least.