Evening Wetlands Wildlife Cruise

Tour highlights:

• Evening:

• Amazing sunset cruise of the mangrove shoreline, watching for native monkeys, dolphin and birds;

• Search for the natural phenomena of flashing fireflies and crocodile eyes in the dark.

What sets this tour apart:

• Evening

Mangrove swamp at Santubong which is only 35km away from Kuching is the best place to enjoy watching fireflies.

What you’ll see or do:

• Evening:

Watch for Irrawaddy dolphins, shore birds, monkeys as you cruise through the flooded mangrove forest of Kuching Wetlands National Park on a half-day wildlife excursion from Kuching. Explore a fascinating estuary where two rivers (Santubong River and Salak River) meet that’s home to diverse species of plants and animals, traveling by cruise boat for up-close views.

 Kuching Wetlands National Park, covering 6,610 hectares, is included in the list of Wetlands of International Importance treaty signed in Iran in 1971. It is an area rich in wildlife and vegetation demonstrating the biodiversity of a mangrove ecosystem. The star attraction of this fragile habitat is undoubtedly the Irrawaddy dolphin, the estuary crocodile and the fireflies at night.

Depart Kuching for a 35 minutes short drive to a local Malay village located within the Kuching Wetlands National Park. Board our boat and cruise along the mangrove river towards the South China Sea on the look-out for the elusive Irrawaddy dolphin (sightings are dependent on tidal conditions). The Irrawaddy or snubfin dolphin inhabits the estuaries and shallow coastal areas and the Santubong area remains one of the best places in Sarawak to view this unusual looking marine mammal. When seen, they swim and dive around open waters less than 30 metres deep. Visitors will need a keen eye to spot the dolphins and they are best seen when they frolic near local fishing boats that are hauling in the catch!  The boat will continue to cruise along tributaries of the Salak River Delta for the opportunity to spot Proboscis monkeys and crocodiles and learn about the wildlife and vegetation that make up this complex mangrove ecosystem. The heavily silted mangrove swamp is also a haven for water monitor lizards, otters, mud skippers, mangrove crabs, prawns, edible jellyfish, shell fish and more.  A range of bird life, including kingfishers, white-bellied sea eagles and other shore birds can also be found there. The swamp sustains many different species of trees, the most important being the black and red mangroves, locally known as “Bako’. 

 For the evening tour, the boat will wait until nightfall to venture further into smaller tributaries of the swamp to witness the flashing fireflies that congregate in the mangrove trees, at times, much like a Christmas tree. The sharp-eyed boatman will also search for the Estuarine Crocodile in the dark, which are often seen during low tide. Their eyes shine a bright red colour when hit by the light of a torch. At the end of the tour, return to the boat jetty for transfer to your hotel.

Price (adult, child, senior): 

• Evening:

• Adults (13+): MYR 218.00

• Children (0-12): MYR 109.00

Departure time: 

• Evening: 4:00 PM

Meeting point: 

• Evening: Hotel

Season: Year-round

Day of week available: Monday to Sunday

Tour duration: 

• Morning: 4 hours

• Evening: 4 hours

Group size (minimum & maximum): Min 2 adults

Included: 

• Evening:

• English speaking guide

• Land transfers

• Sightseeing mangrove cruise

• Refreshment

• A Good Time

Not included: 

• Evening: Dinner 

What to bring: 

• Evening:

• Wear light comfortable clothes that dry easily;

• Comfortable walking shoes.

• Bring insect repellent, sunscreen, antiseptic;

• Raincoat or poncho and plastic bag to keep phone / cameras dry;

• Torch (if you have them)

Tour staff (number, type): 

• Evening:

Our community guides cum boatmen are from the local villages and are most willing to share their knowledge of local culture and the remarkable diversity of local fauna and flora so that you will have plenty of information about your journey in this beautiful nature area, and at the sametime ensure safety and Great FUN in this remote area! 

Good to know:

• Evening:

• Reservation recommended to avoid disappointment;

• Suitable for families and visitors of all ages.

• Occasionally, some evening tours may be affected by high waves or thunderstorms that makes the boat cruise unsafe. The trip would then be canceled and the tour refunded.