Wetlands Wildlife Cruise

Watch for Irrawaddy dolphins, shorebirds, monkeys, and more 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 (the Santubong River and Salak River) meet and traveling by cruise boat for up-close views of the homes of an amazing variety of plants and animals.

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 and the estuary crocodile.

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 meters deep. Visitors will need a keen eye to spot the dolphins as 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, mudskippers, mangrove crabs, prawns, edible jellyfish, shellfish, and more. A range of birdlife including kingfishers, white-bellied sea eagles, and other shorebirds 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’.

After reaching the laid-back village of Kampong Salak, the boat makes a U-turn back to the jetty before the land transfer back to Kuching.

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

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 color when hit by the light of a torch. At the end of the tour, return to the boat jetty for transfer to your hotel.

After departing Kuching, we’ll enjoy a 35-minute 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 meters 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, mudskippers, mangrove crabs, prawns, edible jellyfish, shellfish, and more. A range of birdlife, including kingfishers, white-bellied sea eagles, and other shorebirds 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’.

NOTE: The evening cruise may take more time if the guide decides to carry on longer for more opportunities to spot wildlife. Therefore, you may need to be prepared to arrive back in the city a little later for dinner, though light refreshments are provided on board the cruise.

• Reservation recommended to avoid disappointment
• Contact us directly through WhatsApp or e-mail if you are a solo traveler, or looking for last-minute join-in tour (i.e. less than 24 hours)
• Suitable for families and visitors of all ages
• Due to the lack of proper toilet facilities at the jetty as well as there is no toilet stop throughout the cruise, please inform the driver should you need a toilet stop along the way.
• Cancellation policy: Occasionally, some evening tours may be affected by high waves or thunderstorms that make the boat cruise unsafe. The trip would then be canceled and the tour refunded as per the cancellation policy below:
  • 1. Cancellation of a tour:
    • 12% chargeable for cancellation of tour upon arriving at the Boat Club before cruise departure.
    • 50% chargeable for cancellation of a tour after less than 1 hour into cruising.
    • Non-refundable for cancellation of a tour after more than 1 hour into cruising.
    2. Postponement of a tour:
    • No extra charge for postponement of tour to the next day for cancellation of a tour (due to bad weather) after less than 1 hour into cruising.
    • Cruise is forfeited and non-refundable for postponement of a tour more than once.
    Note: Our tour guide or boatman reserves the right to cancel or suggest the postponement of a tour to the next day due to bad weather condition.
• We recommend guests bring your own refillable water bottles and avoid using one-off plastic water bottles.
• During our tours, we recycle wherever possible, and try to keep our waste as low as possible. We discourage the use of plastic bags, and suggest that you bring your own dry bag or small waterproof backpack.
• Check out OUR RESPONSIBLE TOURISM COMMITMENT.(opens in a new tab)