{"id":2235,"date":"2025-03-26T08:35:33","date_gmt":"2025-03-26T07:35:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wonderfulmalaysia.com\/attractions\/?p=2235"},"modified":"2025-03-18T09:16:33","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T08:16:33","slug":"klias-wetlands-a-great-river-cruise-through-the-mangrove-forest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wonderfulmalaysia.com\/attractions\/klias-wetlands-a-great-river-cruise-through-the-mangrove-forest.htm","title":{"rendered":"Klias Wetlands \u2013 A Great River Cruise Through the Mangrove Forest"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kota Kinabalu is the perfect base for various fun tours in the area, and one of the best attractions nearby is a visit to the Klias Wetlands (full name: Klias Wetland Mangrove Forest Reserve). This watery, 1300 km\u00b2 peat bog is about a 1.5 to 2-hour drive south of the city. It\u2019s a maze of rivers that flow into the sea, surrounded by a massive mangrove forest home to all kinds of unique animal and bird species. The trip is well organized, and after the river cruise, you also get to experience the area “by night”, when fireflies light up the trees. A great day out \u2014 and in the evening, you\u2019ll return to your hotel in the city, tired but satisfied.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Highlights during the river cruise<\/h2>\n

After a short briefing, you put on a life jacket and hop on a special boat. The boat follows a set route along the Klias River, and the guide starts looking for hard-to-spot animals and birds right from the beginning. The main highlight is the Proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) \u2014 and if we\u2019re to believe the guide, there are over 800 of them living in Klias, spread across several families. Because there are so many and they\u2019re used to tourists, your chances of spotting them are really high.<\/p>\n


\n<\/p>\n

We ended up seeing several families, all of them already settling in for the night. They usually choose the same kind of trees to sleep in: tall, thick-branched trees close to others so they can escape easily if needed. Once they\u2019ve picked their sleeping spots, they just lie or sit on the branches in full view \u2014 perfect for taking some great photos.<\/p>\n

Another highlight was the saltwater crocodiles. After spotting a few small ones, the guide suddenly found a huge one hiding under some mangrove roots. The thing was massive \u2014 at least 5 meters long, according to the guide. I\u2019d seen crocodiles in Malaysia before, but never one that big.<\/p>\n

Besides the proboscis monkeys and crocodiles, you might also see otters, long-tailed macaques, langurs, and a variety of bird species, including hornbills, kingfishers, and more.<\/p>\n


\n<\/p>\n

The fireflies during the second part of the cruise (after a simple but tasty dinner) are truly the icing on the cake. You\u2019ll see their blinking lights everywhere \u2014 in the trees and flying around above the water.<\/p>\n

Program of the half-day tour<\/h2>\n

The tour usually starts with a hotel pick-up in Kota Kinabalu around 2:00\u20132:15 p.m. The tour company goes around picking up participants from their hotels, and then it\u2019s a drive to the Klias Base Camp, where the tour begins. In our case, we arrived and had a drink at the base camp, then set off around 4:30 p.m. for the first part of the cruise, which focused on spotting wildlife \u2014 and we saw plenty!<\/p>\n

On the way back, you\u2019ll catch a beautiful sunset \u2014 typical for Sabah.<\/p>\n

After the river cruise, everyone heads back to the base camp\u2019s information and gathering center for a buffet dinner, which was surprisingly good. Besides filtered water, you can also buy bottled water and soft drinks at the bar (not included in the price).<\/p>\n

By that time, it\u2019s already dark, and everyone puts on their life jackets again for the Firefly Cruise. You\u2019ll pass several trees lit up by fireflies. Some trees had the kind that blink in sync, while others had a decent amount of scattered fireflies (though not an overwhelming amount like we\u2019ve seen elsewhere). And while the fireflies were the main draw, the incredibly clear, star-filled sky was also amazing to see from the boat.<\/p>\n


\n<\/p>\n

After this magical experience, you’ll head back to Kota Kinabalu around 8:00 p.m., and you\u2019ll get dropped off at your hotel by around 9:30\u201310:00 p.m.<\/p>\n

What’s the best place to book the tour?<\/h2>\n

It doesn\u2019t really matter where you book the tour \u2014 the prices aren\u2019t that different whether you book directly through the owner (Borneo Authentic) or through a third party. We usually book through Klook.com, so you\u2019re dealing with a large international company (you also pay in advance by credit card, which adds an extra layer of security). Usually, you can book a trip from around \u20ac45 per person, including transfers and dinner.<\/p>\n

Once you arrive at the Base Camp, all the groups are divided among the boats. Each boat holds a maximum of about 20 people. This seems like a lot, but there aren’t many other boats as there are only a handful of operators active and Klias is quite remotely located (so no masses).<\/p>\n

If you have a rental car, you can also drive to Klias Wetlands yourself. You can buy a ticket on the spot or in advance online via Sabah Travel. You\u2019ll need to be at the meeting point (OIB Klias Base Camp) by 4:00 p.m. at the latest. It\u2019s easy to find using Google Maps or Waze. Tickets cost around RM100 (\u20ac20) per person (for two cruises + dinner), and you can book for two or more people.<\/p>\n

Just be aware that the road back is dark and has no street lighting (at least for the first part). It\u2019s best to book an overnight stay nearby \u2014 there are a few resorts along the beach near Klias. In that case, it\u2019s easier to have the resort owners drop you off at the Base Camp (and pick you up afterwards).<\/p>\n

Great half-day tour<\/h2>\n

A visit to Klias Wetlands is a great half-day tour from Kota Kinabalu. It\u2019s a good alternative if you\u2019re skipping nature areas like at the Kinabatangan River. You could also combine it with a morning visit to Borneo Cultural Village (which is along the way), or stop by the village of Papar.<\/p>\n

We thought it was a fantastic afternoon\/evening adventure. Cruising down the river searching for wildlife is always fun, and the chances of spotting something are pretty high here \u2014 the guides usually know in advance where the Proboscis monkeys sleep along the river (Proboscis have their favorite sleeping spots).<\/p>\n

The fireflies were also really nice. We\u2019ve seen them a few times over the years, but it\u2019s always a fun experience watching the trees light up like that. If it\u2019s your first time seeing fireflies, it really is magical.<\/p>\n

Tips & Checklist<\/h2>\n
    \n
  • Bring sunscreen and wear a cap.<\/li>\n
  • To be on the safe side, also bring a poncho in case it rains.<\/li>\n
  • DEET is useful for keeping mosquitoes away.<\/li>\n
  • It\u2019s nice to have binoculars with you, so you can look for wildlife on your own too. You can also rent binoculars on-site (limited supply).<\/li>\n
  • A camera with a telephoto lens is helpful \u2014 it\u2019s not easy to take sharp photos from the boat with a regular handheld camera.<\/li>\n
  • You\u2019re not allowed to use flash during the firefly tour. Without a flash, most photos won\u2019t turn out well anyway.<\/li>\n
  • This tour is also suitable for people with reduced mobility. You don\u2019t need to walk much, but you still have a good chance of spotting wildlife.<\/li>\n
  • The trip from KK to Klias is quite long. While you\u2019ll get some local snacks upon arrival, it\u2019s a good idea to bring your own snacks too.<\/li>\n
  • The shuttle bus can get pretty cold, so a sweater might come in handy.<\/li>\n
  • The tour includes dinner, but you\u2019ll need to pay extra for soft drinks or beer \u2014 so make sure to bring some cash.<\/li>\n
  • In addition to the Klias river cruise, you can also do similar tours on a few nearby rivers. For example the Weston River cruise (lots of crocodiles, closer to the sea) or the Garama River cruise (in addition to lots of proboscis monkeys, you\u2019ll often see water buffalo bathing in the river). These two alternatives are often less crowded, but Klias is the best in terms of photo opportunities (and fireflies).<\/li>\n
  • The Klias river cruise is often recommended as a great activity near Kota Kinabalu, especially if you\u2019re not planning to visit Kinabatangan on the east side of Sabah. If you are going there, Klias might feel a bit redundant \u2014 Kinabatangan is just a little more special due to chances of spotting unique wildlife like orangutans, Borneo pygmy elephants, clouded leopards and more.<\/li>\n
  • You can also check with nearby accommodations to see if they offer private tours. These are often arranged with friendly locals who live by the river. You\u2019ll get to travel further upriver, increasing your chances of spotting wildlife. There are also fewer other boats, so shy species are less likely to flee. Plus, you can spend more time in the evening looking for trees full of fireflies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n