Kawa Kawa River
Kawa Kawa River
3.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
3.5
22 reviews
Excellent
11
Very good
2
Average
3
Poor
1
Terrible
5
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J.S
2 contributions
Aug 2019 • Couples
It was really sad seeing and hearing bulldozers in the background clearning land. The forest was really thin in places.
Written August 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ななしの 権
17 contributions
Aug 2017 • Solo
I thought I booked for Klias river and was taken to this river without any notification by one of the tour countet at Jesselton point.
Beware.
This river is also called Tamau river or Nanamun river.
Beware.
This river is also called Tamau river or Nanamun river.
Written August 3, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dorothy0702
Kuching, Malaysia119 contributions
Oct 2016 • Friends
I am very satisfied with my tour to Kota Belud on 02/10/2016. On the way to Kota Belud, we stop over at Tuaran area, to taste a very refreshing Coconut Pudding. I enjoy the view of the villages. Reaching Kawa Kawa River in late afternoon. Light refreshment is provided. Should try the local pastries, "penjaram"..very nice!
Boarding the small boat with other tourist and everyone is very excited. I guess it was our lucky day because we can spot few animals such as Proboscis Monkey, Monitor lizard, Silvered Leaf Monkey, birds and other animal. Back to jetty, having the simple dinner before we view the sunset at Pantai Emas, which I never heard before. Wow..it was so amazing.
After the short drive, we reaching another jetty to view the fireflies. It was so awesome, just like a Christmas tree.
Thank you very much to the local agent that arrange this tour. Even it was a last minute bookings, but you guys manage to provide the good services and good transportation.
For travelers out there, is you looking for a tour in KK, can contact Mr Amin @ 016 8237276
Boarding the small boat with other tourist and everyone is very excited. I guess it was our lucky day because we can spot few animals such as Proboscis Monkey, Monitor lizard, Silvered Leaf Monkey, birds and other animal. Back to jetty, having the simple dinner before we view the sunset at Pantai Emas, which I never heard before. Wow..it was so amazing.
After the short drive, we reaching another jetty to view the fireflies. It was so awesome, just like a Christmas tree.
Thank you very much to the local agent that arrange this tour. Even it was a last minute bookings, but you guys manage to provide the good services and good transportation.
For travelers out there, is you looking for a tour in KK, can contact Mr Amin @ 016 8237276
Written October 7, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PER_Travel
Perth36 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
This is for sure monkey business.
The “meals” provided were somewhat sub standard. At best it could be referred to a local snack. The river stank and the camp facilities sewer went right in to it.
No monkeys were present and after having been shuttled from the river to a beach, to view a sunset, we decided we had enough. Our transport was ordered to return us to town, leaving the promised “dinner” that was to be served at the sewer smelling camp out of the programme.
In summary: 5 hours in a mini van, 45 minutes on an overloaded river boat, and no monkeys. Thank God we did not extend any further.
If you want to waste a day on the road and in other unpleasant surroundings, this is the trip for you. The rest of you - stay away from this monkey business.
The “meals” provided were somewhat sub standard. At best it could be referred to a local snack. The river stank and the camp facilities sewer went right in to it.
No monkeys were present and after having been shuttled from the river to a beach, to view a sunset, we decided we had enough. Our transport was ordered to return us to town, leaving the promised “dinner” that was to be served at the sewer smelling camp out of the programme.
In summary: 5 hours in a mini van, 45 minutes on an overloaded river boat, and no monkeys. Thank God we did not extend any further.
If you want to waste a day on the road and in other unpleasant surroundings, this is the trip for you. The rest of you - stay away from this monkey business.
Written January 10, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gustova_69
Pereslavl-Zalessky, Russia3,588 contributions
Apr 2024 • Friends
This river tour was one of the most vivid memories on the island, during which we saw so many things: mangroves, lots of birds and animals, including the rarest nose monkeys that live only in Borneo, unusual homes of the locals. And what a fantastic sunset, incredibly beautiful! At the end of the evening, after dark, the fireflies lit their lights and illuminated us. Some from the shore started flying into our boat, it was very beautiful, it's a pity the photo doesn't capture the beauty we saw.
Automatically translated
Written June 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Diving-Addiction00
Malaysia379 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
We joined this tour expecting to see Probocis monkeys and wild life but were very disappointed with the whole journey. The boat was cramped. We were overloaded with tourists beyond capacity. We hardly saw more than 2-3 monkey's and all in all, it was just not worth the journey, time and money spent.
I highly recommend heading down to Klias instead as this was a much better experience and tours are done in the late evenings unlike in Kota Belud where the tour started at 3.00pm and we were sunburnt from the sun.
Not worth it.
I highly recommend heading down to Klias instead as this was a much better experience and tours are done in the late evenings unlike in Kota Belud where the tour started at 3.00pm and we were sunburnt from the sun.
Not worth it.
Written September 14, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisa M
Melbourne, Australia17 contributions
Dec 2017 • Couples
Probably only have ourselves to blame after booking this trip with a man who took us on a boat trip to Mamutik Island. See separate post. Anyway, the bus (10 seater mini van) picked us up half an hour late, then we had to stop half way and wait for over 1/2 hour on the side of the road for another bus to catch us, because our "driver" forgot to pick up two people who were being delivered to us. Eventually arrived 3 hours after we should have been picked up. On arrival, given donuts and tea/coffee whilst many of us were harassed by aggressive monkeys physically jumping up to steal our food. Some of the Korean ladies were very scared and distressed. Onto the boat and yes we saw a couple of monkeys (lucky because it was getting dark at this stage), but it was impossible to tell from a distance whether they were Probiscus monkeys or just the annoying normal monkeys. Long way to come to see something that may or may not have been a Probiscus monkey. You would have needed a good set of binoculars to see anything. After about 15 minutes, off the boat, back in the van and up the road to a restaurant (and I use that term very loosely) lined up and had a couple of varieties of really bad cold food slapped on our plate. We were told we had 25 minutes to eat our food and be back on the bus. Back to the River by bus and back in the boats for the fireflies. Whilst they were OK, they weren't worth 7 hours of our life, or the horrific bus trip home. I sat in the front with the driver who was young and the worst (most dangerous) driver I have come across in Asia. He had absolutely no concept of safety and driving to the road conditions. I was a bit nervous on the way there on dry roads, but on the way home, it was raining steadily, sometimes heavily. In addition to not using his wipers when he should have, he continued to tailgate, speed, and attempt to overtake slower moving vehicles in very dangerous conditions. I had to tell him to slow down, that he was responsible for getting us home safely, and to stop trying to overtake cars - just get us home - there was no hurry. At one stage, he asked me if I wanted to change seats and I said yes, I want to drive. Anyway we eventually got home more through good luck than anything else. DO NOT go on a tour to Kawa Kawa River under any circumstances. It is a rip off and they don't care about your health and safety. Also, its two hours each way and 7 wasted hours of your life.
Written December 22, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
southern_skies_28
Brisbane Region, Australia22 contributions
Oct 2017 • Solo
Im a pretty open minded traveller and can laugh about most situations but this was really poor.
I chose this tour because I read there were less boats and people, in which case I would hate to see the 'busy' one. There are many points along the river where many boats leave from, I counted at least 20 the time and day I went.
After 'high tea' (deep fried banana, black tea or coffee from a thermos) you get thrown on one of many boats and taken to 'find' proboscis monkeys which is a scam. You go around a mangrove for 20 minutes while the guide doesn't even bother to look up from their phone. At the very end there are some other monkeys which are clearly fed and domesticated to keep them in that area. (I asked the guide if they were fed by humans and she confirmed it with a cheeky grin! That was probably the highlight of the tour - at least we laughed about it! On that note, all the staff are friendly and chatty, and they all speak several languages)
Back in your van to get thrown out at a beach for 1 hour which is covered in plastic trash, sand flies and mosquitos along with everyone else from the 20 other boats.
Back to the boat dock for an ok meal although could be better given the cost of the tour. At this point the mosquitos were thick and undeterred by repellant. A few bug zappers or even coils would be an easy addition.
During dinner I was told I had to pay 70myr, even though I had already paid 160myr to akinabalu youth hostel whom I booked it through. Fortunately I had the receipt on me.
Then finally go out to see fireflys for 20mins.
Honestly this tour is a waste of time and money. 7 hours for less than 1 hour on the water.
The fireflys were great but not worth the overall totally disappointing experience.
I chose this tour because I read there were less boats and people, in which case I would hate to see the 'busy' one. There are many points along the river where many boats leave from, I counted at least 20 the time and day I went.
After 'high tea' (deep fried banana, black tea or coffee from a thermos) you get thrown on one of many boats and taken to 'find' proboscis monkeys which is a scam. You go around a mangrove for 20 minutes while the guide doesn't even bother to look up from their phone. At the very end there are some other monkeys which are clearly fed and domesticated to keep them in that area. (I asked the guide if they were fed by humans and she confirmed it with a cheeky grin! That was probably the highlight of the tour - at least we laughed about it! On that note, all the staff are friendly and chatty, and they all speak several languages)
Back in your van to get thrown out at a beach for 1 hour which is covered in plastic trash, sand flies and mosquitos along with everyone else from the 20 other boats.
Back to the boat dock for an ok meal although could be better given the cost of the tour. At this point the mosquitos were thick and undeterred by repellant. A few bug zappers or even coils would be an easy addition.
During dinner I was told I had to pay 70myr, even though I had already paid 160myr to akinabalu youth hostel whom I booked it through. Fortunately I had the receipt on me.
Then finally go out to see fireflys for 20mins.
Honestly this tour is a waste of time and money. 7 hours for less than 1 hour on the water.
The fireflys were great but not worth the overall totally disappointing experience.
Written October 9, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
flyinggurnard
13 contributions
Nov 2015 • Friends
Boat trip around the mangrove area to see native wildlife. We observed 2 large groups of Proboscis Monkeys playing in the trees close to our boat. The river was very picturesque, an interesting habitat and not overly crowded. This wetland area is also brilliant for spotting birdlife, with kingfishers, egrets, herons, eagles, kites and more. Kawakawa also offer a good local dinner time buffet and night trips to see firefly.
Written December 13, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bronwyn H
Hoi An, Vietnam29 contributions
Jun 2018 • Couples
A great trip and fantastic tour guide. On the way Fizal from Fly Borneo Company shared the sites of the city as we drove to Kota Belud in a comfortable air conditioned car.
On arrival we had home made pancakes, and fried banana from their local banana plants.
The boat cruise lasted one and a half hours..we spotted kingfisher, egrets, monitor lizard, a tree with a family of macas and two separate trees of proboscis monkeys.
We were not guaranteed to see any animals, and so it was very special that we did. Our boat operators did everything to ensure we could get as close as possible to the monkeys.
The dinner was a satisfying meal of local dishes and fresh fruit.
With it now being dark we travelled to another river location where we went out along the river. There were plenty of fire flies in the bushes but with a technique using the torch a crew member had the fire flies coming to us in the boat. It was a very magical experience to end a great day.
On arrival we had home made pancakes, and fried banana from their local banana plants.
The boat cruise lasted one and a half hours..we spotted kingfisher, egrets, monitor lizard, a tree with a family of macas and two separate trees of proboscis monkeys.
We were not guaranteed to see any animals, and so it was very special that we did. Our boat operators did everything to ensure we could get as close as possible to the monkeys.
The dinner was a satisfying meal of local dishes and fresh fruit.
With it now being dark we travelled to another river location where we went out along the river. There were plenty of fire flies in the bushes but with a technique using the torch a crew member had the fire flies coming to us in the boat. It was a very magical experience to end a great day.
Written June 6, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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