Kilia Mangrove Cruise

Cruise into a protected, mangrove wetlands teeming with wildlife, including proboscis monkeys, which are only found in Borneo.

After departing from the pier, you will settle in for a meandering and immensely scenic drive into the Klias Wetland, a vast reserve of mangrove forests. Upon reaching the Klias River, which runs through the heart of the wetlands, you will cruise into the wilderness.

Wildlife is abundant in and out of the water. You may spot eagles in the treetops, crocodiles basking along the shore and long-tailed macaques. Many Buddhists and Hindus consider these monkeys sacred, one of the reasons that they are commonly seen around temples.

Still, the most revered animal in the wetlands is the proboscis monkey, an endangered species that is most active later in the day. Endemic to Borneo, these rather odd-looking primates are named for their long, pendulous noses. Scientists believe that the purpose of their large proboscises is to allow the monkeys to produce remarkably loud warning calls.

Besides being excellent swimmers, proboscis monkeys wade through shallow water on their hind feet. They are also sometimes spotted walking through the forest in an upright position. They are one of the few monkeys that are habitually bipedal.

It will be quite the sight to see one, as only about a thousand of proboscis monkeys are estimated to live in the wild. The protected Klias Wetland is one of the finest places in Borneo to see them.