Langkawi was a truly great short vacation I had. If you had read the main post here, you will be able to see all the places I have been in Langkawi which will be link to its post and photos soon.
If you’d ask me what was the best part in Langkawi that is worth remembering and a must do, I’d personally say, “Mangrove Tour”! So without further ado, let me skip the rest of the attractions and places I’ve been for now. In this post, I will introduce you, River Safari Mangrove Tour at Kilim Geoforest Park, Langkawi.
We bought the Mangrove Tour package from Fatimah located on Tanjung Rhu Beach at only RM25. Her little shop hut can be easily spotted on the left side near the beach. I can assure you that the value is very affordable for a super unforgettable experience in Langkawi. We started about 10 a.m and the tour takes about 2 hrs. The package include visits to the following places:
Places to Visit in Langkawi
- Kilim Geoforest Park Mangrove Swamp
- Crocodile Cave
- Bat Cave
- Gua Cerita (we requested for this)
- Fish Farm
No lunch is provided. We gather at Tanjung Rhu Jetty where the boatman cum tour guide is waiting for us. We were greeted by a friendly looking young man named, Ramzi who never failed to answer our questions at times and speaks in a pretty good decent English. So glad that the weather is good with the sun shining brightly in the sky. *Sorry my iphone wouldn’t be able to show much of it).*
Kilim Geoforest Park Mangrove Swamp
We started off with the Mangrove Swamp where you will uncover the wetland reserved park residence – Monkeys of 2 different tribes on either side of the swamp who will fight when they meet each other. I love looking at the mangrove swamp which seems to be well protected and breathing in the fresh air of flora & fauna in the area. Not forgetting the magnificent limestone that comes in different shape and sizes. As the boat tours slowly around the vicinity, we could see the roots of the mangrove in clear view during its low tide. I really adore the ecosystem idea by Dr. Mahathir who had planned this to allow the people of Langkawi and visitors to view and admire Langkawi’s complex ecosystem (Quoted from Asiatravel.com). Such a great thinking, I’d say. It’s truly enjoyable to be able to pass through this river once in my life. And I wouldn’t mind going again!
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Crocodile Caves
We moved on to Crocodile Caves (Gua Buaya) where the boat is only accessible during low tide. According to Ramzi, the cave is named as such due to the shape that looks almost like a mouth of crocodile from the entrance. The cave was small and enough to accommodate a small boat passing through it. This is where the Kilim River actually flows right through. Inside the cave there is an ascending chamber flanked by walls of white limestone with minimal stalactites and stalagmites. Small colonies of bats roost on the lower ceiling. (resource from http://www.langkawikilimmangrove.com/caveexploration.html) Ramzi stopped the boat just outside its entrance for photography and to allow us to view and imagine its shape of crocodile mouth.
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After a good few minutes, he began the throttle and bring us to our next destination, Bat Caves. The journey from crocodile cave to bat cave allows you to have a good view of the floating fishing village where there are many yacht docking at its place, awaiting for the next fishing enthusiast to rent or their owners to come and take them out to sea. The yacht are beautiful with its many different type and colours, dancing along to the waves hitting it.
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Bat Caves
We passed by Kilim Jetty before reaching the Bat Caves. It looks pretty decent with boats parking neatly near the jetty. We were given about 30 – 45 mins to tour around Bat Cave area. **PS**If you are going, bring a torchlight as the cave is very dark. There’s an entry fee of RM 1. And please be careful of the low height cave, the smaller one where there was a ladder that leads to somewhere above in the cave which none of us dare to explore. Have you? What is in there?
We got back to the patiently waiting tour guide on the boat and he throttle off to Gua Cerita. Once we are out in the open sea, Ramzi increases the speed of the boat. The feeling is beyond explanation. It was awesome, SUPER AWESOME! I closed my eyes, take a deep breath and let the wind touch my hair to let it fly free. I smell peace. Really peaceful and beautiful! We are cruising on a boat in the Andaman Sea! Oh, how amazing is that? Ramzi, the tour guide pointed to us an Island on the right and say that is Satun, Thailand! A 45 mins ferry ride from Tanjung Rhu. Wow. Langkawi is that close to Thailand. Super! The next time I’m coming back, I’m sure to visit Satun!
Gua Cerita
Gua Cerita is pretty small. It was believed that Gua Cerita is a cave of legend where a China Princess was held hostage by the Garudas. Legend can be found here. There are strange formations found in the cave as per pictures below. Oh, while I was in awe of the gorgeous open sea, taking pictures of it, I bumped my head onto the dripping like rocks. There was a loud thud and my friends could really heard it. Honestly, it was very very painful. I suffered a bad neck and headache after the incident. It lasted for 3 weeks after coming back to Singapore. Ouch! I learnt that Syahirah too got bumped but according to her, not as hard as mine. So please be careful.
Then again, our boat throttle off into Andaman Sea towards the Fish Farm, our last stop for the day. Glad to have another chance to feel the wind and smile at the sea with Thailand on the right hand side. Oooh oooh, I’m a happy lady.
Fish Farm
We were greeted by Adi at the Fish Farm. All smiley and eager to show us around. Adi asked me to touch the stingray and I was afraid at first but he assured that it’s ok and that it won’t sting me. So, I happily touch it for a good few seconds. Hee. First time. Then he showed us around to the different type of fishes. There are many of it and I truly can’t recall the names of each fish. I think there’s Tenggiri fish and many more.
We returned back to Tanjung Rhu Jetty at about 12 p.m and was offered a souvenir of our photos which we didn’t buy. The photos are nicely captured but I just don’t feel the need. That’s the end of my River Safari Mangrove Tour. It was an absolutely amazing activity for Day 4. If you love nature and would like to discover a different part of Langkawi other than on the mainland, I will highly recommend you to get on a boat and tour around the Kilim Geoforest Park, one of the oldest and well reserved park in Malaysia. Such experience like this can never be bought, it can only be felt by the heart and treasured in the box of memories in our mind. Hope you like this.
Have you been to Langkawi? What do you think is worth remembering?
**PS: Like this post? Feel free to click the ‘Like’ button. Have got something to ask or say? Just write in to the comment box below ok. Feel that it’s worth sharing? Then, link back to this post and if you could let me know, it would be great! Thanks, loves!**
Xoxo;
Lia schmolphin
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