Kuah Kilim Geoforest Park Tour: A Review

Looking to find out if the Kuah Kilim Geoforest Park Half-Day Mangroves Boat Tour in Langkawi is worth the effort? Well, you’ve come to the right place! I had the pleasure, sort of, of taking this particular tour and I’m going to give you, like your best friend, a no-holds-barred account of just what you should expect. No fluff, only real talk about whether this excursion should really be on your Langkawi to-do list. The Kilim Geoforest Park, that is a UNESCO site, by the way, has those magnificent limestone formations, secret caves, and a whole web, actually, of mangrove swamps. Let’s explore it and decide if it’s the correct activity for your vacation.

What to Expect from Your Boat Ride

OK, so, the first thing to be familiar with is what the half-day mangroves boat tour really, truly provides. Usually, a tour will run for about four hours, it’s almost like just enough time to make you feel you’ve really seen it, too little to make you, like your toddlers, bored out of your mind. The usual plan involves a slow speed, gently cruising along the Kilim River. That way, you get to peep those tangled mangrove roots and watch the area’s crazy, cute, and interesting wildlife. As a matter of fact, there will often be planned stops, for instance at a bat cave, a fish farm, and that majestic Eagle Watching point. The tours often have a lunch stop at one of the floating restaurants. More on those restaurants later, though! Is that something that tickles your fancy?

Getting Up Close with Nature

You’re very probably asking yourself, just what wildlife am I talking about? The mangroves, yet are very full of creatures of all kinds. Watch closely for macaque monkeys swinging through trees. Those little stinkers are very intelligent and very curious. Keep your snacks very safe; they are opportunists for certain. If you’re keen eyed, arguably, you may also see monitor lizards basking in the sunlight on the riverbanks. Then there are those eagles – Brahminy Kites and White-bellied Sea Eagles – that soar above, as I was saying, are impressive as they swoop to grab fish from the water. Actually, I was impressed when I first saw them doing this! So you, more or less, will appreciate being on the lookout for the colourful kingfishers darting between branches, adding splashes of vibrant colour to the natural scenery. To be honest, there’s a complete mini ecosystem just buzzing with activities everywhere you look!

The Bat Cave Experience

Right then, one of the key stops is that Gua Kelawar, yet often called the Bat Cave. Just so you know, to get in, a short walk is necessary over a boardwalk winding through the mangroves. So you can appreciate more nature close up. The cave itself is quite dark and rather pungent with, yet a really strong smell of bat guano – that’s bat poop. Thousands of bats, just clinging to the cave roof, I mean it can be, kind of, intimidating, sort of impressive. Bring a torch, maybe, as some tours do not always provide one, you know, which is just slightly daft! You’re very able to actually, see the bats more clearly, as I was saying, you might appreciate some of the cave formations. If small, cramped, dark places are not actually for you, you might ponder skipping this one, right?

Floating Fish Farm: A Tourist Trap?

Okay, let’s be upfront about this, just a little; the floating fish farm can often feel extremely touristy. So you will see various marine creatures held in those cages, like your group in a zoo, I mean. The staff will attempt to, as I was saying, impress you, you see them throwing food, that way getting the fish to frenzy, and try to get you to pay more to hold some of those creatures like the horseshoe crab. Overall, the cages looked, quite, cramped and I felt just a little uncomfortable supporting this type of, kind of, attraction. The value here is questionable if you have ethical misgivings concerning animal tourism. That said it is one of those, typically, usual things that tourist operators take people to, I mean.

Lunch at a Floating Restaurant: Food with a View?

Your mangrove tour is virtually certain to include a stop at one of the floating restaurants. First, let me just start with a view is, that, great! You’re very able to enjoy, perhaps, your meal surrounded by water, those green mangroves. On the other hand, the food can be rather hit and miss and somewhat overpriced too. Often you get presented with the sort of menu targeting Western tourists and expect the food won’t actually be the highlight of that trip. Some tours will incorporate a set meal as part of your package. It is usually, often, a better idea to check the menu beforehand if you may actually have dietary restrictions or a bit fussy! As a matter of fact I believe many restaurants don’t cater to that degree!

Is the Eagle Watching Worth It?

Right then, the eagle watching part of a trip, it’s almost like it is a real highlight for plenty of, just slightly budding photographers, you know? Tour boats gather at the certain spots, and arguably, the guides throw pieces of, more or less, chicken into the water. Almost immediately those eagles swoop from above to actually grab a meal. Yes that sight of lots of these, as a matter of fact majestic birds is dramatic, so you may find yourself taking some photographs! Some people could possibly consider this type of feeding a little bit artificial or interfering with that natural ecosystem. Even though it is an incredible thing to watch, so your view could influence your final, honest, judgement.

Making the Most of the Tour: Tips and Tricks

Okay, so, here are just a little bits of pieces of advice, more or less, you need to think about to, in fact, get something from that trip:

• Pick a good time. Opt for those earlier morning tours. Those temperatures are milder. That wildlife is more active.
• Bring the stuff you might need. That would definitely be sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses! Believe me when I suggest you put on insect repellent; so that mozzies will get, sort of, nasty, you know? A waterproof bag keeps all that electronic gear safe and those dry clothes are actually useful to have to swap over after you’ve had, kind of, one of those showers that suddenly happen!
• Haggle just a little! Remember to negotiate on your prices! Tours vary. So shop around so you find something meeting both requirements and pocket too, you know?
• Respect that wildlife. Keep a bit of your distance; never, actually, feed all that wildlife yourself, OK? You’re very able to support those practices of eco-tourism by keeping all of your rubbish away and showing the park, you appreciate nature, right?

Is the Kuah Kilim Geoforest Park Tour Really Worth It?

Alright, so, now for a judgment. Arguably, the Kuah Kilim Geoforest Park Half-Day Mangroves Boat Tour actually, provides this, I mean, something for somebody. The surroundings tend to be really stunning; there’s an actual abundance in the terms of all that wildlife and a feel for your real environment there. But the visit towards that fish farm seems a bit controversial; the meal won’t always blow socks off. When deciding if that trip matches your personal preferences so therefore evaluate something properly! The naturalist in you or keen photographer would want the very beautiful area. Nevertheless you could be disillusioned simply by something with all those parts seeming just slightly stage-managed. I mean it all just needs you to evaluate your expectation; then plan properly!

After some serious thinking here is my overall advice: The Kuah Kilim Geoforest Park Boat trip, right, shows just some truly amazing area. However, a bit can feel somewhat touristy or that food mediocre. Just get your priorities. That area, it’s almost like, gives one magnificent trip or with its eco and cultural shortcomings.