Page 279 - The Guide To Sarawak

THE GUIDE TO SARAWAK 277
An express boat makes its way up the Batang Rejang. Regular scheduled services connect most settlements along the Rejang and its major tributaries.
Tourists keep a lookout for proboscis monkeys and silvered langurs amongst the mangroves of Kuching Wetlands National Park on the award-winning Santubong Wildlife Cruise run by CPH Travel.
tourists, providing valuable jobs and income in rural areas.
Using Public Transport
Public water transport is
a great way to discover rural Sarawak and meet the local people. The Rejang and Baram rivers (for example) have regular, fast express boat services to most settlements and there is also a service from Kuching to Sibu. Smaller rivers are often served by speedboats and longboats, while local ferries provide access to remote villages and secluded beaches.
River Safaris
Many tour operators offer river and longhouse safaris, travelling into Borneo’s interior in traditional longboats. An hour or two paddling up the Lemanak River or around the Batang Ai Hydro lake (to name a few – because there are many more) will leave visitors with memories to last a lifetime. These safaris can be simple overnight trips with just an hour in the boat each way, or full- blown longboat adventures involving camping and cooking on the edge of the rainforest, or even kayak
safaris along the upper reaches of the Sarawak River.
Water Underground - Caves, Hot Springs and Mud Volcanoes
Many of Sarawak’s spectacular cave formations are the result of rivers flowing through caves for thousands
of years. For example,
the Clearwater Cave in Mulu National Park is constantly being hollowed out by the action of a subterranean river an astounding 108km long. Sarawak’s underground watercourses create some pleasant experiences - three hot springs are
easily accessible to visitors, Kampung Panchor Dayak and Annah Rais Longhouse near Kuching, and Merap near Lawas. Another unusual underground
water phenomenon is the bizarre 2-metre high “mud volcanoes” which can be seen near Limbang and Bintulu.
MV Equatorial mooring at the Kuching Waterfront after one of her very popular sunset cruises along the Sarawak River.