KILIM MANGROVE & NATURE PARK

The Kilim Nature Park at the northeast tip of the island spread over an

area of 100sq. km including the river banks up to the river estuary.

The park features a beautiful mix of well protected green mangrove

forests, isolated white beaches and blue lagoons.

Here you can admire the natural beauty of the overhanging "Bogak Tree",

Tree Crabs, Iguanas and Macaques as well as enjoy the scenic and

spectacular views of unique limestone rock formations emerging from the floor

and of the mangrove swamps and the sea.

These fascinating geological wonders have been variously dubbed as the

Temple of Borobodur, the Elephant Stone and the Hanging Gardens.

Gua Cerita (Cave of Legends) and Gua Kelawar (Bat Cave)

are accessible via Sungai Kilim

Here you will also get to see ecological sites like limestone caves and a fresh

water lake along what is known as the Mangrove trail.

Spend the day exploring the mangroves, singing back to the howler monkeys, dodging bats in ancient caves, feeding manta rays, swimming the shores of

isolated beaches, watching eagles feed and otters play.

Along the trail, passing through calm winding river, you will be exposed to the wonders of the park's marine ecosystem, flora and fauna and its natural habitats.

Kilim River is also a great place for some bird watching during the

migratory seasons in September and March.

Eagle Feeding

Home of a growing number of eagles for the past 40 years, the river is partially protected from the strong wind blowing from the open sea by the islands of Pulau Anak Kilim and Pulau Tanggok and the coastal mangrove swamps

Found in great numbers here, the eagles here include the white-bellied fish eagle,

brahminy kite and the gigantic sea eagles.

The actual feeding takes place near the river estuary, Sungai Banjar.

Upon reaching the spot, the fisherman turned eco-operator stalls the engine and throws some small fishes into the water.

The airborne predators hover over the tall mangrove trees, fix their eyes on the boat, wait silently and prepare to swoop in on the food. As soon as the fishes float on the river's surface, the eagles begin screeching and circling above in a magnificent dance as they soar around and around high up in the air. With wingspans of over a metre they are indeed a majestic sight.

For the best time to watch eagle feeding, avoid the last quarter of the year until March as breeding and nesting occur during that period.

The eagle population in Kilim has grown over the years. Initially there were an estimated 15 pairs some 30 years ago and has since grown to number over 400.  These wild predators have grown used to humans and boats and are not easily frightened by the sounds of engines and humans.

THE TOUR

The best way is to take the sights here is to take the Kilim Nature Park Tour

You would picked up from your hotel and taken to the Sungai Kilim mangrove reserve where you would board a boat.

The first stop would be at a fish farm. At the fish breeding farm. Tourist

can have a closer looked of different kind of marine life such as Moray Eels,

Horse Shoe Crabs, Mantis Prawns, Sting Rays, Trevallys, Sea Bass

and Ornamental Fishes. Fish feeding is one of the activities

at the fish-breeding farm. You'd be shown how to feed a sting ray by hand.

After this stop you would head through the mangroves, and a stop at Gua Kelawar (Bat Cave). This cave takes the shape of a long tunnel, approximately 60 metres long and is so named because of its inhabitants, the fruit bats

A wooden platform runs right through the cave providing

easy access for visitors. Here you will see hundreds of fruit Bats hanging

up side down but they will remain quite still even with all the flashes from

those taking pictures.

You then proceed to Crocodile Cave. There are no crocs here now but

it is home to hundreds of bats. It is unique because a boat

can pass through only during low tide.

From here you would proceed on to the highlight of the trip-the - Eagle feeding. Not one, not two but they come in tens. On good days it is hundreds. Here you have a chance to get close to see the different species of eagles such as Brahminy Kite and White Bellied Sea Eagle   You then proceed to the mangrove The Barn Thai for a set lunch The souvenir shop and a restaurant is very handy within the farm. The prices are very nominal and you can get good deal from there   The trip ends with your transfer back to your hotel