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Jour 1 |
Kuching - Santubong River - Mangrove forest - Kuching
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This tour explores the many branches of the Santubong and Salak River Delta system as they emerge into the South China Sea. It focuses on the complex ecosystem of the mangrove swamp, which is an important breeding ground for many marine animal species, and a permanent home for small reptiles, mud-skippers, crabs, shellfish, and occasional mammals such as monkeys and lorises. The mangroves are also important feeding grounds for a rich array of bird life. Visitors will see many different types of mangrove, and lean how these uniquely adapted trees colonise the shoreline and develop a complex, symbiotic ecosystem. There will also be a stopover at a Malay fishing village and charcoal factory set deep in the mangrove forest.
This cruise criss-crosses the mouth of the Santubong River in search of the rare Irrawaddy Dolphin. The Irrawaddy, or snubfin dolphin, inhabits rivers, estuaries and shallow coastal areas.
The Santubong area is one of the best places in Sarawak to view this unusual looking marine mammal. The dolphins are often seen swimming and diving around small fishing boats in the estuary. |