Private Bongawan Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Tour, Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu City Mosque Photo Stop

On the drive out of the city your guide can stop at the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque at Likas Bay, often called the Floating Mosque because it stands on a man-made lagoon and seems to rest on the water. Its blue and gold domes and slender minarets reflect beautifully in the lagoon, and it is one of the most photographed buildings in Sabah. Muslim travellers can use the stop to pray, and on most days visitors can look inside for a small entry fee paid on the spot.

The mosque is not open for tourist visits on Fridays, when the stop becomes an outside photo stop only. Visitors entering the grounds must cover arms and legs, and women cover their hair; robes are provided at the entrance. Because the tour is private, you decide whether to stop here for 20 minutes or head straight to Bongawan.

Bongawan Wetland, Sabah

Bongawan is a small fishing and farming area on the west coast of Sabah, about 1.5 to 2 hours by road south-west of Kota Kinabalu, where a slow river winds through nipa palms and mangroves to the sea. It is far less busy than the better-known Klias river, which is why many travellers choose a Bongawan proboscis monkey tour for a calmer evening on the water. Our driver handles the whole drive, so you can rest or enjoy the countryside of paddy fields and villages.

How to get to Bongawan from Kota Kinabalu without a tour is not easy, as there is no direct public transport to the jetty. On arrival you are welcomed with local high tea and have a short break before the first cruise, with prayer facilities and clean toilets at the jetty area.

Proboscis Monkey River Cruise

The afternoon cruise lasts about 45 minutes and follows the river while the guide scans the treetops. The proboscis monkey is found only on Borneo: males have a long, drooping nose and a large belly, and family groups gather in riverside trees in the late afternoon to feed and settle for the night. You may also see long-tailed macaques, silvered leaf monkeys, monitor lizards, kingfishers and egrets.

Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but late afternoon gives the best chance. Your guide keeps a respectful distance so the animals are not disturbed; bring binoculars or a camera with zoom for the best views. Back at the jetty, a buffet dinner of local dishes is served, about one hour, before the evening programme.

Sunset and the Sky Mirror at Bongawan

After dinner you head to the nearby beach for sunset. On calm evenings at low tide, a thin layer of water on the flat sand reflects the sky like a giant mirror, creating the famous sky-mirror effect that makes Sabah's west coast so photogenic. Even without it, the open horizon over the South China Sea makes for beautiful colours.

The reflection depends on tide, wind and cloud, so it cannot be promised, but with a private guide you have the flexibility to linger for the best light. The best time to visit Bongawan for sunsets and calm water is roughly March to September, although the wetland can be visited all year.

Fireflies in the Mangroves

Once it is fully dark, the second cruise sets out into the mangroves. Fireflies gather on certain riverside trees and flash together, so whole trees seem to twinkle like strings of tiny lights. The boat runs slowly with its lights low and the guide brings you close enough to enjoy the display quietly.

Fireflies are most visible on dark, dry nights and fewer may show around the full moon or after heavy rain. Please avoid flash photography and do not try to catch the insects, as the colonies are fragile and depend on healthy riverside trees. After the cruise our driver takes you back to Kota Kinabalu, arriving at your hotel late in the evening, with the sounds of the mangrove night still in your ears.