White Water Rafting 1: KIULU (SABAH)

White water rafting is an ideal sport for nature lovers, and if you love to enjoy yourself in the cold streams surrounded by nature at its best! The head down to the nearest rapid to you. In Malaysia, we have approximately 10 rafting locations with 8 being in Peninsular Malaysia and 2 more located in the Land Below the Winds, beautiful Sabah!

In Peninsular Malaysia, you can explore the various rapids at the following locations:
Slim River (Perak), Gopeng River (Kampar), Selangor River (Kuala Kubu Bahru), Sedim River (Kedah), Singoh River (Grik, Perak), Jeram Besu (Pahang), Sungkai River (Perak) and a couple more around the states of Kelantan and Pahang.

For those of you who are planning a trip to the Land Below the Winds, you can check out the Kiulu and Padas Rivers, with the latter being the more adventurous ride!

Your water rafting experience is categorized according to the river or rapids and it ranges from level 1 - 6. These levels are not fixed and may vary according to the season, flow of the river and the gush of excitement!

Level 1 rapids are slightly calmer

It is a wholesome and fun activity for the whole family. Those with children can begin with the lower levels, and then gradually experience the higher level rapids. What if I can't swim? No worries, you will be tucked into safety jacket that helps you float.

An activity for the entire family

The duration of the adventure varies on the length of the rapid and some can stretch beyond 10kms and take up to 4 hours to complete. The price for each package varies and also depends on your service provider. You can opt to drive yourself there or request for a return transfer from your service provider.

You will have an experienced (sometimes Cheeky!) guide in your raft, assisting and keeping you informed of the forthcoming twists and turns. It is not a day by the beach, even if you opted for the lowest level! So be prepared for some memorable bumps and splashes!

We decided on KIULU RIVER (SABAH), and had a group of 10 members on board. Two rafts were booked to ensure everyone had their fair share of fun, bumps and leg space. We arrived at our starting point after an 1.5 hours drive from the Capital, Kota Kinabalu!

We booked our slots from KONDIS POINT! It is a company operated by a friendly local, LASMIN. I must give him credits for the unbelievable price he offered us - RM45 (without Lunch) and RM65 (with buffet lunch)!

I must admit that I was initially skeptical on the quality of service that I would probably receive due to the price I was paying per head, nonetheless, in the end, I vouch that WE RECEIVED A LOT MORE THAN WE BARGAINED FOR! On completing the registration forms, we got divided ourselves and received briefing from our guide, Sam and Friday! 

Safety First
The guides will brief the participants on the do's and don'ts as well as the methods of holding the oar. In no time, we were all tucked in our safety jackets and helmets and ready for our journey!
Family and friends who decide to give the experience a miss can rest and relax at the cozy and cooling sheds provided by Lasmin. He also provides indoor sheds for those who fancy a little more privacy.

The guides will brief the participants on the do's and don'ts as well as the methods of holding the oar. In no time, we were all tucked in our safety jackets and helmets and ready for our journey!

The Streams were really cold and the water was fresh. We paddled down the stream and at areas where the water is less rocky safe to swim, the guide will inform the rafters and you can take a quick dip in the cold streams.

The current of the river nevertheless assists you to glide along the stream. 

There is a point along the Kiulu river, where you can climb the rock and do a back-flip dive into the stream! (a must try! as the kids enjoyed and entertained themselves)

The raft along Kiulu is approximately 10kms and takes around 2 hours to complete. The highlight of the journey is when the guides took on a prank on one of our rafts. The banana-boat seating was arranged and all the rafters sat on only one side of the raft. This made it alot easier for the guide to capsize the entire raft at a secured and safe vicinity. The children had fun recovering and pulling themselves back onto the raft.

Down Under!

We Survived KIULU

At the end of the session, you will be greeted by the service provider (Lasmin) and he will transport you back to your start point, where you can freshen up, get yourselves changed and feed your appetite! Lunch was deliciously home cooked (in our case) by his wife with a good spread of rice, vegetables, fish, fruits and drinks. However, if you have a specific menu or vegetarian preference, you will need to inform him in advance. 

We hope you enjoyed reading the rafting experience at Kiulu, Sabah and we hope to hear from you of your experience and if you found this article infomative! Till we meet again!

Signing Off!

P/S: There are many choices of White Water Rafting service providers ranging from reknown companies to privately owned ones. Nevertheless, we choose Kondis Point basing on the best price in the market and with no intention of undermining other competitive companies in the field. Lasmin can be reached at +6013-876-3878 for your (1shot at life) experience in Kiulu!