Brunei River Mangrove Tour: Discover Proboscis Monkeys And Crocodiles [Travel Guide]

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Brunei River Mangrove Tour

Visitors to Borneo tend to be drawn to nature.

While Ulu Temburong National Park may be the best place to observe undisturbed nature in Brunei, it requires a half-day trip (at least) from Brunei’s capital city, Bandar Seri Begawan. But by taking a Brunei River tour, you’ll still get to experience a natural escape without straying far from the city. You’ll see a rich mangrove forest, proboscis monkeys, crocodiles, monitor lizards, unique bird species and Istana Nurul Iman (the world’s largest residential palace).

In this travel guide, we’ll explore the Brunei River Mangrove Tour.

We’ll cover the history of the Brunei River, what you should expect on your tour, some information about the famous endangered proboscis monkeys, other wildlife you might encounter, landmarks you can see from the river, how to book a Brunei River tour, plus some 5-star rated tour recommendations.

The Brunei River

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Table of Contents

• The Brunei River

• What To Expect On The Tour

  • Proboscis Monkeys

  • Crocodiles And Monitor Lizards

  • Local Birds

  • What Else You’ll See

• How To Book A Tour

  • Book Through A Travel Agency

  • Hire Your Driver Independently

• Bandar Seri Begawan’s Main Jetty

• Visitor Tips!

• Conclusion

• Best Way To Find A Hotel In Brunei

• About The Author (Taz Zaidi)

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The Brunei River

The Brunei River has been a lifeline to local Bruneians for centuries. As mentioned in our Brunei Food Guide, Bruneians have a long history as fishermen and tradesmen. In fact, they’re so well-adapted to the Brunei River, they built a village on it! Kampong Ayer, the world’s largest water village, is a functioning town entirely built on stilts. It's thrived for centuries and is still the most important piece of living history in Borneo. Before Kampong Ayer, Kota Batu was the original capital of the Brunei Empire.

Kota Batu and Kampong Ayer both sit on the Brunei River, just a few kilometers from the Brunei Bay, which opens up to the South China Sea. This easy sea access, combined with a secure harbor, allowed Brunei’s old capital to become a well-positioned trading hub within Southeast Asia (long before the Europeans arrived). Records show the trade relations between Brunei and China date back to at least the 14th century. It was a partnership that enriched Brunei during the Empire’s formative years.

These days, Kota Batu is Brunei’s museum and archaeological district. Kampong Ayer is home to only a portion of the number of residents that lived there in its heyday. Most Bruneians live on the other side of the Brunei River, in the modern city center. Travelers to Brunei will immediately notice the contrast between the two sides of the Brunei River.

Bandar Seri Begawan features tradition and modernity

Thanks to oil wealth created during the last century, Brunei has been able to avoid the need to deforest its country in favor of clearing space for agriculture. As a result, most of Brunei is still lush, dense rainforest. This allows the Brunei River to remain a thriving ecosystem where animal life can prosper.

*Viator.com offers incredible, quality Brunei tours. For the top-rated tour of the Brunei River (with great views of proboscis monkeys!), click here.

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What To Expect On The Brunei River Tour

The Brunei River mangrove tour is one of Brunei’s top attractions. Your trip begins as you get into a boat in Bandar Seri Begawan. As you leave shore, the sounds of the city quickly fade behind you. You’ll branch off into narrowing distributary streams, where a guide will let you enjoy the tranquil environment of the mangrove forest, as the boat slows to a creep.

The echoing sounds of birds, insects, water ripples and your guide’s expertise is all you’ll hear from this point. For most travelers, the highlight of a Brunei River tour is the wildlife. Animals commonly spotted during the tour include proboscis monkeys, monitor lizards, crocodiles and birds.

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Proboscis Monkeys

Proboscis monkey are a “must-see” during your trip to Brunei and Borneo island!

Proboscis monkeys are endemic to Borneo, meaning this is the only place in the world where they live in the wild. This unique Old World monkey is easily distinguishable by its protruding, bulbous nose and reddish-brown hair. Their pot-bellies and curious expressions make them quite endearing to watch.

Brunei is 1 of 3 countries that comprise the massive island of Borneo, but finding a good spot to see proboscis monkeys on the island is actually difficult. But because the Brunei River is so easily accessible, and because Brunei has protected its rainforest much better than Malaysia and Indonesia have, the Brunei River is one of the best places on Borneo island to see these endangered monkeys in their natural habitat.

Adult male proboscis monkey

Proboscis monkeys’ distinct features make them easy to spot, even to the untrained eye. They typically congregate in groups along the mid-tree to canopy level. But keep your gaze up! If you’re lucky, you’ll see a few jump between branches or walk along trees!

Four monkeys walking on a tree

Proboscis monkeys congregate in 2 types of groups.

The first group is comprised of the local alpha male, his female harem, and the females’ juvenile offspring. Juvenile monkeys clutch onto their mothers until a certain age, at which point they remain closely within reach. The second group is comprised of the “beta males”. The beta males keep together, though not as close as the females in the alpha male’s harem do.

Father, mother and juvenile

The best way to distinguish a male proboscis monkey from a female is by the nose size. A male monkey’s nose is more pronounced and droopier (extending well past its mouth, in many cases) than a female’s. Nose size plays a part in the social hierarchy and is a criteria the females use during mate selection. The nose can display health and virility, and the alpha male often has the largest nose of all the males.

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Tips For Spotting Proboscis Monkeys

Proboscis monkeys prefer to avoid the sun during its peak (most intense) hours. During these hours, there’s a greater chance the monkeys will take cover in tree shade. This means, as a visitor, the optimal time to take a Brunei River tour is during morning or late afternoon hours. You’ll still see proboscis monkeys mid-day, but expect to see more during the “optimal” hours. If you’re lucky, you could see up to dozens during a single trip!

*Viator.com offers incredible, quality Brunei tours. For the top-rated tour of the Brunei River (with great views of proboscis monkeys!), click here.

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Crocodiles, Monitor Lizards

You may have heard about the incredible size of crocodiles in Borneo. Crocodiles are often spotted sitting along the banks of the Brunei River, sometimes completely exposed as they bask under sunlight. Other times, they’re partially or fully submerged. Unlike the proboscis monkeys, crocodiles are more difficult to spot by the untrained eye, but your local guide will know their tendencies. Another large reptile you may see is the Asian water monitor lizard. Like crocodiles, they can be spotted lounging along the river banks.

Asian water monitors are common along the Brunei River

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Local Birds

More than 400 bird species live in Brunei. You might notice some flying alongside or overhead while you glide through the river. Typically, birds keep their distance from the humans in the “busier” exposed parts of the Brunei River, but things change once you’ve entered the mangrove forest. In the secluded mangrove, they’re less skittish because the boats are slower and quieter. This is where you can observe them closely. You may even see or hear the majestic rhinoceros hornbill!

Rhinoceros hornbill perched on a branch

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What Else You’ll See

Apart from the interesting animals, a ride through the Brunei River offers great views of some of Brunei’s stunning architectural landmarks. One such landmark includes Istana Nurul Iman (the world’s largest residential palace). It’s the royal family’s home and the official seat of the Brunei government. Apart from Hari Raya (Aidil Fitri), a holiday during which anyone may enter the palace to feast and meet the royal family, Istana Nurul Iman remains closed to the public year-round. This means, if you’re in Brunei during any other time of the year, you will not be permitted to pass the gate. In this case, the best view of the palace comes from the Brunei River. Just a strip of forest separates Istana Nurul Iman from the Brunei River, which creates the appearance of an exquisitely sculpted roof resting on treetops.

View of Istana Nurul Iman from the Brunei River

Another architectural landmark along the river is Duli Pengiran Muda Mahkota Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah Mosque. The DPMM Mosque was named after Sultan Bolkiah’s eldest son, Al-Muhtadee Billah. Its bright yellow and green minarets are hard to miss.

Duli Pengiran Muda Mahkota Al-Muhtadee Billah Mosque

Apart from Istana Nurul Iman and DPMM Mosque, you’ll notice commanding views of Kampong Ayer, RIPAS Bridge, Saifuddien Mosque and much of Bandar Seri Begawan city center during your trip. So many breath-taking views and photo opportunities!

*Viator.com offers incredible, quality Brunei tours. For the top-rated tour of the Brunei River (with great views of proboscis monkeys!), click here.

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How To Book A Brunei River Mangrove Tour

There are 2 ways to book a Brunei River Mangrove tour. You can either:

1) Book through a travel agency

2) Hire your boat independently

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Book Through A Travel Agency

Being one of the most popular travel experiences in Brunei, local hotels and travel agencies book Brunei River mangrove tours all the time. You’ll typically have the option to book a tour separately, or as part of a combined day-trip to Kampong Ayer. Booking through an agency eliminates the risk of getting an inexperienced guide, but may cost more than hiring independently. Agencies ensure guides are experts at providing context and spotting wildlife.

*Viator.com offers incredible, quality Brunei tours. For the top-rated tour of the Brunei River (with great views of proboscis monkeys!), click here.

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Hire Your Driver Independently

To hire your driver independently, simply go to Bandar Seri Begawan’s main jetty and explain what you wish to experience to one of the boat drivers. 15-35 BND is a typical price (per person) for an hour ride up the river, including a visit to the mangrove forest. The price will depend on your request and negotiating skills. To learn all about the costs of traveling in Brunei, click here.

By booking independently, you may be able to personalize your experience (more or less time in any specific areas) but don’t expect your driver to be as enthusiastic or verbose as a pre-booked guide. A local driver may know the area but their job title is “driver”, not “guide”.

For this reason, to ensure a professional, experienced guide/driver for this once-in-a-lifetime experience, I recommended you book a tour prior to arriving in Brunei, using this top-rated tour.

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Bandar Seri Begawan's Main Jetty

Bandar Seri Begawan’s main jetty is in front of Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah mall. You won’t miss it while walking along the city center’s riverfront. You’ll notice water taxis approaching, waiting at, and departing from the jetty all day long. Crossing to Kampong Ayer costs 1 BND one way.

The main jetty in Bandar Seri Begawan city center

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Visitor Tips!

• If hiring independently, agree on a price with a driver before departing the jetty.

• As mentioned earlier, you can take the Brunei River tour as an add-on to your Kampong Ayer visit (a great option to maximize/save time). For more on Kampong Ayer, click here.

• If satisfied, tip the driver/guide upon returning to the jetty! This helps support local families, as most drivers do not earn high local wages.

• Whether you book through an agency or independently, communicate with the driver if you want personalization! This could include spending more time viewing architectural sites, such as Istana Nurul Iman, RIPAS Bridge and DPMM Mosque, or wandering through the stilts of Kampong Ayer.

• At the moment, Brunei’s tourism industry isn’t very mature or regulated. This means more personalized experiences can be negotiated between guides and visitors quite easily.

*Viator.com offers incredible, quality Brunei tours. For the top-rated tour of the Brunei River (with great views of proboscis monkeys!), click here.

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Conclusion

Hopefully you found this guide helpful.

The Brunei River Mangrove Tour is one of the top experiences for visitors to do in Brunei. We covered the river’s history, what to expect on a tour, animals you may see in the mangrove (including proboscis monkeys), plus how to book a tour. Hopefully this guide inspired you to venture into Brunei’s wild side! To learn more about Brunei, explore our guides below.

Enjoy your travels!

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Popular Attractions In Brunei:

• For an even more immersive natural experience, consider a trip to Ulu Temburong National Park, referred to affectionately as the “Jewel of Brunei”.

• Western Brunei offers various natural attractions as well. You’ll learn more about this in our guides on the Belait District and Tutong District.

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Explore the Brunei River through one of these 5-star rated tours, all organized by Viator and run by locals!

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Best Way To Find A Hotel In Brunei

Agoda.com is well-known in Brunei (and in Southeast Asia) for providing amazing deals on a wide range of accommodation options. You’ll find luxury or budget hotels, resorts, villas, hostels, apartments, guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, and unique/alternative types). Use the widget below or click here to search in Brunei.

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