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How to Whitewater Raft in Sabah

How to Whitewater Raft in Sabah

U.S: Forest Service

Sabah is a province in the Malaysian part of the island of Borneo. This remote tropical paradise has remained relatively unspoiled, and has become a magnet for eco-tourism activities ranging from trekking deep in the rain forest to scuba diving. One of the most popular draws is the wet and wild fun of white water rafting down Sabah's jungle rivers.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:
  • Passport with six months validity
  • Proof of return ticket (optional)
  • Bank statement (optional)
  • Open-toed shoes or sandals
  • Waterproof sunblock and sun hat
  • Change of clothes (optional)
Step 1
Fly to Kota Kinabalu. This is the capital of the state of Sabah, and the home of its major airport. There are international connections to airports throughout Southeast Asia, as well as domestic connections from Peninsular Malaysia.
Step 2
Get your passport stamped after arrival. Westerners are eligible for the 90-day tourist visa upon arrival in Malaysia. The only hard and fast requirement is a passport with at least six months of validity remaining. Strictly speaking, you should also be able to prove that you have a return ticket and enough money to cover your expenses, so it might be a good idea to have your return ticket and a copy of a recent bank statement handy. However, in practice these are almost never asked for.
Step 3
Gauge your own capability. Sabah has two white-water rivers: the Kiulu and the Padas. Kiulu has Class I and II rapids, while Padas has up to Class IV. The former is good for beginners, but offers little to an experienced rafter. The most difficult parts of the Padas absolutely require prior white-water experience and poses some difficult challenges. This ought to make choosing between them simple.
Step 4
Shop around for a rafting company. There are plenty in the Kota Kinabalu area. You will probably wind up booking a trip through a tourist agency or guesthouse/hotel middleman, as this is simply more convenient. Renting a raft for an independent trip is nearly impossible, and bringing your own kit by plane is prohibitively expensive.
Step 5
Wear open-toed shoes and clothes you do not mind getting wet. A sun hat and waterproof sunblock are also good ideas, as spending the day in the tropical sun will almost certainly result in sunburn otherwise. Consider a spare change of clothes for the end optional, as the heat and sun will dry out what you are wearing quickly enough.
Step 6
Enjoy the trip. One of the benefits of a package trip like this is that everything is taken care of for you. A typical trip will pick you up at your accommodations, include lunch and drop you off at the end of the day.
Step 7
Follow the directions of your guide while on the boat. The rafting guides will all speak English, so this will pose no problem. Remember that whatever you might or might not know about rafting, you do not know anything about the river you are on, so your safety depends on paying attention to what the expert tells you to do.

Tips & Warnings

 
There is no sea ferry service from Peninsular Malaysia to Borneo, making the only other option for entering the area an overland crossing from Indonesian Borneo.
 
Any responsible rafting operation will bar children below the age of 12 from the Padas River. Do not plan on taking small children on a family trip there. If you find a company that will accept them, it is a good sign they are a thoroughly unsafe company.

Article Written By Edwin Thomas

Edwin Thomas has been writing since 1997. His work has appeared in various online publications, including The Black Table, Proboxing-Fans and others. A travel blogger, editor and writer, Thomas has traveled from Argentina to Vietnam in pursuit of stories. He holds a Master of Arts in international affairs from American University.

Write for Trails.com

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