Cherating River
Cherating River
4.5
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4.5
155 reviews
Excellent
77
Very good
55
Average
17
Poor
4
Terrible
2
malaysianconnie
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia31 contributions
Sept 2020 • Friends
We booked a mangrove tour with Hafiz for the morning. We were joined by a Club Med Discovery guide with 2 guests from club Med.
I did not find the tour interesting as we were just cruising the mangrove swamps without much commentary on the wildlife in the area.
We had to prompt the guide with questions, even then, some of he cant answer but have to ask the boatman.
Only the eagle eye boatman pointed out sleepy mangrove snakes, crabs & a few birds.
I found that it was not worth the RM45 per person for an hour of a boat ride.
Go only if nothing better to do.
I did not find the tour interesting as we were just cruising the mangrove swamps without much commentary on the wildlife in the area.
We had to prompt the guide with questions, even then, some of he cant answer but have to ask the boatman.
Only the eagle eye boatman pointed out sleepy mangrove snakes, crabs & a few birds.
I found that it was not worth the RM45 per person for an hour of a boat ride.
Go only if nothing better to do.
Written 9 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ymt888
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia1,810 contributions
Mar 2019
We took the night tour and was completely mesmerized by Hafiz's magic. You have to go to experience it yourself and it is worth every penny and second. We might try the daytime mangrove tour. The river is very pleasant and lovely nature.
Written 11 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
summerdays83
London59 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
Hafiz River Activities provide mangrove and firefly tours. We went on the former with kids and had an absolutely wonderful time. 1.5 hours, for RM80 for an adult and child pair. The guy has the eyes of an eagle, spotting animals we couldn’t see such as monitor lizards and snakes (Mangrove snakes and pythons) curled up in the mangroves above. We also saw kingfishers, Spider crabs and white lipped monkeys.
Written 15 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SookYee
Johor, Malaysia4 contributions
Jul 2014 • Family
There are many positive comment towards Hafiz activities (especially the firefly tour), I personally join 3 tours with Hafiz, the turtle and mangrove tour are fine but for the firefly I think is NOT worth at all.
We total 6 persons to join the firefly tour yet none of us are satisfy with it. I think most probably is due to the driver. We gather there before 8pm, after briefing and awaiting assign on board, eventually we on board on 8.35pm, come back before 9pm.There are total 7 boats, we are the last boat to depart but the second boat to come back. There are less than 15 minutes for you to watching fireflies and DON'T expect you able to watch much 'Christmas tree".
The driver is the worst!!! Most of the time when fireflies come across river towards boats, people on other boats get the chance to have close enough to watch fireflies yet our board neither behind or in front of it (our boat like solitary at the river when there are fireflies come across the river; helm in a group when there are only few fireflies). We don't really get the chance to have close vision of fireflies. We only allows to watch fireflies from far away. Even when I'm request the driver to let us have closer view for fireflies or drive slower to those fireflies spot, he replied when we return shall get the chance. But in the end, he was rushing back to pick up the second group at 9pm.
My suggestion to Hafiz, if you can't manage that big group of people please try not to arrange so many people in one group, where people paid the same amount of money yet can't get the equal chance to see fireflies.
Improve your drivers try let everyone to have equal chance to see fireflies if not it will RUIN your reputation of firefly tour..
**Not offend, I just reveal the truth I had experience..
We total 6 persons to join the firefly tour yet none of us are satisfy with it. I think most probably is due to the driver. We gather there before 8pm, after briefing and awaiting assign on board, eventually we on board on 8.35pm, come back before 9pm.There are total 7 boats, we are the last boat to depart but the second boat to come back. There are less than 15 minutes for you to watching fireflies and DON'T expect you able to watch much 'Christmas tree".
The driver is the worst!!! Most of the time when fireflies come across river towards boats, people on other boats get the chance to have close enough to watch fireflies yet our board neither behind or in front of it (our boat like solitary at the river when there are fireflies come across the river; helm in a group when there are only few fireflies). We don't really get the chance to have close vision of fireflies. We only allows to watch fireflies from far away. Even when I'm request the driver to let us have closer view for fireflies or drive slower to those fireflies spot, he replied when we return shall get the chance. But in the end, he was rushing back to pick up the second group at 9pm.
My suggestion to Hafiz, if you can't manage that big group of people please try not to arrange so many people in one group, where people paid the same amount of money yet can't get the equal chance to see fireflies.
Improve your drivers try let everyone to have equal chance to see fireflies if not it will RUIN your reputation of firefly tour..
**Not offend, I just reveal the truth I had experience..
Written 31 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Barry O
Tauranga, New Zealand103 contributions
We did a trip with Hafiz Cherating River Activities and thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. Our trip was certainly enhanced by the enthusiasm and knowledge of Hafiz our guide. We did the River trip in the late afternoon. Didn't see a lot of animals but saw several snakes.The whole trip was informative and I have a better appreciation of mangroves. After dinner in the village we went back to Hafiz and went on the firefly cruise. Hafiz loves fireflies and his enthusiasm added greatly to a magical trip. He started off with some information before we got into the boat. We saw lots of fireflies, even caught a few, then released them. I can thoroughly recommend Hafiz and the Cherating River
Written 27 October 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hueylynn
kajang40 contributions
We just got back from Cherating. In the afternoon, we went for Hafiz for the mangrove river boating. We expected to see lots of mangroves tree around already but what we do not know is that, he also provide us with lots of information about the trees all around us, the habitat of animals that we see, why is the mangrove now as it is today, etc etc. We were surprised that he know so much and that he is able to answer all our question. We saw few snakes, monitor lizards, birds. Too bad we did not get to see otters but its luck after all =) (RM20 per person for 1 and half hour)
In the night, we went for the firefly watching. Hafiz explained around 10-15mins about firefly. I find it really informative as i never really was into firefly *gulps* After that, we went for our boat! It was really really dark which is good and i did not really expect much as do not want to be disappointed. There are lots lots of fireflies and the best part is that, Hafiz has this special lights which will attract the fireflies to US! We are able to see the fireflies flying towards us and also has the chance to let it land on our hand and slowly see it in near range. For city ppl like us, definitely loved it. (RM15 for one hour)
In the night, we went for the firefly watching. Hafiz explained around 10-15mins about firefly. I find it really informative as i never really was into firefly *gulps* After that, we went for our boat! It was really really dark which is good and i did not really expect much as do not want to be disappointed. There are lots lots of fireflies and the best part is that, Hafiz has this special lights which will attract the fireflies to US! We are able to see the fireflies flying towards us and also has the chance to let it land on our hand and slowly see it in near range. For city ppl like us, definitely loved it. (RM15 for one hour)
Written 12 December 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raymond Yk Choong
George Town, Malaysia159 contributions
Feb 2016 • Solo
Hafiz, a person who is very passionate and experienced guide who will walk you through the firefly tour for an hour. He has 4 different torchlights that can actually "call out" the firefly. When the boat stops near the mangrove trees, you will see the whole tree be lit up like a christmas tree. A truly wonderful experience!
Written 12 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sacred21
Malaysia153 contributions
If you are in Cherating then make sure you do not miss this mangrove river boat ride. It's about 4km long for 1.5 hours. You'll see monitor lizards, snakes, birds, mangrove crabs and of course the different types of mangrove species...It's a worth while experience for RM25 per person. Friendly & experienced guide, Hafiz.
Written 21 June 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chavala_Chavala
Antwerp, Belgium5 contributions
Sept 2018 • Friends
We took Hafiz’s Fireflies tour at 7:40 pm based on the Lonely Planet’s recommendation. We heard about Mr Hafiz’s passion and were excited to learn more about this peculiar natural wonder. Unfortunately, they stuffed us in a boat without any explanation and reprimanded us for trying to take a picture (without flash even!) since this seemed a wonderful challenge for a photographer to try and capture this night scene. If we would’ve been told not to take pictures before the start of the tour, of course we would not have taken out our camera. Being told off for a lack of respect was just rude and judgemental.
The most wonderful display of nature made this trip worthwile, but we would’ve done this with any fisherman who offered his boat since at least we wouldn’t have been cramped in a bigger boat with a bad smell from the engine. Mr Hafiz didn’t show up at all that night, we were not informed beforehand and were left without explanation afterwards. If Mr Hafiz is so busy claiming his number 1 spot in the Lonely Planet, he should rather educate his employees to become guides themselves so that at least everyone could learn something from this cruise. He’s clearly overwhelmed with the number of cruises, which is also not favourable for the environment if they continue using these boats...Overall we’ve seen a lovely display of countless fireflies, but ending the night reading on Wikipedia about their species is not at all what we expected...
The most wonderful display of nature made this trip worthwile, but we would’ve done this with any fisherman who offered his boat since at least we wouldn’t have been cramped in a bigger boat with a bad smell from the engine. Mr Hafiz didn’t show up at all that night, we were not informed beforehand and were left without explanation afterwards. If Mr Hafiz is so busy claiming his number 1 spot in the Lonely Planet, he should rather educate his employees to become guides themselves so that at least everyone could learn something from this cruise. He’s clearly overwhelmed with the number of cruises, which is also not favourable for the environment if they continue using these boats...Overall we’ve seen a lovely display of countless fireflies, but ending the night reading on Wikipedia about their species is not at all what we expected...
Written 25 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
drlounger
8 contributions
Aug 2013
RM 20 adult
RM 10 child.
1 1/2 hours.
Saw iguana, monitor lizard, snakes, birds, frogs, crabs, fish, squirrels.
Kids (4,8,10) loved it!
I loved it.
Would've taken fire fly cruise if I had time. Lots of other activities including see and river fishing plus snorkelling and surfing available.
Great!
RM 10 child.
1 1/2 hours.
Saw iguana, monitor lizard, snakes, birds, frogs, crabs, fish, squirrels.
Kids (4,8,10) loved it!
I loved it.
Would've taken fire fly cruise if I had time. Lots of other activities including see and river fishing plus snorkelling and surfing available.
Great!
Written 14 August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, as long as you carry the toddler, I think it's fine. You may want to contact the agency and confirm with them as well.
Written 31 August 2020
Hi, would like to ask if we have a group of 22 peoples. Can it be arrange ? And may I know where is the location. We would like to book for 16/11/19 4pm slot
Written 19 October 2019
Hi,
Maybe you can try calling this number 0179789256 (Hafiz Firefly Activities). Afternoons are the mangrove river ride and night time is the firefly cruise. I have seen school children in groups so it shouldn't be a problem for a group your size. They have several boats. Hope that helps.
Written 20 October 2019
Planning to bring 3 kids age 3, 4 and 7. Is it dangerous? Got crocodile in the river?
Written 30 July 2019
prefer kid age 7 and above , they are can wearing safety jacket.....crocodile?? im not sure but snake maybe...
Written 31 July 2019
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