KUCHING: The Semadang River, upper part of the Sarawak River, is fast gaining popularity as the ideal place for water sports and outdoor activities such as bamboo rafting and kayaking in Kuching Division.
Many foreign tourists, who joined the rafting and kayaking activities there, were awed by what they saw along the Semadang River.
“It was awesome, everything… the scenery along the river is amazing and I would definitely recommend it to my friends or anyone else,” said Christo Elden from Brisbane during his 10-day stay at Danu Village-stay at Kampung Danu, Padawan.
Christo said he also liked the local cuisine prepared by his host while the people in the villages that he visited were very friendly.
Permanent secretary to the Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Ministry Datuk Ik Pahon Joyik described the scenery along Semadang River from Kampung Annah Rais to Kampung Git as “spectacular and a favourite with foreign tourists”.
“The river is a wealth of treasures which we must look after as it is an existing tourism product. What needs to be done is to add value to it by holding various activities like rafting and kayaking,” he said.
Ik was formerly permanent secretary of Sarawak Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports.
Along the Semadang River are a few Bidayuh settlements.
Kampung Annah Rais is already known world-wide for its authentic traditional Bidayuh longhouse while the three other villages are Kampung Semadang, Kampung Danu and Kampung Bengoh.
Outgoing village chief of Kampung Semadang Samson Mangang said the homestay business had also picked up in two villages. There are four homestay facilities in Kampung Semadang and one in Kampung Danu and all have played host to hundreds of local and foreign tourists.
“For example, kayaking is already a popular tourism product that attracts both local and foreign tourists, especially during the weekends,” he said.
He added exploring caves was another activity as there were many caves there and four or five of these caves were located near his village.
Samson said Kampung Semadang and Kampung Danu participated in the Tagang system of fish conservation along certain stretches of Sungai Semadang.
Fishing at these stretches is allowed only once a year.
During the annual Semadang International Tagang @Fishing Festival, initiated in 2015, fishing is allowed, and this event attracts thousands of visitors.
The festival, added Samson, had been able to attract hundreds of participants for the fishing competition and other events.
Elaborating on the Tagang system, he said it had been the most successful fish conservation project. It was introduced to the villagers by the Sarawak Agriculture Department in 2007.
“Semadang River is deemed ideal for the system as it is home to several high-value fish species,” Samson explained, adding that the fish populations in the river were replenished every year to provide plentiful supply of protein for the villagers.
Last year, the Agriculture Department, he said, released 30,000 small prawns into the river.
“Harvesting is done responsibly. All the small fish and those of breeding size are released back into the water to ensure their survival,” revealed Samson.
Samson, who is also the chairman of the festival, said this year, the 5th edition of the Semadang International Tagang @ Fishing Festival, would be held for three days from August 30 to September 1.
He said other activities held during the festival included Miss Tagang Beauty Pageant, a Bidayuh cultural music and dance competition, kayak races, an exhibition, a cooking competition and a food bazaar.
If you would like to experience the amazing beauty of the Semadang River for yourself, make a date with this year’s Semadang International Tagang @ Fishing Festival.
See you there!
