We went to Api Api River for our first paddling outing for 2026, in the morning of January 4th, a sunny but breezy Sunday.
Api Api River is a tidal river inside Pasir Ris Beach and Park. We scouted the river and Sungei Tampine months ago in August 2025 just to make sure there is no blockage of the water ways. The paddling trail on Api Api River is 1.5km one way, 3 km round trip.
For that day, the high tide was at 11am.
We arrived at the beach at 9:30am and installed our inflatable kayak Emma in 10 minutes, and ready to go. Unfortunately, at shoreline, the wind was much stronger than inland.
The wave was high and crushing the shore. We were especially careful when getting into the kayak: all carry-ons - phones, camera, keys, wallet ... were all placed inside the yellow dry-bag. The kayak was placed perpendicular to the coming waves, Lily got on first, and while she paddling gently, I got in.
We then paddled against the wind and wave, away from the shore enough distance before turning into the river mouth. The wave was much smaller, the wind weaker, once we passed under the pedestrian bridge and further away from the river mouth
Blue sky, strong wind and high wave
Waves crashing the shore
The river was calm and quiet, the river banks are lined with dense trees and bushes. It is pretty deep, our paddles could not reach the river bed, and wide as well, 20+meters near the mouth, 15 - 18 meters upstream. We were the only persons on the river.
Looking upstream - into the city
Looking downstream - towards Johor Strait
We were pleasantly surprised to see a lot of birds shortly into the river. Most of the birds were blue tailed bee eaters, and a few collared king fishers. They were catching bugs and resting on bare tree branches. Occasionally we saw egrets and herons flying by, and long tailed parakeets flying over - heard their unique chirpings.
We stopped paddling, let the rising tide carrying us upstream (slowly), and enjoyed the sights, the tranquility and solitude.
The red buildings, mangroves, and bridges added variations to the green world we were in - green river with green trees on both side of the river. We paddled through under 2 more bridges, and stopped by a mesh screen across the river at the 4th bridge. We turned back.
Many blue tailed bee eaters on the bare tree branches
red apartment buildings by the river are separated by the dense trees from the river
reflection of a bridge's underside beams
Paddling in unison
On the return trip, we started to collect trashes - primarily plastic bags, bottles. In this visually clean river, we collected a full grocery plastic bag of plastic trashes!
Along the way, I spotted a night heron on other side of the river, in the bushes, and we got close to it, and it flew away to a high branch. In the process, we got really close to a blue heron nests in the bush, we startled a blue heron, it took off from inside the bush and flew to a tall tree some distance away at the river bank.
After 3km paddling, we had been on the Api Api River for about 80 minutes.
This is a great river for kayaking, though a little bit short.
a night heron at Api Api River
our paddling trail
Epilogue
Our original plan was to paddle to Sungei Tampine, which is only 600m long, and has different scenery than Api Api. We battled the strong wind and swelling waves for about 40 minutes for a distance of 900 meter in Johor strait to reach the mouth of Sungei Tampine, only to see that the river mouth was blocked by buoys.
We decided to debark there and went back to the carpark on foot. Getting off the kayak was as hazardous as getting into the kayak in that condition. We took all the precautions, and safely got onto land.
I walked to the carpark to get the kayak bag and returned to the kayak take-out point.
Two person carrying the bag was inconvenient, Lily carried it by herself on her back for half mile before we eventually shared the load.
