Khao Sok Thailand Bird watching & wildlife spotting |
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We
visit the 165 squre kilometer reservoir known as Cheow
Lan. The actual national park part of Khao Sok incorporates
the reservoir and covers 446 square kilometers! The park also shares
borders with Klong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary and some
other smaller national parks. Hornbills are actually common. We frequently see several species. We see Great Hornbills, Bushy-crested Hornbills, Wreathed Hornbills and Helmeted Hornbills on almost every trip. White-crowned Hornbills and Plain-pouched Hornbills are sometimes seen. If you’ve never seen a hornbill, this will be a very special treat. Hornbills aren't the only birds we see. Serious birders can easily add a plethora of tropical birds to their life lists. A large number of kingfishers reside in the area, along with dozens upon dozens of other colorful birds. Dave and team have sighted and are familiar with most of the birds in southern Thailand. You don’t have to be a seasoned birder to enjoy the pleasures of birding in this tropical wonderland. PaddleAsia's guide enthusiasm will make your birding time both educational and fun. Check our our Thailand birding website for more info. Wildlife sightings are abundant!
Orchids are plentiful at Khao Sok. The best time of year to see them in bloom is from late February through April. However, we find the orchid plants to be interesting and unique.
Click
here to see a map
of Cheow Lan Reservoir in Khao Sok National
Park.
We stay in unique floating bamboo bungalows in a remote area of the massive reservoir. These bungalows are very basic. They are made out of low impact material. Bamboo and thatched roofs provide a very simple, environmentally friendly shelter which fits well with the jungle surroundings. There is electricity in the bungalows, the restaurant and toilets, but it is supplied by a generator. The shared toilets are clean and adequate. Amazingly, there are hardly any mosquitoes in the area. No one seems to understand why, but we're all glad that they're not around. The bungalows have fairly thin sleeping pads, so you may want to bring your own additional pad or inflatable mattress along. The floating walkways to the bungalows and toilets are not well maintained, and require attention to foot placement. These accommodations are not up to normal PaddleAsia standards. They are owned and operated by the national park, they are not PaddleAsia's property! However, the jungle solitude and the joy of kayaking amidst the profusion of birds and wildlife bring us back here time after time. Click here to see more pictures of the floating bungalows of Khao Sok National Park. Click here to see a list of common birds found in Khao Sok National Park. You'll want a closer view of the animals and binoculars are a must at Khao Sok. If you'd
like to see some photo galleries of Khao Sok, check
out: Click here
to see some incredible Khao
Sok photos from professional photographer, Frits
Meyst of Adventure4ever.com
If
you'd like to read more about Khao Sok, check out our trip reports
(click on the story) No
experience is needed for any of our trips. The majority of
our guests have never paddled before. No problem, we'll teach you proper
paddling technique.
Click here to see our tour prices
Tropical mountain climbing trips are also available in Khao Sok National Park. PaddleAsia offers mountain climbing opportunities for all skill and fitness levels.
A highly recommended accommodations in the river area of Khao Sok National Park is Our Jungle House.
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Long-tailed
macaques
(monkeys), pig-tail macaques, dusky langurs (monkeys), and even gibbons
(apes) are seen on most trips. One thing is inevitable, you’ll see and/or
hear monkeys! We’ve had numerous close-up wild pig sightings. Elephants
can still be found in the park, but they are uncommon. It's not uncommon
to see elephant tracks or hear elephants rustling beyond the underbrush.
We come across less common mammal ocassionally too. We've seen Malayan
Tapir, Stump-tailed Macaques, Yellow-throated Martens and Serow (a type
of mountain goat) in the past.
