Amazing Natural Heritage - Wild Thailand

Thale Ban National Park

Straddling 196 square kilometres of rugged jungle on the Malaysian border, Thale Ban National Park in Satun Province is popular with Thai visitors from nearby Hat Yai and Songkhla. The higest mountain is the 749-metre Khao Chin. Many other granite crags of 700 metres also stand over the area, their lower slopes covered with dense, triple-tiered rain forest. The terrain is criss-crossed by mountain streams. An intricate network of trails leads to the Rani, Ton Plio, and Chingrit waterfalls, and to the Ton Din and Pu Yu caves. Just five kilometres from park headquarters is the nine-tiered Yaroi Waterfall. Along the 700-metre course of the waterfall, any number of swimming pools beckon. To the west, the park extends all the way to a deserted beach by the Andaman Sea.

Wildlife within the park boundaries is of the sort common in Malaysia and Indonesia : honey bears, wild pigs, clouded leopards, mouse deer, serow, tapirs, gibbons, macaques, and dusky leaf langurs. Clinging to limestone crags are 150-centimetre monitor lizards and 40-centimetre tree geckos. Rare birds also find a sanctaury here : various species of hornbill and pitta, plus the masked finfoot, dusky crag martin, and black Baza hawk.

Getting there : By train, bus or Thai Airways to Hat Yai or Satun, then by bus to Thale Ban.

When to go : Any time of the year.

Khao Sok National Park

The last bastion of southern Thailand's big game, Khao Sok in western Surat Thani is home to tigers, clouded leopards, elephants, serow, gaur, and Malayan sun bears. The 646-square kilometre park is connected to Klong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary, making up the largest tract of virgin forest in the Southern Isthmus. Three trails lead to scenic caves and waterfall. Kaeng Kho cave, a gallery of stalactite and stalagmite, houses a large colony of bats. Near the Park head quarters is Chiao Lan reservoir, whose 165 sq.km. are dotted with more than 100 little islands. This reservoir supplies water to the park and the adjoining wildlife sanctuary.

Getting there : Surat Thani is served by daily bus, train and air services. From the city centre you can hire a ride to Khao sok.

When to go : December to May.

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