Bokor National Park

This 1581-sq-km national park is famed for its abandoned French hill station, refreshingly cool climate and lush primary rainforest. Threatened animals that live in the park include the tiger (photographed in the last decade with camera traps), leopard, Indian elephant, Asiatic black bear, Malayan sun bear, pileated gibbon, pig-tailed macaque, slow loris and pangolin.

A new road up to the old hill station has been completed and is open to the public, while an ambitious resort project at the summit, including a golf course and casino, was well under way when we visited. The big construction works undoubtedly spoil the ambience at the hill station, but the day and overnight treks that have long been a staple of tourism in the park remain popular.

The main attraction in Bokor National Park is the old French hill station at 1,080m which can be visited as a day trip from Kampot orSihanoukville.

History

Bokor Hill Station was built by the French in the 1920s to be used as a retreat from the heat of the plains, a pre-air conditionning strategy familiar in all of Asia. The Old French Palace is a hauntingly beautiful colonial building constructed by French settlers in 1917 and completed in 1925 for the French social elites who were living in Cambodia and needed an escape from the humidity and heat of Phnom Penh. In the 1950s and 60s, the Old French Palace was used as a casino during the time of Prince Sihanouk. It is frequently used as a movie location, the most famous being City of Ghosts, starring Matt Dillon.

Flora and fauna

Nepenthis Flower,Wild Elephant and Tiger.

Climate

Temperatures in Bokor are lower than in Phnom Penh or Kampot, generally staying in the 15-25 ¬¬C range. On a clear day, there are stunning views down into the valley, Kampot town scenery, coastline of Kampot and Sihanouk Ville. In rainy season, it is swathed in rolling clouds and visibility drops to zero. However, you still can find the fun moment as it is remain only in very short time.

Botum Sakor National Park

Botum Sakor National Park is a national park of Cambodia. Situated on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand, Botum Sakor is a peninsula projecting southwest from the Cardamom Mountains. The National Park comprises 183,408 hectares of designated park land and spans three districts of Koh Kong Province: Kiri Sakor, Botum Sakor and Koh Kong. The park is under the administration of the Cambodian Ministry of Environment.

Botum Sakor National Park lies to the southwest of the Cardamom mountains occupying 1,834 square kilometers of mangroves, beaches and hills. Part of the biodiverse Koh Kong Conservation corridor and home to an extraordinary wildlife such as elephants, deers, tigers, leopards and sun bears, Botum Sakor National Park is a Koh Kong tourist attraction not to be missed by the nature enthusiasts.

It is possible to reach the park either by road (it is actually being built) or by boat, although the latter is a better option to access to the flood plains, thick mangroves and the deserted beaches of the park. Boats can be taken from Andong tuek, Sihanoukville, Koh Sdach or Kron Koh Kong. Do not miss the fishing village Preak Khsach or the mangrove lined streams.

How much does a cost for visit Botum Sakor National Park?

The entrance to the park is free of charge but once there you will need to pay a ranger about US$5 per day.

When should I go, and how long do I need?

It is strongly advisable to arrive to the park early in the morning ir travelling from Koh Kong, as there is so much to see and travelling there and back will take an entire day to see the most important parts.

Kep National Park

The Kep National Park is located in the smallest Cambodian province of Kep, 148 kilometers at the south of Phnom Penh, 130 kilometers at the west of Sihanoukville, 25 kilometers at the south-west of Kompot and 20 kilometers at the west of the Cambodian-Vietnamese border to the Vietnamese city of Ha Tien. 

The province has a territory of 152,47 square kilometers, being the smallest province of the Kingdom of Cambodia. Its territory is completely encircled by the Kompot Province and it has about 15 kilometers of sea coast. Koh Tral Island, under Cambodia sovereignty, is just 15 kilometers away from the Kep Peninsula.  Even its closeness to the Vietnamese border at the east, actually its boundaries do not touch Vietnam. Going from Kompot City to the Kompot District of Kompung Trach, one of the most populated areas of Kompot, the N33 road crosses the territory of Kep Province.

The N33A road is the main road of the province and it is connected to N33 in two points: At the White Horse Monument and at the Damnak Chang Aeur Village. The N33A goes around the National Park, following the coastline, being the province mainly a small peninsula. The National Park area is made of 50 square kilometers, located just at the center of the province, composed by hills. The Park includes the third part of the Province territory and the sea areas are not officially included.

Population

The whole province has a population of 35,753 inhabitants (17,753 males and 17,674 females), according to 2008 official census. The province is composed by a single city of the same name, Kep City or Krong Kep, and two districts : Kep and Damnak Chang Aeur.

The city hall is located in the Kep City, at the east of the Peninsula. Although it keeps old buildings of the French influence and even destroyed former mansions as a sign of the last Cambodian conflicts, it is a small town that depends its economy from the nearby city of Kompot.

The province economy is mainly composed by fishing (crabs are nationally famous) and tourist resorts.

The Kep National Park is a lovely place for those who love ecology. It is strictly forbidden to get exotic animals of plants out of the park or to make activities that can endangered the habitat.

Kirirom National Park

Preah Soramrit Kosamak Kirirom National Park is on Kirirom Mountain, in Oamrei Phong village, Kirirom commune, Phnom Sruoch district, about 117 kilometers southwest of Phnom Penh. The mountain is 700 meters high. A natural site, it once was Preah Kosamak town. This well conserved park, abundant in fresh air, has waterfalls and is full of tall pine trees and orchid flowers.

There are not many types of larger wildlife in evidence on Kirirom, but it is an ideal spot to glimpse some of the country’s unique bird life and birdwatchers even come from overseas to visit. The national park is more interesting during or just after the rainy season, not that many fires on the ground and waterfalls having well water.

WHAT TO DO IN KIRIROM NATIONAL PARK:

Wild Life:Asian Elephant, Deer, Wild Ox Gaur, Wild Ox Banteng, Leopard, Spotted Linsang, Pileated Gibbon and TigerAdventure:Bird Watching, Hiking, Ox-cart Riding, Picnicking, Trekking. Bathing at the stream, Fishing, Canoeing, Horse Riding and Boating

WHERE IS KIRIROM NATIONAL PARK:

Region:Located about 45km north-west of Phnom Penh, in the eastern foothills of the Cardomon Mountains, and in Kompong Speu province. The Kompong Som to Phnom Penh road forms part of the southern boundary.Location:Phnom Sruoch District, Kampong Speu and Koh Kong Provinces, Cambodia

WHEN & HOW TO GET TO KIRIROM NATIONAL PARK:

Best Time to Visit:01-Nov to 30-AprGetting There:Only two hours from Phnom Penh. Kirirom is national park on the road between Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh, on route for anyone coming to Cambodia from Thailand at the Koh Kong crossing. The park, 90km south of Phnom Penh, can be reached by public transport, though with some difficulty and plenty of time. From Sihanoukville, you can get minibus or shared taxi to Trang Tro Yeung. Kirirom is national park on the road between Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh, on route for anyone coming to Cambodia from Thailand at the Koh Kong crossing.Nearest Town:Phnom PenhNearest Airport:Phnom Penh International AirportNearest Railway Station:Phnom Penh

WHERE TO STAY (LODGES/GUEST HOUSES/CAMPS/RESORTS/HOTELS):

Accommodation:There is an uncommercial and small ‘resort‘ with some rooms and restaurant near the top of the mountain, but it is often booked on weekends. At the bottom of the mountain, you can find somewhat upscale accommodations and restaurant at the Kirirom

Hillside Resort. It is beautiful place, with well-tended gardens, tennis courts, very nice cottages with air con and cable TV, Horse riding, and playground for children.

Add a hotel:If you know of a hotel, resort, guest house or camp please add it here. If you own or manage a hotel or resort you can add it to the database for ‘Free’.

CLIMATE & WEATHER CONDITIONS IN KIRIROM NATIONAL PARK:

Temp: c to c

Rainfall:2,000 cm

Altitude:800 m

OTHER DETAILS ABOUT KIRIROM NATIONAL PARK:

Established:1993

Area:350 sq km

Language: Khmer and English

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Welcome to Cambodia.

The Kingdom of Cambodia, formerly Kampuchea, is a Southeast Asian nation that borders Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and the Gulf of Thailand. The capital city is Phnom Penh.

  Geography

Situated in the southwest of the Indochinese peninsula, Cambodia occupies a total area of 181,035 square kilometers and borders Thailand to the west and northwest, Laos to the northeast, Vietnam to the east, and Gulf of Thailand to the southwest.

Cambodia’s geographic coordinates are 13 00 N, 105 00 E.

Cambodia’s terrain consists mainly of low plains, with mountains to the southwest and north.

Two dominant physical features of Cambodia are the Mekong river, which runs from north to south of the country, and the Tonlé Sap Lake.

Natural resources include oil and gas, timber, gemstones, iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential.

  Population

Cambodia’s population is approximately 14 million. Ninety per cent of residents are Khmer; the rest are Cham (Khmer Muslim), Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian, Thai, Phnorng, Kuoy, Stieng, Tamil, etc. Population density is 78/ km2.

  Climate

Like most of Southeast Asia, Cambodia’s climate is hot and warm almost all year round. The climate is dominated by the annual monsoon cycle of rainy and dry seasons. The rainy season lasts from May to October, and the dry season from November to April. December to January are the coolest months, while the hottest period is in April. The average temperature is around 27-28ºC.

  National Flag

The flag of Cambodia symbolizes the country’s slogan: Nation, Religion, King. The two large blue stripes represent royalty and the center red stripe represents the nation. The image of the white temple stands for the nation’s religion.

  National Flower

The romduol, a small yellowish-white flower, is the national flower of the Kingdom of Cambodia. Since ancient times, Cambodian women have often been compared to the Romduol flower because of its attractive fragrance; a unique scent that is prominent in the late afternoon and can travel over long distances with the wind. With its sturdy stems that measure up to 30cm, the Romduol plant can grow to a height of 12 meters. These plants are being planted to enhance public parks.