Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Floating Ecolodge
( 035-690 0650;
www.ecolodges.asia
;
s/d incl breakfast US$203/239; )
Boasting 'top-of-the-line
luxury in harmony with Mother Nature', this ecoresort's 17 South African-made tented
villas - each 45 sq metres, with special septic tanks and partial solar power - float on a
branch of the Tatai River estuary 6km downriver from NH48. Access is by boat (20
minutes) from the Koh Kong side of the Tatai Bridge.
RESORT
$$$
Getting There & Away
Access to Tatai Waterfall is by car or motorbike. The clearly marked turn-off is on the
NH48 about 15km southeast of Koh Kong, or 2.8km northwest of the Tatai Bridge. From
the highway it's about 2km to the falls along a rough access road. There's a stream cross-
ing about halfway - you may have to cross it on foot and walk the last kilometre at the
height of the wet season.
From Koh Kong, a half-day
moto
/
remork
excursion to Tatai Waterfall costs US$10/15
return, or less to go one way to the bridge. If travelling by public transport from Phnom
Penh to one of the resorts, ask the driver to let you off at the bridge.
END OF THE LINE
FOR THE PANGOLIN?
In China and Vietnam, the meat of the Malayan (Sunda) pangolin - a kind of nocturnal anteater whose
only food is ants and termites - is considered a delicacy, and the creature's blood and scales are be-
lieved to have healing powers. As a result, villagers in the Cardamom Mountains, who often hunt with
dogs, are paid a whopping US$100 per kilo for live pangolins (the price rises to US$175 in Vietnam
and as much as US$7000 in China) and pangolin populations have been in freefall. Enforcement per-
sonnel are doing their best to crack down on poaching before it's too late.
Central Cardamoms Protected Forest
The Central Cardamoms Protected Forest (CCPF; 4013 sq km) encompasses three of
Southeast Asia's most threatened ecosystems: lowland evergreen forests, riparian forests
and wetlands.
The rangers and military police who protect this vast area from illegal hunting and log-
ging, with the help of Conservation International, are based at six strategically sited ranger
stations, including one in Thma Bang, where they run a basic
guesthouse
(per person US$5)
