Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
For the latest developments on tours in the park contact Green House (
Click here
)
, Sam
Veasna Center or CRD Tours (
Click here
) in Kratie.
The road to Sen Monorom passes right through Seima Protected Forest - look out for
monkeys!
MONDULKIRI PROTECTED FOREST: THE AFRICAN EXPERIENCE
IN CAMBODIA
Before the civil war, the vast grasslands of northern Mondulkiri were home to huge herds of gaur,
banteng and wild buffalo. Visitors lucky enough to witness their annual migrations compared the ex-
perience to the Serengeti and the annual wildebeest migrations. Sadly, the long civil war took its toll
and, like Uganda and other African countries, thousands of animals were killed (and are still killed)
for bush meat.
www.mondulkiritourism.org
)
has been working hard to return this area to its former glory through
conservation initiatives in the Mondulkiri Protected Forest, one of the largest protected areas in Cam-
bodia, which provides a home to leopards, bears, langurs, gibbons, wild cows and rare bird life (tigers
have not been spotted since roughly 2007). During our most recent visit, we saw several herds of
banteng, a rare type of wild cow. Ecotourism is part of the mix, but several initiatives, including a
high-end jungle ecolodge on the Srepok River, have been scrapped because of the remoteness of the
place. Another problem is that many of the cats, bears and other exotic prowlers that patrol the area
are more elusive than banteng. Check with the WWF to find out the latest on tours into this area.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Koh Nhek
POP 6000
The final frontier as far as Mondulkiri goes, this village in the far north of the province is
a strategic place on the overland route between Sen Monorom and Ratanakiri Province.
This is traditionally where the road from Sen Monorom ended and the cattle track to
Lumphat, Ratanankiri, began. Now it is a rest stop on the new Mondulkiri-Ratanakiri
highway.
As well as making it easier for travellers to get from Mondulkiri to Ban Lung, the new
road should provide a little economic boost to Koh Nhek. An Acleda Bank (no ATM) is a
sign of changing times.
