| Khao Yai National Park |
  Khao Yai is Thailand's oldest National Park. It was designated on the 18th September 1962. At 2,168 km it is the largest National Park in Thailand. Located within the Dongrek Mountain Rang, Khao Yai's elevation ranges from 200 to 1351 m a.s.l. (Khao Rom) History of Khao Yai, in 1902, 30 families from the south if Khao Yai moved into the Khao Yai hills. They farmed rice, hunted wildlife and collected forest products. The present grasslands along the road near the Head Quarters (HO) area are evidence of these villages and farms. In 1932 when Thailand became a Constitutional Monarchy, the government closed Khao Yai because the area had become a hideout for political criminals.In 1959 His Excellency Field Marshall Sarit Thanarat, then Prime Minister, asked the Agriculture and Cooperatives Department and the Department of Interior to look into the setting up of a National Park's System. In 1962 Khao Yai became the 1st National Park under the National Park Act of 1961. It is managed by the Royal Forest Department. |
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Flora and Fauna Tropical moist evergreen forest covers the central area of the Park. The rich diversity of plants (about 2000 species)astound the new-comer. Towering trees draped in mosses, climbers and epiphytes, tangled trunks of the strangling figs, drooping lianas and spiny rattan palms, delicate ferns, multicoloured lichens and an ever-changing array of fungi. There is aways something new to discover in the forest. Dry evergreen forest and dry deciduous forest covers the lower slopes of the Park and some of the higher sections. Bamboo is often an indicator of this drier forest. Hill evergreen forest covers the highest peak (Khao Kieow and Khao Rom) The trees are smaller here, and ferns, mosses and epiphytes abound. Grassland provides a welcome relief to all the forest . The Park mange (burn annually) the grassland to prevent trees from invading and to provide year round grazing for deer, elephants and guar. |
Wildlife is plentiful (70 mammal species, at least 74 species
of herptile and thousands of invertebrates) but often hard to
see. Sambar (large, gray-brown, often in groups) and barking
deer (smaller, red-brown, usually in pairs or alone) are
frequently seen in the grasslands or on spotlighting tours.
Gibbons provide an excellent morning wake-up call with their
mournful hoots. Quiet, patient walkers may catch a glimpse of
these tree-living apes. Macaques are often seen on the
roadsides. Elephants are sometimes spotted at
salt-licks or on the road in the evenings and lucky (?)
tourists may spot a tiger in the grasslands during the
evenings. Civets, squirrels,
 porcupines,
and wild pigs add a bit of variety. Snakes and lizards usually
make their presence known by a rustle in the undergrowth as you
are walking. If you see a snake, treat it as dangerous unless
you know otherwise!!
Geckos are frequently seen catching insects on building walls
and ceilings. Cicadas never stop their scratchy hum. Look up
and down and from side to side to spot the real movers and
shakers in the forest - the insects and invertebrates.
Observing animal at night
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BIRDS: We've got lots - over 320 species have been recorded. To the non-expert, birds are often just mysterious whistles, trills and calls, or a flutter of wings and a glimpse of colour. Patience is needed,good binoculars and a bird guide help. Roadsides, the old golf course, grasslands and the watching towers are good places to start . Hornbills are quite easy to spot, and hear the "gak gak gak" laugh of the Indian Pied (often seen in big flocks near Nong Pak Chi Tower in the evenings), or the deep resonant "gok…gok" of the Great Hornbill (usually seen in pairs or alone, the biggest of Khao Yai's hornbills) BATS: Nearly 1 million insecteating bats live in a cave on the edge of the Park. Drive about 3 km to the north of the Park Chong entrance gate and take a small track on the left-hand side just past a temple. A few hundred metres up here take a right-hand turn and follow the track to the end. You can climb the hill to the cave. Please do not enter the cave - you will disturb the bats. Allow them to come out for about 3 minutes before taking any flash photography. |
Bird
Watching
Interest Attractions & Activities Heaw Narok WaterfallHeaw Narok Waterfall, the biggest and highest waterfall in this area, is situated in the south part of Khao Yai National Park. The waterfall is a three-level cascade, its water drops step by step from 60-meter high of first level to the second and third level with about 90 degrees, approximately 150 meters, to its very deep abyss which is very fearsome when the water falls heavily in the rains. |
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Heaw
Suwat Waterfall Being well known by many people, Heaw Suwat Waterfall is situated at the end of Thanarat Road and three kilometers from Pha Kluy Mai Waterfall by walking. There is water dropped from 20-meter high cliff onto a pond below which is appropriate for playing water but not in the rains because there are very much cold and heavily flowing water. |
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Kang Hin Perng
Kang Hin Perng, five kilometers from Khao Yai Forest Reservation Office 2 (Pha Kradart), is a big rapids water which drop down looks like stair, and famous place for shooting the rapids by boat. Activities : - Waterfall Traveling - Rafting How to
go? |
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National Park Entry Fees * Adult: Baht 200.-/person * Children(0 - <14 years old): Baht 100.-/person * Bicycle: Baht 10.-/bicycle * Motorcycle: Baht 20.-/motorcycle * 4 wheel car: Baht 30.-/car * 6 wheel car: Baht 100.-/car * < 10 wheel car: Baht 200.-/car |
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