REAL WILDLIFE LOVERS GO TO KAENG KRACHAN

Khao Yai? Too touristy. Huai Kha Khaeng?

Too far. Khao Sok? Too flooded. Kui

Buri? Too simple. Thailand’s abundance of national parks can seem at first a bit dizzying, but for those who care about the wildlife experience, Kaeng Krachan is the best option, bar none.

Some might know Kaeng Krachan for its landed rice barges at the plush Kaeng Krachan Boathouse or perhaps the touristy (and very fun) rapids of the Phetchaburi. But there is an honest-to-goodness wildlife safari experience to be had here for those looking to get their boots dirty.

Where To Go

The first entrance for Kaeng Krachan is only about two and a half hours from Bangkok. This is where you’ll find the slightly touristy eponymous lake and swimming monkeys. The more southerly entrance at Kaeng Krachan Protection Unit KBR 2 is where things get properly wild.

Kaeng Krachan is newly Unesco-ed and Thailand’s second largest national park, so there is plenty to explore. For the safari, you’ll need to drive—or hike if you’ve got the mettle—the hours-long rough road up to Phanoen Thung Camp.

What To Do

Tourists give Kaeng Krachan’s mountain roads a miss for one reason: It’s bloody difficult. You’re going to need either a guide or a 4x4 and experience with extreme roads. There’s more than one wrecked, abandoned truck on the way up, and you can just forget about going in the wet season.

Along the way you’ll find gibbons and gray langurs galore in the early morning, along with a preponderance of hornbills, bee eaters, and photogenic birds of every shade. For the photographers among you, the trees are ancient and tall, so 300mm is the absolute minimum. Other animals creep through the dark forests, and, with the right guide, you might even have the rare chance to spot a clouded leopard or, who knows, even a panther.

From the foggy mountain views at the top of Phanoen Thung Camp you’ll find a habituated sun bear that visits scraps thrown away by the camp concession area.

For you, likely, this will be the end of the line, but you’ll notice that this is where their trip begins for hardcore hikers on their way to Tho Thip Waterfall and other hidden spots.

Nature guarantees nothing. If you absolutely must get a glimpse of animals ethically, Wildlife Friends Foundation of Thailand is less than half an hour away.

Where To Stay

There’s no reason you can’t stay somewhere near the river or lake and drive down later, but—assuming you’re not camping—it should be Baan Maka Nature Lodge

Bird blinds are found throughout the property, and the rooms are affordable in the extreme. Here, you’ll find guides to take you up the mountain, drongos on the branches, odd insects galore, and visiting creatures from the surrounding grounds.

But, and this is truly remarkable, it is run by staff who actually care about wildlife. And that is, frankly, a rarer find than tigers.

Similarly, Baan Maka Nature Lodge provides an astounding night walking safari through the grounds for a spot of herping and, if you’re lucky, a slow loris climbing silently through the trees. Keep your head on a swivel and look for the red of their reflective eyes.●

Shopping

Swarovski is doing a pop-up store

Austrian crystal brand Swarovski is currently doing a pop-up store at Central Embassy, 2/F until May 1. The pop-up store isn’t hard to spot with its coloredblock octagons in electrifying pink and green, metallic sculptures, and, of course, the iconic swan. Customers can shop for special limited release items and collectibles from this pop-up store that include special shoe collaborations with two of the world’s leading fashion brands: Aquazzura and Golden Goose. Swarovski is also offering ang pao and other gifts for visitors to this new pop-up.

Shopping

Casetify teams up with Mickey Mouse and Friends

Hong Kong-based tech accessory maker Casetify has teamed up with Disney for its latest collection, featuring Mickey Mouse and friends, available starting in January and running until it sells out. There are 12 designs for this collaboration ranging from pop-art texts of characters’ names to character portraits. There are also cases for accessories like for your Air Pods or MacBook as well as Apple Watch straps. This collection is now available at the website and the Central World pop-up store, however, all designs are not available at the pop-up store. Prices range from B1,199-2,599.

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