Botum Sakor is Cambodia's largest national park. It is notably recognized by the organization Wildlife Alliance as a global hotspot for biodiversity. For nature lovers, it is a corner of paradise waiting to be discovered. For those passionate about trekking or unconventional travel experiences, this natural park represents a genuine adventure. Here, visitors encounter an idyllic landscape showcasing wild animal species unique to the world.

History

Botum Sakor National Park is administered by the Cambodian Ministry of Environment. In cooperation with foreign companies, the Cambodian government implemented a large-scale development project starting in 1993 in certain zones of the park. In 2010, they decided to allocate approximately 36,000 hectares of the park for the construction of new roads, an airport, golf courses, ecotourism sites, shops, residences, and restaurants.

Geography

Botum Sakor National Park is located in Koh Kong Province in Cambodia. The nearest city is Sihanoukville. Situated on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand, the park extends over 1,712 km² and lies southwest of the Cardamom Mountains. The protected area encompasses three districts of Koh Kong Province: Kiri, Sakor, Botum Sakor, and Koh Kong.

Botum Sakor National Park

Accompanied by a local guide, tourists often explore the park on foot or by boat. This proves to be a very pleasant way to experience it. Visitors will have the opportunity to take their time to better discover the charm and natural beauty of the reserve's biodiversity. Following hiking trails, they may encounter wildlife in their natural habitat. Trekking and kayaking remain the park's best tourist activities.

The landscapes of Botum Sakor National Park are particularly characterized by gently sloping plains, beaches, and meadows. They are covered with evergreen vegetation such as mangroves. Due to its geographical location, this place is surrounded by sea to the east, south, and west, and by coastline to the north.

Botum Sakor National Park boasts abundant and diverse wildlife including birds, amphibians and reptiles, insects, and mammals. It is a genuine habitat for the biodiversity of Koh Kong Province.

Fauna

This reserve is home to several mammal species. During your visit, you may encounter Asian elephants, Indochinese tigers, leopards (nocturnal), gibbons, Asian wild dogs, tortoises, and bears. The area is also inhabited by crocodiles and snakes such as cobras and Malayan pit vipers.

Well-preserved, certain animal and plant species in the park are unique to the world and exist nowhere else. Numerous endemic and endangered animal species can be found here. The park harbors pileated gibbons, known by the scientific name Hylobates pileatus. Pileated gibbons are one of eight endangered mammal species in the world. It also shelters the saltwater crocodile, an endangered species in Southeast Asia. Eight categories of severely threatened mammals, such as the fishing cat and pangolin, have recently been placed under protection within the park.

The park records over 533 species of migratory and resident birds. The white-winged duck, an endangered species and extremely rare in Asia, also nests within the park.

Flora

The vegetation at this location forms a tropical forest belonging to the Dipterocarpaceae family. It is a swamp forest. The variety of this vast vegetation includes diverse flora, an impressive number of epiphytic spine species, and a large category of mangroves.

It is most practical and pleasant to visit Botum Sakor National Park by boat. You can depart from Andong Tuek, Sihanoukville, Koh Sdach, or Kron Koh Kong.