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Hike through primary growth in the Seima Protected Forest, overnight camp in Gibbon Forest observing wild animals in natural habitats such as Gibbon, Black-Shanked Douc monkey, Possum, Great Hornbill bird plus many others. Contribute to working elephant’s rehabilitation & community-based conservation project in Mondulkiri!
Pick-up from any centrally located hotels in Sen Monorom.
8.30 AM
Each tour begins with Evening briefing. At 5:30 PM in the evening before the tour starts, we will meet at your hotel in Sen Monorom for a activities briefing. It is the time to run over the final details, so everyone knows what to expect. Please note that occasionally this schedule may change in case of extreme weather conditions or other unusual circumstances.
Day 1: Elephant Community Project & Homestay
8:30 AM, you will be pickup from you centrally located hotel in Sen Monorom for a 20-minute drive towards the Elephant Sanctuary Forest. Morning hike through the Sanctuary’s rainforest & elephant discovery walk. We begin with a short scenic hike into the valley. Before meeting the elephants, our guide, will explain the project goals & the importance of protecting Mondulkiri’s wildlife & habitats. Next, we’ll meet, greet, feed and follow the elephants & their mahouts (elephant care takers) as they freely walk and eat in the jungle. We will follow them to observe the elephants’ natural behaviors for example the way in which they consume bamboo, grasses and different plant roots as natural medicine. This is an ideal opportunity to take lots of photos of the elephants enjoying life in their natural environment. Lunch break at Sanctuary’s visitor hut.
In the afternoon, the mahouts will slowly walk the elephants into the water, for their daily shower & mud bath. The elephants love grooming each other, scratching against trees and playing in the mud. Swimming with the elephants is an unforgettable experience and can be messy. Mud coating is important to keep an elephant’s skin moist, protected, and healthy.
Afterwards, you will hike out of the forest back to the truck and drive to the Bunong minority village (Putang) where you will receive a warm welcome by the villagers and are free to walk around the Bunong traditional houses to gain an insight into their village life. Tonight, you will spend the night at in a family’s home and enjoy homemade meal cooked by the family.
Day 2: Trekking at Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary of Mondulkiri.
7:00 AM, breakfast and enjoy a 40-minute driver to Keo Seima Forest, meet your Bunong local Ranger and begin the day with a short scenic hike into the rain forest. We will spend the morning hike through the Seima Protected Forest & animal discovery walk. Listening to Gibbon voice, following and having the chance to potentially observe a rare viewing to see them in wild. You take a break for a small breakfast of bread, fruit and then continue to explore other animals and the nature around you. There is also a chance to spot birds, insects, and rare flora and fauna on the hike. Lunch by a scenic spot in the jungle. While enjoying lunch and relax, there is also a fair chance to spot birds & other wildlife in this area.
After lunch, you continue your trek through the jungle to continue to observe the wildlife and jungle scenery. Your local guide will show you bats living inside the tree holes and bear print climbed up on tree.
Afterwards, you guide will setup you camp site. You will be sleeping in hammock attached with mosquito net. Sometimes we have another tent to cover the camp depending on the weather and season. Enjoy traditional Bunong soup cooked inside bamboo, perhaps you can try rice wine with pork/chicken.
Day 3: Gibbon Forest Trekking.
Today we rise early because the gibbons wake up with the sun and call to mark their territory as soon as dawn breaks. Since the habituated groups of gibbons start to sing; the gibbon guide will try to locate them in the forest as fast as possible and he will guide us to the spot so we can watch them as they go about their morning activities in the tree canopy. In some cases, they let you come very close – less than 15 meters – which provides an excellent opportunity to take pictures. This is a special time as the gibbons can travel quickly in the trees and leave in a split second, anytime they want. Once they do, it can be very difficult for us to find them again, however, the group can often be followed for a couple of hours throughout the forest.After the gibbon spotting, after lunch, you continue your trek through the jungle to continue to observe the wildlife and jungle scenery. Later, we spend a 40-minute driver back to Sen Monorom.
