The National Parks of Cambodia – Natural Beauty at its Best
For those who are not familiar with the geography of the country, the stunning natural beauty of Cambodia may take you by surprise. And you will discover that it's no wonder why thousands of tourists not only visit Cambodia for its rich historical heritage, but also for appreciating Mother Nature in her full glory in the beaches and mangrove forests of the country. But nothing can offer you a better experience than the national parks and protected areas of Cambodia. They are found all over the country, particularly in the Southern Coast of the country, and each one offers a unique attraction.
Many tourists are interested in the Southern Coast because of its beautiful beach resorts. And if you are planning to visit one of the beach resorts of the Sihanoukville province, you can easily visit the nearby Ream National Park in the same province. Ream National Park was founded in 1993 and is a protected area that features the characteristic mangrove forests of the region. The park is particularly known for its richness in the bird species found in it, which are about 150. If you are an avid bird watcher, the Ream National Park can be a real treat for you.
But probably the most magnificent of the protected areas of the country, known as the Koh Kong Conservation Corridor is found in the Koh Kong province, which covers the Cardamom Mountain range and the adjoining mangrove forests and the beaches located in the coastal areas of the province. The Botum Sakor National Park is a part of this protected area and is rich in wildlife such as leopards, the Indochinese tiger and gibbons, and also holds a number of migratory and native bird species. You can easily access the park by hiring a boar from Sihanoukville. Kirirom National Park is another worth-visiting protected area, and is particularly popular with tourists for recreational purposes. This park is located in the Kampong Speu province, which neighbors Koh Kong, and is known for its fair share of the Cambodian wildlife.
While you move towards the east in the small coastal province of Kep, the Kep National Park is also well-known for its natural beauty and can be accessed by those who want to visit the beaches of the province, particularly if a visit to the Rabbit Island is a part of your itinerary. The Kep National Park mainly consists of mangrove forests covered mountains in the region. The Preah Monivong or the Bokor National Park in the neighboring Kampot province is also popular due to the abandoned colonial town of Bokor Hill Station. The Bokor National Park is a spectacular and relatively colder protected area, and is home to a number of animals of endangered species such as the Indochinese tiger.
If the focus of your trip to Cambodia is on the Angkor Wat, then you can also use the opportunity to visit the Phnom Kulen National Park, which is less than fifty miles from the most famous temple complex of the world. The park is named after the sacred Kulen Mountains, which are among the most sacred sites to the Khmer people in the country. The Phnom Kulen Park features Hindu temples and a hilltop Buddhist pagoda along with a reclining statue of Buddha, the Elephant pond and a magnificent waterfall, and is worth visiting by all means. So, whatever may be your interests in Cambodia, you can always take some time out to visit one of its many national parks to truly explore the beauty of the region.
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