Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City/Nam
Cat Tien (B, L, D, G)
8.30 - 11.00: You'll be
driven to Nam Cat Tien National Park which is
one of Vietnam's largest protected areas a complicated network
of wetlands and tropical forest nearly 74,000 hectares in two
sections bisected by a river, the larger about fifty or sixty
kilometres across in both directions. Its bio-diversity is
considerable with over fifty endangered species listed in the Red Book including the Javan Rhinoceros, the Siamese Crocodile
and the Indochina Tiger. Of particular interest is its large
bird population well over three hundred species have been
identified so far.
There are several trails through the
forest. Although they avoid the deeper areas that are the
habitat of the rarer species, they are well designed and
offer good opportunities to see a wide range of flora and
fauna. The best time to visit Nam Cat Tien National Park is
the dry season from December to late May.
The Bird Lake is a good alternative for
the Crocodile Lake for those who like bird watching. The
Orange-necked Partridge is one of the rare bird species that
live in the park. The best time for bird watching is from
February to April.
11.00 - 12.15: You'll take a
boat trip to cross the river to the Park centre and have lunch at
the park restaurant.
12.15 - 13.45: You'll
drive 9 km in a Jeep and then hike for three kilometres through
the rainforest to Crocodile Lake - you may see some of the
typical wild fauna en-route.
13.45 - 17.00:
You'll be able to watch the wildlife around the lake in the
evening when the wild animals come to the lake to drink. From
your hide, you're likely to see monkeys, deer and other small
mammals, and with a good pair of binoculars, there's a good
chance of spotting less familiar fauna, such as the Siamese
crocodiles after which the lake is named.
You'll be able
to watch the wildlife around the lake when the wild animals come
to the lake to drink.
You'll spend the night at the
guesthouse in the park.
Day 2: Nam Cat Tien (B, L, D,
G)
All day for bird watching
in the park and bird lake.
Day 3: Nam Cat Tien/Ho Chi
Minh City (B, L, G)
7.30 - 8.00: Breakfast at your
guest house
8.00 - 11.00: You'll cycle to
Ben Ngu
cycle to the nearby Ben Ngu area. After wandering
around the massive trees, dripping vines, and visiting the
rapids.
11.00 - 16.00:
You'll
have your time for lunch in the canteen and your return to Ho
Chi Minh City. You'll spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.
