KHAO SOK NATIONAL PARK
- Surat Thani province. Park HQ off Hwy 401, 40 km (25 miles) E of Takua Pa.
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TAT, Surat Thani Tel: (0-7728-8818) or Forestry Dept Tel: (0-2562-0760 or www.dnp.go.th for bungalow bookings).
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from Surat Thani or Takua Pa.
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Together with nearby preserves, Khao Sok National Park forms the largest and most dramatic tract of virgin forest in South Thailand. The 738-sq km (285-sq mile) park rises to a height of 960 m (3,150 ft) and includes 100 spectacular islands, formed when the Rachabrapha Dam was built in 1982.
Elephants, tigers, bears, boars, and monkeys live in the park, along with at least 188 species of birds, including hornbills and the argus pheasant. Sightings of the larger mammals are usually at night and animal tracks, are regularly seen along the park’s many marked trails. Sadly, poaching of tigers and elephants persists despite the efforts of national park officers. The area is popular with tourists eager to trek, canoe, watch birds, and spot animals. The park also contains interesting flora, such as the rare giant Rafflesia flower. Many of the hiking trails are suitable for all levels, with more demanding hikes for the experienced. Khao Sok receives the brunt of both summer and winter monsoons, causing a long wet season from May to November. The best time to visit is between January and April.
Khao Sok, a wilderness of virgin forest, limestone cliffs, and waterfalls
Khao Sok is one of the few places in the world where the giant Rafflesia kerri grows. This foul-smelling tropical plant has no roots or leaves and is wholly parasitic. For most of the year it lies dormant in the form of microscopic threads inside the roots of a host tree. Once a year, however, a small flower breaks the surface of the host’s bark. Over a period of months the bud swells to the size of a watermelon and eventually opens to become the world’s largest flower, with a diameter up to 80 cm (31 inches). The flower’s fetid smell attracts insects that assist in the pollination process. After a few days the orange-red flower shrivels to a vile, unsightly, putrescent mass. Occasionally a Rafflesia in flower may be found at the end of a marked path at Khao Sok.
