3 Days 2 Nights - Nam Nern River Safari

Morning:

If you are traveling from Maung Hiam, the driver will meet you at around 8am at your guesthouse. After approximately 1.5-hour drive along a curvy road through gorgeous mountainous landscapes you will arrive at Ban Son Koua, a Khmu Village and the Nam Nern Night Safari tour start.

If you are traveling from Phonesavan or Sam Neua, you can travel directly to Ban Son Khoua village (read more about “Getting to the Night Safari start“).

All visitors should be in Ban Son Khoua village at 9.30 for the tour start.

In Ban Son Khoua, meet your National Park’s English-speaking guide who will be the key person sharing information about the National Park, and translating from Lao, Hmong, and Khmu languages information provided by the village wildlife spotters, the former poachers.

The tour begins by a village guide taking you on a short walk around the village to introduce the daily life and the local traditions.

At around 11 am, embark on a 1.5-­2-hour boat journey by long-­tail boat to the National Park. Along the way, we will see upland agriculture fields, temporary farming villages called “sanams” and cattle grazing area. 

As we approach closer to the National Park, birdwatching opportunities will occur and you might spot Black Drongo, Crested Serpent Eagle, Blabber, and various species of Kingfishers such as: Blyth’s Kingfisher, White-Throated kingfisher, Black-Capped Kingfisher and Common Kingfisher.

Afternoon:

Around noon, we will arrive at the main Nam Nern River camp located inside the Total Protected Zone, nearby a ranger substation.

Enjoy Lao lunch prepared by the village cooking group. After lunch, National Park’s staff will share a presentation about the Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park and the on-­the-­ground efforts in protecting wildlife. 

You will then be shown to your accommodation, bamboo huts close to the river. Free time to relax at the camp. 

Optional: The National Park’s guide will invite you on an optional jungle walk around the camp to learn about the use of medicinal plants and the history of the camp site, which was once a village. Depending on the ranger availability, the park substation can be visited to learn about the law enforcement work. 

At late-­afternoon, we will continue the journey upriver, deeper inside the National Park. Enjoy birdwatching and the village wildlife spotters / boatmen might point out evidence of wildlife, such as tracks or scat if spotted at the riverbanks.

By the end of afternoon, we will arrive at our dinner site, – a sandy, flat bank, where you can swim and enjoy relaxing around a campfire while team prepares the dinner.

Evening:

After dinner, with the help of the National Park’s English-speaking guide discuss around a campfire with the wildlife spotters/former poachers. Great opportunity to ask all the questions that you might have! Afterwards, the village guide will introduce the species of animals that could be seen during the spotlighting and explain the rules and expectations for spotlighting.

We will depart for the nighttime wildlife spotlighting once it is total dark. We will drift silently down the river with the boat engines switched off. The wildlife guides and boatmen will use their headlamp to spot wildlife. If they see something, they will give a clear sign. Then you can switch on your own flashlight to have a better look at the animal. Hence, tourists will have their flashlights switched off most of the time to avoid scaring animals. The wildlife spotter and boat drivers communicate via hand signals to avoid talking that might disturb the animals. Animals that can be seen include Sambar deer, Red muntjac, various species of Civets, Spotted Linsang, Otters, Slow Loris, Porcupines, Owls. Seeing wild cats and beers is very rare, but not impossible!

Night:

Overnight in Lao style bungalows. Before falling asleep in your jungle bungalow, do not hesitate to spotlight around your bungalow as a Slow Loris, Civet or Sambar Deer can be just next to your jungle accommodation.