The Nam Nern River Safari – 2 nights:

In brief:

This 2-night Nam Nern River Safari is a longer version of the award winning 24hour boat-based wildlife spotting tour into the Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park. More wildlife spotting opportunities and additional personal time inside the National Park!

First Day follows same itinerary as the classic shorter NS tour. Key additional features are:

• More wildlife spotting and birdwatching opportunities!
• Night & Morning wildlife watching!
• Optional 2-3-hour hike on Day 2
• Camping deeper inside the National Park on Night 2
• More personal free time in the National Park to enjoy bird-watching, relax, swim, read a book, etc

Wildlife that can be spotted include: Sambar Deer (VU), Red Muntjac (LC), multiple species of Civets (LC), Burmese Python (VU), Asian Water Dragon (VU), Oriental Small Clawed Otter (VU), Spotted Linsang (LC), Slow Lori (EN), proof of Dhole (EN), Asian Golden Cat (NT), Leopard Cat (LC) and many more.

Bird species: various Kingfisher species, including Blyth’s Kingfishers, Tawny Fish Owl and Oriental Bay Owl, Green-legged Partridge, Mountain Hawk Eagle and many more.

This innovative and adventurous journey is not only one of the few opportunities in Laos to view wildlife, but the trip is designed to support alternative livelihoods for local people and generate community support for wildlife conservation.

The Night Safari has gained public recognition and international visibility as well as won the ‘World Responsible Tourism Award’ both in year 2013 and 2014. The project currently employs directly around 40 families and benefits 14 villages.

Highlights:

Easy 2-night adventure. All year Long. All Age.

• Travel by Boat into the Total Protection Zone of the National Park
• Best for Wildlife Spotting & Bird Watching
• Night Safari and Morning Safari!
• Visit an old Buddhist Stupa covered by Jungle
• Meet the Forest Rangers
• Optional 2-3 hours hike to learn more about history and enjoy birdwatching
• Overnight: 1 night in comfortable Jungle bungalows, 1 night in tented camp
• World Responsible Tourism Award in 2013 & 2014!

Itinerary

Day 1

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.  

Day 2

Morning

Early wake up. If lucky, you might spot a Sambar Deer opposite the river from the camp. Do not hesitate to go on a short morning walk around the camp to spot some birds.

At around 7am enjoy breakfast. After breakfast, we will start a 2km long nature hike around the camp to learn more about the history of this area, the use of medicinal plants and to enjoy birdwatching. You might spot several bird species, including: Black-throated Laughingthush, Puff-throated Babbler, White-billied Eponis, White-browed Scimitar Babbler, Red-billed Scimitar Babbler, Green-billed Makoha, Silver Phesant and if lucky enough you will spot Oriental-Pied Hornbill. The hike will take around 2-3 hours and will end at the ranger substation.

Lunch-Afternoon

Back at the camp for lunch.  

After lunch, we will return upriver, even deeper inside the National Park than yesterday. After around a 1.5h boat trip, we will arrive at our tonight’s camp.

Enjoy free time by the river, swim and relax by a campfire while team sets the camp and prepares the dinner.

Evening – Night

Overnight in a simple, but comfortable tented camp by the river inside the Total Protected Zone of the National Park. Early night.

Day 3

Morning

Today, we will get up very early, before the sunrise. Enjoy morning tea or coffee by the fire while team packs the camp. A breakfast set will be shared with you to be enjoyed as per your wishes during the morning safari. With the first light, we will begin drifting silently down the river with the engines switched off for around 2-3 hours to try our luck to spot Sambar deer, Otters, Red Muntjac, and various bird species. Enjoy the morning calm.

After around 2 hours, we will arrive at the main Nam Nern River camp where we can enjoy a second breakfast.

After breakfast, the boats will return back to the village.

Return

Upon arrival in the village around 10AM, you will be invited to fill out a wildlife monitoring form that is used to monitor wildlife abundance and indicate the amount of bonuses put into the 14 Night Safari ecotourism village development fund from the tour costs (there is no extra fee for any seen wildlife).

What to bring?

We ask that you please bring just one small bag/backpack and leave large suitcases or long‐haul backpacks in the village or your car.

Weather note – Weather can be both very hot during the daytime and very cold at night. It is recommended that you bring clothes for both extremes.

Please bring the following:

• light rain jacket
• fleece jacket (strongly recommended as the night safari can be very cold)
• both sun hat for daytime and wool hat for night
• long pants for walking in the forest
• shoes for short walking and sandals for walking in the river
• clothes for bathing (shorts and t-shirt). Please no nude/bikini bathing. Please cover body from chest to knees.
• clothes for sleeping
• insect repellent
• snacks (Lao food is provided, but you might want to bring something to snack on)
• towel and toiletries
• reusable water bottle (help us to reduce waste)
• binoculars. Option: Possible to rent BERSKA Embark 10x42mm binoculars from National Park office. Check the box when filling in the tour inquiry form.

What is included:

• National Park’s Entrance Fee
• Village Ecotourism Benefit Fund Fee
• District Office of Information, Culture & Tourism Fee
• National Park’s English Speaking Guide
• Village team services: wildlife spotter, boatmen, cleaning, cooking and handicraft group
• Boat service fee and petrol
• Food and water
• Sleeping equipment
  • In bungalow: Mattress, Mosquito net, Pillow and Blanket
  • In tent camp: Tent, Mattress, Sleeping bag, Pillow
• Life jackets and helmets for the boat trip
• Flashlights
• 15-20L Dry bags for your important personal items