Khao Sok, full of endangered wildlife and plant species, plays host to our writer’s thrill-seeking desire to get off Thailand’s well-trodden tourist trail. Photo: Shutterstock

 

● An overnight tour in Khao Sok, a national park to the north of Phuket, takes visitors far off the beaten path and into a forest rich with history

 

● The rainforest was once riddled with gangsters but is now a haven for wildlife – and the occasional rough-sleeping tourist

 

Philipp Meier

 

It is pitch black and rustling sounds in the jungle are coming closer. Our candles have gone out and if it weren’t for the light from the dying campfire, I wouldn’t be able to see my hands in front of my face.

 

Khai, the seasoned guide I’ve entrusted with my life, is snoring peacefully in his double-layered nylon hammock, untroubled by the heavy rain that has been battering down on our tarpaulin covers.

 

“The campfire will repel wild animals,” he said, before falling asleep, but staring now at the glowing embers, I can’t relax enough to drop off. I haven’t the slightest idea of how to keep a camp­fire alight in the driving rain, let alone start one, and the chorusing frogs and crickets aren’t going to teach me. 

 

Much as I have been loving the sense of adventure, the smell of wet leaves and the break from Thailand’s hot, humid weather, the snapping of twigs and approaching strides have me fretting in my hammock.

 

Full story: https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3138579/thailand-jungle-adventure-no-other-wildlife-and

 

-- © Copyright South China Morning Post 2021-06-28

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Our candles have gone out and if it weren’t for the light from the dying campfire, I wouldn’t be able to see my hands in front of my face.

 

#### run it's a migrant

An off topic deflection post about angry ladyboys has been removed. 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

 

“The campfire will repel wild animals,” he said, before falling asleep

Them Slow Loris can be very vicious ????

regards worgeordie 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The rainforest was once riddled with gangsters but is now a haven for wildlife – and the occasional rough-sleeping tourist

Sounds like they all moved into town?

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The rainforest was once riddled with gangsters

 

I wondered where all the jetski scammers came from. 

 

All those Gangsters are now in Government House !

 

“The campfire will repel wild animals,” 

 

That's an old myth!

It actually just helps the Tigers find you faster!

Camping with candles for light, what could go wrong?

No more tigers in Khao Sok, but still lots of interesting wildlife there, like tapirs, elephants, gibbons, hornbills, clouded leopards.