A boat trip on the Nam Nern river enables visitors to spot wildlife. - Nam Et-Phou Leuy National Park
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/Asia News Network): River trips through the Nam Et-Phou Leuy National Park in Huaphan province have been listed among the world’s top 10 best night safaris, in an article posted on the Condé Nast Traveler website.
Other night safaris that made in onto the list include those offered in the Ruaha National Park in Tanzania, Yasuní National Park in Ecuadorian Amazon, Satpura National Park in India, Iberá Natural Reserve in Argentina, Olare Motorogi Conservancy in Kenya, and Skinnskatteberg in Sweden.
The Nam Et-Phou Leuy National Park was the only location in South-East Asia to appear on the list.
“A late-night boat adventure through Laos’ remote Nam Et-Phou Leuy National Park provides a first-hand glimpse of the country’s budding conservation success story,” the website said.
“The trip starts with an evening boat ride, followed by a hike and dinner by a campfire, then the ultimate twilight treat - floating down the river beneath a blanket of darkness with only one torchlight per boat to illuminate the potential leopards, porcupines, and gibbons to be seen en route. The journey ends with a night in the park ecolodge’s traditional Lao bungalows.”
Local guides run the tour with support from partners like the Wildlife Conservation Society, and this tourism model encourages park-adjacent communities to protect the region’s endangered species.
The Nam Et-Phou Leuy National Park is one of the largest protected areas in Laos and provides numerous opportunities for immersion in the rugged landscape and deep communication with nature.
The park is closely monitored for illegal hunting as it is home to many endangered species.
Visitors can enjoy bird watching and, if lucky, will hear the calls of the critically endangered northern white-cheeked gibbon, although these fascinating creatures rarely show themselves in the dense forest.
It’s also possible to spot wildlife from an observation tower and to trek up to the highest point in the park, during which visitors can sleep in a jungle camp and swim in a waterfall.
The park arranges two-five-day activity programmes, which are led by the residents of 26 villages nearby the park, mainly in Hiem and Huameuang districts of Huaphan province and Viengkham district in Luang Prabang province.
Villagers who work in the park and take part in visitor activities receive training from park officials.
The Nam Et-Phou Leuy National Park spreads across 10 districts in the three northern provinces of Huaphan, Luang Prabang and Xieng Khuang.
