Ton Pariwat Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Tambon Song Phraek and covers a total area of 100,000 rai of shady flora. It also contains Namtok Ton Pariwat or known among the locals as “Namtok Song Phraek” which is 100 metres from the Sanctuary’s headquarters. The waterfall is not very high with a pond down below where there are still some deposits of ores. In the rainy season, the water gushes down. The Sanctuary provides a 2-kilometres nature trail with Bua Phut - Rafflesia kerrii, a plant species with the world’s largest flower of approximately 80 centimeters in diameter, along the route. The plant grows as a parasite on the root of a vine known as Yan Kai Tom. Its flower has 5 reddish brown petals. It is rare and to be found only in a fertile forest. It blooms towards the end of the rainy season around October. Along the route, there are traces of old mines, bird-watching spots that indicate the fertility of the forest, Namtok Hin Phoeng which is a watershed, etc. A guide is needed for trekking along the trail, which takes about 1 hour. Tour is offered by to include trekking through virgin forests along both sides of the stream, and rafting for fun and excitement for adventure lovers, which takes about 45 minutes and is available throughout the year.
This is a virgin rain forest area which has a high, complex, mountain range of 230 square kilometers or approximately 144,000 Rai covering the areas of Amphoe Muang, Amphoe Tapphud and Amphoe Kaphong. It is a popular tourist area for researching studying nature’s plants and rare wild life species such as Bua Phud (Land Lotus). Mo Khao Mo Keang Ling (a kind of plant referred to as Monkey’s Pots) Sida’s Robe Fern, Tapirs Genus Tapirus), mountain goats, wild elephants, Asiatic black bears, Jaguar (Kang Van of the South) of the genus Prebytis. Nok Kok (a species of bird), Argus pheasant, Paradok (a bird of the Capitonidae family), Nok Khieu Kan Thong (green banana stem colored birds) etc. There is also a trail for natural study for a distance of approximately 24 kilometers which is a circular route returning to the beginning at the office of the Wildlife Conservation Area. Trekking along the base of the mountain there is a stream and the Ton Pariwat, Song Prak, Ton Nam Fung, Ton Kuanrak and Hin Peung Waterfalls can be seen. Elephants riding and canoeing trips are also available here. |