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Birdwatching in Cambodia
The deciduous dipterocarp forests that once spread across much of Indochina and Thailand were formerly home to the greatest aggregation of large mammals and water birds that have existed beyond the savannas of Africa. These forests have largely disappeared from Thailand and Vietnam; currently, the Northern and Eastern Plains of Cambodia form the largest remaining contiguous block of this unique and critically important habitat.
"Deciduous Dipterocarp Forests "
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has a number of protected areas in northern Cambodia and has given Sam Veasna Center for Wildlife Conservation (SVC) the responsibility of managing demand as well as organizing tours to the protected sites, where the local communities are actively involved in the projects. Tourism visits are linked to community conservation agreements, whereby ecotourism income supports local development and engagement in conservation activities.
"Trip map"
Electronic map of Cambodia
Tour I
Two-weeks of birding in northern Cambodia
Itinerary
Expect more than 250 species of birds
Day 1.
Arrival at Siem Reap airport; transfer to hotel; sunset at Angkor Wat. Overnight: hotel / Siem Reap
Day 2 and 3.
We’ll have two full days exploring the ruins of the old Khmer capital, Angkor, one of the architectural wonders of the world, forgotten in the jungles for almost five hundred years until discovered by French explorer Henri Mouhot between 1858 and 1860. Notwithstanding the restoration work that is on-going, the sense that the jungle is waiting to reclaim Angkor is never far away. Besides giving our full attention to the magnificent carvings and temple friezes at the Bayon, we’ll also find many live birds including Red-breasted Parakeets, Lineated and Coppersmith Barbets, Asian Barred Owlet, Black Baza, Black-headed Bulbuls and Hainan Blue Flycatchers. Overnight: hotel / Siem Reap
Day 4.
We’ll make a full day boat excursion to the impressive protected waterbird breeding colony at Prek Toal – the core area of the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve. We expect to see Oriental Darters, three species of cormorants, Spot-billed Pelican, Painted and Asian Open Bill Stork, Lesser Adjutant and Black-headed Ibis, and Grey-headed Fish Eagle, among many other species. We may also find Milky Stork, Greater Adjutant and Brahminy Kite. (Through Osmose) Overnight: hotel / Siem Reap
"Giant Ibis"
Day 5.
We’ll have a full day’s excursion to Ang Trapaeng Thmor, another Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) protected area. This wetland reservoir, constructed for irrigation during the murderous rule of the Khmer Rouge in the late 1970s and 1980s, and surrounded by rice paddies, is now an important bird area, where hundreds of globally threatened Sarus Crane come to feed at this time of year. Other species we expect to find are Comb Ducks, Cotton Pygmy-geese, Purple Swamphens and Pheasant-tailed Jacanas, Pied and Easter Marsh Harrier and Watercock. We may also find Small Buttonquail, Australasian Bushlark and, if we are lucky, Greater Spotted Eagles. Overnight: hotel / Siem Reap
Day 6.
We’ll have an all-day drive to Tmatboey, in Preah Vihear Province of the northern plains, stopping en route on the dry floodplain of Tonle Sap Lake, near Kompong Thom to search for Bengal Floricans and Manchurian Reed Warblers. Other grassland birds may include Asian Golden Weavers and Streaked Weavers. As we near Tmatboey, we’ll look out for dry dipterocarp woodland birds such as the Alexandrine Parakeet and White-rumped Falcon, and some of the 16 possible species of woodpecker. We’ll settle into our accommodation at the Tmatboey Village Guesthouse, basic cabins with en suite toilets and bucket showers.
Day 7 and 8.
We’ll have two full days birding around Tmatboey. This is one of the richest lowland habitats in SE Asia. Unlike most forest habitats, birds are relatively easy to see in the open dry dipterocarp woodlands, savanna and trapeangs, or wet areas. At times we’ll be seeing birds faster than we can possibly note them down. The diversity of woodpeckers is outstanding, and includes both Black headed and White-bellied Woodpecker. Other medium to large birds include Blossom-headed and Alexandrine Parakeets, Rufous-winged Buzzard, White-rumped Falcon, Blue Magpie and Rufous Treepie. The many smaller birds include minivets, Common Woodshrike, Indochinese Cuckoo shrike, White-browed Fantail, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch, Brown Prinia, etc. We’ll also expect to see Woolly-necked Storks, but the real prizes awaiting us are the two ibises, the Giant Ibis, and the even rarer and more threatened White-shouldered Ibis, both of which we should see. Giant Ibis, in particular may be heard bugling in the early morning from our little cottages on the outskirts of the village. Overnight: Tmatboey Ecotourism Committee Guesthouse / Tmatboey
Day 9.
We pick up supplies from Tbeng Meanchey, the largest town near Tmatboey and drive about 6 hours to Chhep, in Preah Vihear Protected Forest where WCS supports a vulture restaurant. Chhep accommodations were made with researcher in mind and have little or no amenities. A cook or two (depending on the number of participants) will accompany the group. Overnight: basic wooden house with hammocks for beds / Chhep
"Red-headed Vultures"
Day 10.
All day Birding in Chhep. We’ll stake out vultures in the hide, hoping to see the main patrons of the restaurant, the globally threatened Red-headed, White-rumped and slender-billed vultures. Overnight: wooden house / Chhep
Day 11.
Birding in Chhep, Transfer to Kompong Thom (approx 8 hours) or depart Chhep early and try for Bengal Florican once more in Kompong Thom grasslands if the group did not get enough of them on the way to Tmatboey. Overnight: hotel / Kompong Thom
Day 12.
Transfer to Kratie (from Kompong Thom, approx 6 hours). We will take a boat on the Mekong to look at a diverse section of river with sand and shingle banks. We should find the endemic Mekong Wagtail, in addition to kingfishers, bee eaters, Spot-billed Duck, Small Pratincole and, if we are lucky, the endangered Irrawaddy River Dolphin. Overnight: hotel / Kratie
Day 13.
Birding Kratie, looking for Asian golden weaver at a nearby lake; transfer to Siem Reap (approx 8.5 hours). Overnight: hotel / Siem Reap
Day 14.
A leisurely day on your own in Siem Reap until departure; transfer to airport.
Two weeks(14 Days) is: 2 pax US$2280 per person. 4 pax US$1850 per person.
We can also provide an international guide, for which we charge: 2 pax US$2780 per person. 4 pax US$2360 per person.
A single supplement is US$175.
10% non-refundable deposit is required to confirm booking.
Convert your tour cost into your currency of choice.
Included:
All guide fees, hotels, airport transfers, and all transfers to sites; packed breakfast and lunch at Prek Toal (Day 4 through Osmose) and ATT (Day 5), all meals in Tmatboey and Chhep (Days 6 through 10), water for the long drives, all park entrance fees (Angkor Pass). Conservation Contributions (Tmatboey: $30pp, ATT: $10pp; Florican Grasslands: $10pp).
The tour of Prek Toal Wildlife Sanctuary on Tonle Sap (Day 3) will be organized by Osmose, which charges $80/person and includes transfers from your hotel, breakfast and lunch, boats and guides.
Excluded:
Meals not specified above, alcohol and drinks, tips, personal and trip insurance, international flights, visas or airport tax. Additional drinks (soft drinks, beer, etc.) at Tmatboey are also the responsibility of the guest, as is bottled water on site (bulk water will be available from the villagers for refilling water bottles), and bottled water will be provided by SVC for the remainder of the trip. Transport in Siem Reap from hotel to town for free-time is the responsibility of the guest.
Notes.
The above birding itineraries are based on what are essentially popular routes for birders. It can be shortened or extended.
All the date of itineraries include arrival and departure dates.
All trips are available year round, but prices may be adjusted around special holidays.
For booking allow minimum six(6) weeks prior to departure.
To check availability for tours on short notice, fill out “Request for Quote” form with desirable dates.
Fitness:
The tour does not require a high level of fitness but participants should be in good general health. Should you have any physical limitations please contact us. Please note we will be traveling in high altitudes (above 4000m) part of the tour.
Should you only need a guide for a day or two please contact us for details.
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Sanh Sophoan, your local Birdingpal guide
Sanh Sophoan – SVC’s most senior guide, Sophoan (surnames always precede given names in Cambodia) trained initially under Frederick Goes, one of the founders of SVC, and has joined the new group of bird guides, undergoing another season of training and guiding. Currently, she is our only bird cum registered Angkor guide and has traveled on her own to neighboring countries to look for birds. |
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Chea Sophal, your local Birdingpal guide
Sophal started training as an SVC guide in 2006, along with Mony and Sopheap, though he already worked with Osmose as a guide to the Prek Toal Wildlife Sanctuary. His family has now grown an will be guiding on shorter trip for the next few years. |
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Chim Choon Sopheap, your local Birdingpal guide
Sopheap also started training and guiding in the fall of 2006. He is one of our busiest guides, having lead more than 11 trips, ranging from a day to over a week. |
Testimonial.
The Sam Veasna Center for Wildlife Conservation arranged a hassle-free birding trip to search for the endangered Giant and White-shouldered Ibises. Reliable and comfortable vehicles took us to the village of Tmatboey, where we had basic lodging (no electricity or plumbing) and good meals, all arranged by the community. The knowledgeable and friendly local guides took us out early in the morning and easily found our target species. A host of other interesting birds, including Pale-capped Pigeons and Great Slaty Woodpeckers, was also seen. The trip was very well run and we were glad to see this small, rural community profit from our visit. A wonderful, memorable time was had by all.
dana(AT)gardnerbirds.com
I spent almost two weeks in Cambodia, birding with Sophal, in February 2007 and his punctuality, good humour, enthusiasm for birds, and ability to cope with all organisational eventualities were remarkable. As a guide, I would recommend him.
pdround(AT)ksc.th.com
We really enjoyed our guide Sopheap who was so enthusiastic about the birds and wanted to show us every species of note in Cambodia. … The local guide at Tmatboey worked very hard as well; after we had been out all day, he went out in the evening trying to find the white shouldered ibis for the next day's birding.
Talking of working hard, the two women who prepared our meals seemed to work around the clock. Their day started at 3:30AM and lasted till well after dark. Their effort to provide vegetarian fare was much appreciated …
We were quite impressed with how the birding has helped the village of Tmatboey with the rebuilding of the main street and the employment opportunity for the young women who had cold drinks for sale after we had been out birding in the heat. The drinks made the heat bearable.
Cambodia, which we decided on as an afterthought, was a very enjoyable part of our trip and I would recommend it as an integral part of any South East Asia tour, birding or otherwise. Now, if they would only finish the road from Thailand to Siem Reap. Thanks again for all your efforts and our best wishes to Sopheap.
macnest(AT)mnsi.net
Some facts about Cambodia.
Cambodia covers 181,040 square kilometers in the southwestern part of the Indochina peninsula. Much of the country (75%) consists of the Tonle Sap Basin and the Mekong Lowlands, mostly rolling plains. Much of the Northern Plains is still covered in intact habitat – extensive areas of deciduous dipterocarp forest, with scattered seasonal wetlands (called trapeangs in Khmer) and large grasslands (veals), which flood during part of the wet season (June-October). Driving from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap during the wet season is a stark contrast to the same trip in the dry season (November through May): the plains fill with the dun-colored water from sediment and turn into rice paddies, chartreuse with young rice. Dense evergreen forest is found along water-courses and in the more fertile soils of the upland regions.
There are mountain ranges in the southwest: the Cardamom Mountains and Elephant Range, and to the north: the Dangrek Mountains. Cambodia’s tropical climate has a wet and a dry season of equal length; temperature and humidity are normally high throughout the year. The coolest time of the year is birding season, late December through March.
More facts about Cambodia.
Guide books and CD’s recommended:
A Guide to the Birds of South-east Asia: Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia by Craig Robson.
A Guide to the Birds of Thailand by B. Lekagul and P. D. Round.
Find lowest prices here
Bird Recordings
Birds of Tropical Asia.
www.wildsounds.com
Note: To ascertain tour/seat availability and best pricing, select a week for departure date. e.g. Sep 01 - 07
Need more information please email us.
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