Kep National Park

I spent all morning today at the Kep National Park and I must say I had a really great experience. The Squirrel Association/Led Zep Cafe have really, really done a superb job of making every trail and spectacle easily navigate-able. I must confess though I was absolutely dripping in sweat whilst climbing up to the peak; Phnom Kep, I started the short yet steep climb shortly after 09:00 and the humidity was phenomenal.

Wildlife-wise I saw plenty of monkeys, quite a few of the dark red squirrels. I also encountered a brown snake, about 750cm long, unknown species but am intrigued as to what it could have been. I also found a huge brown and mottle banded feather, it's around 25cm long; a tail feather? Saw loads of Cambodian Skinks, a couple of Reams, even a Racket Tailed Drongo swooped across the path after kilometre #13! As for insect life, I glimpsed plenty of the huge black and yellow butterflies I have no idea what genus. But, aside from the snake, the most spectacular fauna that I encountered jumped from a tree I batted with my walking stick and two Pyrops Candelaria jumped onto a branch right in front of me, amazing!

So yes, the wildlife is good, the trails east to navigate and I felt as though I had the whole park to myself. I barely saw another person and although on occasion you can hear the shrieks of children from the beachfront and the sonorous chanting of a monk, there was pretty much the sound of my footfalls and nature.

Oh, there were many of this dark green bird with a crested head, about the size of a great tit, but I can't find it on the internet; any suggestions? There were many of them.

A thoroughly fascinating post flysheet, however my interest was particularly aroused by the comment "a crested head, about the size of a great tit" :o)

A thoroughly fascinating post flysheet, however my interest was particularly aroused by the comment "a crested head, about the size of a great tit" :o)

Ha ha, birds are great for innuendo; boobie for instance. Shag anyone?

750cm snake? Not that it is not possible but..I thought only phyton or anacondas grow that long.

750cm snake? Not that it is not possible but..I thought only phyton or anacondas grow that long.

Gosh; inadvertent typo 750mm not 750cm! 😤

So lucky! I walked through that park and barely saw any animals at all. This was in summer, so I don't know if that's a factor. And maybe I didn't explore the park enough.

Sounds like you had a nice hike. Hear any gibbons?

There were tons of animal/insect life there; must be something to do with the seasons! And, as I rounded the first bend there were about a dozen monkeys clamouring a cacophony in the trees ahead, prompting me to grab a stout stick. The monkeys (gibbons?) were making such a fuss due to some dogs heading their way; barking and whatnot.

I'm guessing those were probably macaques, like the one's you'd see at Wat Phnom in PP or around Angkor. Gibbons don't have tails and they sing in the morning. Sounds like you had a great hike.

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