CAT TIEN NATIONAL PARK – WILD GIBBON TREK 2D1N

Cat Tien National Park is one of the hidden gems in Vietnam and one of the few unspoilt national parks in Vietnam with untouched jungle. The area comprises an amazingly bio diverse area of lowland tropical rainforest. Discover Cat Tien National Park by trekking through prime rain forest to Crocodile Lake, enjoy an exciting game night-safari drive and a relaxing boat trip along the Dong Nai River. To top it all off we take you on a very early hike to see the endangered Wild Gibbons in their natural habitat.

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Day 1:

Ho Chi Minh City – Cat Tien NP – Boat Tour & Night Safari

Your driver will pick you up according to voucher time to start your trip to Nam Cat Tien National Park, a former volcanic crater, known as lava tubes before we cross the Dong Nai River to enter Cat Tien National Park.

16:00          Start the boat trip along Dong Nai River

18:00          Go the the Park HQ and start the night animal spotlighting

19:30          Come back and enjoy a hearty Vietnamese dinner at the lodge.

Part 1: Boat Trip

The lodge is located right next to Dong Nai River – one of the most important rivers in south-east Vietnam. You can take a boat to relax and enjoy the stunning view of the waters and wildlife here. There are plenty of birds, swimming snakes, macaques and civets frequently spotted around the river bank. Another hard-to-forget experience is watching sunrise and sunset on this marvelous river.

Part 2: Night Safari

Most visitors to Cat Tien NP are unaware that the actual active period for a great number of wildlife happens mainly at dusk and throughout the night till dawn. This is true for a large variety of mammals, amphibians, reptiles & insect species. The jungle literally comes alive in the dark and the probability of seeing animals in their most active period is by being near their food & drinking water source. A Night Safari offers the best way to see the animals in their natural habitat.

 

Transportation: Private transfer by car and boat trip

Meals: Lunch and dinner

Accommodation: Double A/C room with River View

Guide: English speaking guide at the park

 

Day 2:

Wild Gibbon Trek – Crocodile Lake – Ho Chi Minh City
 
04:45          Wild Gibbon Trek
07:30          Breakfast at the Lodge
08:30          We head to the park where we meet up with our guide. We travel by jeep for 9 kilometers and we hike for roughly 5km to reach Crocodile Lake
14:00          Return to the lodge for lunch
 
Start going to the ferry at 4:45 am and meet the guide at the Park’s HQ at 4:50 am. He will then take you to a listening post, where you wait for the gibbons to start singing. Here you can relax on hammocks and take in the vast array of wildlife that surrounds you. As the nocturnal animals are all going to bed and the day-dwellers are rising, this is the perfect time for viewing opportunities of Cat Tien’s rich wildlife Potential sightings can include sambar deer, mouse deer, wild boar, black-shanked douc and pigtailed macaque troops, as well as a huge array of birds and invertebrates. Once the gibbons start to sing, you will be guided to their location, where they are comfortable with you watching their normal behavior.

Crocodile Lake is a UNESCO-recognized world biosphere preserve. It is the heart of the park and the home to two endangered reptile species including the Siamese Crocodile and the Andaman Water Monitor. If you are lucky, you can also encounter the wild gaurs – a highly endangered mammal species that was thought to be extinct after the Vietnam War (a group of 30 wild gaurs are living in Cat Tien forest).

We return to the lodge for lunch before your driver will pick you up for the transfer back to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, estimated arrival time around 18:00.

Transportation: Jeep and private transfer by car

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Accommodation: N/A

Guide: English speaking guide at the park

  • Private transfers by car
  • All meals as indicated in the program
  • Accommodation as mentioned
  • All entrance fees and local English speaking guide
  • Beverages, personal expenses and tips
  • All services and items not mentioned specifically in the list above
  • Travel insurance

Preparation:

  • Good shoes and leech socks
  • Sun protection
  • Depending on the season bring (rain) protection
  • Booking voucher from us
  • Valid Passport with valid visa
  • Cash for personal expense

Specific food requests

Please let us know if you have specific eating restrictions, allergic for certain things or if you are vegetarian, we can take that into account during the trips.

Weather wise

During the period March to November it will good to pack light with some light rain protection, a towel, quick drying light clothes, a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen (at least SPF15), a reliable insect repellent, toiletries, a camera and lots of batteries. Warmer clothing and rain protection for the cooler months of November to March is advised.

Get Up And Go Vietnam does everything to make your trip an unforgettable experience. Unfortunately, we have no control over weather conditions. Our apologies for that!

Cat Tien National Park is one of the few unspoilt national parks in Vietnam with untouched jungle. It comprises an amazingly biodiverse area of lowland tropical rainforest. The 72,000-hectare park is one of the outstanding natural treasures in Vietnam, a true jungle, and the hiking, mountain biking and birdwatching here are amongst the best in the country.

Fauna in the park includes 100 types of mammal including elephants, leopards, the bison-like guar, and primates such as gibbons, pygmy lorises and langurs. There are also 79 types of reptile, 41 amphibian species, plus an incredible array of snakes, spiders and insects, including 400 or so butterfly species. Of the 350-plus birds, rare species include the orange-necked partridge and Siamese fireback.

Bear in mind that the larger animals, including elephants and leopards, are very retiring. You’re most likely to see primates, birds and reptiles but still, the park is definitely worth a visit if it fits your schedule as, in our mind, Cat Tien National Park is one of the best in Vietnam.