YOK DON NATIONAL PARK VIETNAM
Yok Don National Park Vietnam. Yok Don National Park Vietnam is located in Dak Lak province, bordering Vietnam and Cambodia. It was formed in 1992 and spans over 600km² of lowland woodland. Today, it is the second largest national park after Phong Nha.
Yok Don National Park Vietnam Information:
Address: Krong Na Commune, Buon Don District, Dak Lak Province, Vietnam
Yok Don National Park, Vietnam's second largest and most biodiverse protected area, covers 115,000 hectares of dry deciduous dipterocarp forest, a hardy form of wet rainforest tree that can grow to enormous sizes and is prized for lumber.
Yok Don was declared a national park in 1992 and is home to over 858 tree species, 200 bird species, several reptiles and insects, and 93 mammal species, 32 of which are on the Red List. Large herds of gaurs, wild bulls, Eld's deer, and elephants formerly inhabited Dak Lak province, but deforestation, killing, and illicit wildlife trading have nearly eliminated them.
Elephant hunting and taming were key traditions in the region, and the Mnong in Buon Don district are well-known for their talents. According to the Ethnographic Museum in Buon Ma Thuot, in the early twentieth century, Dak Lak domesticated 30 wild elephants every year. As of 2009, the province was predicted to have only 200 wild elephants.
Animals Asia, an NGO dedicated to ending animal abuse in Asia, helped organize the elephant tour at Yok Don National Park. In October 2018, the park ceased giving elephant rides to guests. Four elephants, one male, and three females, were unrestricted and could roam freely with the supervision of their mahouts. All four elephants have their own mahout, who remains with them throughout the day to keep them safe and ensure they stay in the national park. Fortunately, these elephants, who formerly transported building supplies, tents, and visitors, may again live freely.
The name appears to be derived from the M'Nong, an ethnic minority group living in Vietnam's Dak Lak, Dak Nông, Lam Dong, and Binh Phuoc, as well as Cambodia's Mondulkiri province. In their language, yok denotes a mountain, and don represents an island. The most appealing aspect of Yok Don National Park is the opportunity to watch elephants. The elephant was riding until about 2018, but it was mercifully prohibited, and the elephants now live peacefully with their mahouts in the park. A great thing to do with a guide is to follow one or two at a distance and simply see them enjoying their day.
Biodiversity Values of Yok Don National Park:
- Vegetation in Yok Don National Park:
The vegetation of Yok Don National Park is characterized by semi-evergreen (mixed deciduous) and deciduous forest, with a few pockets of evergreen forest, mainly on the slopes and around waterways.
The national park's deciduous woodland features Dipterocarpaceae family members such as Dipterocarpus tuberculatus, D. obtusifolius, and Shorea obtusa. The Combretaceae, Anacardiaceae, Fabaceae, and Myrtaceae groups are all strongly represented. This forest type has an open canopy with thick, fire-resistant bark on the majority of its trees.
In contrast to the deciduous forest, the semi-evergreen forest in the region has a closed canopy and is divided into five strata. Shorea cochinchinensis, Lagerstroemia calyculata, and Anisoptera scaphula are common plants in this forest type.
Yok Don National Park has a restricted distribution of evergreen forest due to the higher heights of the hills in the southeast. This forest type is slightly denser and is dominated by Fagaceae, Sapindaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Ebenaceae, and Meliaceae trees.
- Flora in Yok Don National Park:
Because deciduous forests typically sustain less floral variety than evergreen forests, the diversity of plant species at Yok Don National Park is lower than that of other national parks in Vietnam. According to Anon (1998), 474 vascular plant species have been identified in the national park, with 28 being recognized in Vietnam's Red Data Book. Yok Don National Park is one of Vietnam's seven internationally significant centers of plant diversity.
- Fauna in Yok Don National Park:
Yok Don National Park is well-known in Vietnam for its importance in large animal conservation efforts. Indeed, scientists confirmed the continuous presence of Asian elephant elephas maximus, banteng B. Javanicus, gaur bos gaurus, and tiger panthera tigris in Yok Don National Park.
Furthermore, recent trophies and first-hand accounts suggest that Yok Don National Park may host a small population of the internationally threatened eld's deer cervus eldii. Yok Don also supports two internationally vulnerable primate species: the yellow-cheeked crested gibbon (Hylobates gabriellae) and the black-shanked douc (Pygathrix nigripes).
Yok Don National Park is the last known habitat for the highly endangered gigantic ibis and the only breeding sarus cranes in Vietnam. The National Park has an internationally significant population of green peafowl, believed to be at least 400 individuals. Larger permanent streams sustain small but significant populations of masked finfoot, white-winged duck, and lesser and grey-headed fish eagle.
The National Park is also one of the few places in Vietnam with recent sightings of white-rumped and red-headed vultures. However, the majority of these records come from the western half of the national park, which lies near the Cambodian border and is now prohibited to tourists.
Things To Do In Yok Don National Park Vietnam:
Yok Don National Park offers a variety of activities, particularly for those who appreciate being outside! We only had one full day to visit the park, but I think that's plenty if you don't mind packing a lot in.
The optimum time to go trekking is during the dry season, which runs from October to April; however, the perfect period is between October and December, when temperatures are nice. Then it becomes really hot till the rains stop. Trekking is still doable during the rainy season, but expect muck and high rivers that will shut off paths, resulting in shorter (but not easier) treks. A park guide is required for day hikes and overnight treks since the Cambodian border runs through the park.
The Buon Don Local Cooking Class is a memorable activity. A local Ede family demonstrates how to cook a traditional Ede supper; we were warned to expect fiery, sour tastes. It may also include a visit to the local market. We did not attempt it, but we believe it would be an excellent opportunity to visit a local hamlet and learn more about one of Dak Lak's three indigenous peoples while also benefiting the community. The experience takes four hours.
Top Activities in Yok Don National Park:
1. Elephants Tour:
You may choose between two types of elephant tours: half-day and full-day. This guided woodland trip will take you to the location where the elephant and his mahout were last seen. The park rangers and guides will teach you more about elephants' lives and demonstrate how they hunt them down using the trails they leave behind. It's a one-of-a-kind experience to first see elephants in the wild.
2. Trekking Tour:
Explore Yok Don National Park's breathtaking natural splendor and learn about the fascinating plants and creatures that inhabit this one-of-a-kind environment. Tailor-made walking trips take you to waterfalls and streams where you may swim, while a guide points out medicinal plants and identifies the many bird noises that resonate through the forest. Whether you choose a day hike or an overnight journey, a park guide is required because the Cambodian border runs through the park.
3. Boat Trip:
The massive Serepok River flows through Yok Don for 332 kilometers before joining the Mekong River in Cambodia. Cruise down this gorgeous canal for an hour to enjoy the river's majesty, and mix it with bird viewing, sunset excursions, or any other time of day to drink up the river's beauty.
4. Bird Watching:
Yok Don National Park is home to more than 300 bird species, many of which are unique to Vietnam and Indochina. A tour guide will take you to the greatest bird viewing places in the National Park, where you may observe a variety of beautiful woodpeckers, drongos, and kingfishers. If you're lucky, you could spot rarer species such as the Eastern Pied Hornbill, Bee-eaters, Rufous Treepie, Yellow-Footed Pigeon, and Green Peacock.
5. Cycling:
Yok Don National Park offers almost 200 km of trails, tracks, and roads to explore. By bike, you may journey independently to the Buddha Waterfall, Seven Rapids, Drang Phok Lake, and Yok Don Mountain. Before embarking on a bike adventure, pick up a free map from reception.
6. Cooking Class:
Many ethnic minorities dwell in and around Dak Lak. Curious about their local eating habits? Join a lunch or supper cooking session with an Ede minority family in Jang Lanh hamlet, 700 meters from Yok Don National Park. An English-speaking guide will guarantee that you discover all of the family secrets of an Ede kitchen. You will be invited to participate and assist prepare under the host's supervision. When you're finished cooking, you may eat your handmade supper with the family.
Best Time To Visit Yok Don National Park:
The greatest time to go trekking is during the dry season, which runs from October to April; however, the optimum period is from October to December, when temperatures are moderate. Then it gets quite hot till it rains. Trekking is still doable during the rainy season, but anticipate mud and heavy water to cut across the paths, shortening distances (but not making them easier).
Yok Don National Park is 40 kilometers northwest of the town of Buon Ma Thuot (Dak Lak province in Vietnam's Central Highlands).
Visit Buon Ma Thuot, the capital of Dak Lak province and the closest city to the national park.
Buses travel directly from Ho Chi Minh City (8-9 hours), Dalat (5-6 hours), Pleiku (3 hours), Nha Trang (3.5 hours), and Da Nang (12 hours) to Buon Ma Thuot.
Flights: Buon Ma Thuot offers direct flights from Hanoi (1.5 hours) and Ho Chi Minh City (1 hour).
Taxi from Buon Ma Thuot to Yok Don
The easiest and most comfortable way is by taxi. The price from the city is approximately 500,000 VND (22 USD) and from the airport 650,000 (27 USD). Reliable taxis are Mai Linh, Vinasun and Quyet Tien Taxi.
Alternatively, you can also rent a car with a driver:
Motorbike from Buon Ma Thuot to Yok Don: You can rent a scooter from some hotels or travel agents. The rental price is approximately 150,000 VND – 200,000 VND / scooter/day (8 to 10 USD).
Bus from Buon Ma Thuot to Yok Don: The bus driving past Yok Don is pink and green. Buses run every 30 minutes and it takes approximately 1 – 1.5 hours to get to the gate of Yok Don National Park depending on your starting point.
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