Night Safari
Revealing the secret life of the jungle
A night safari is a captivating and eye-opening adventure, if you are looking to uncover the jungle's most enchanting secrets.
At first, I was nervous about booking a night safari. The idea of being up close and personal with all sorts of dark and devilish creatures in the middle of the night terrified me. The fact that I am deathly scared of spiders also meant I was just about the worst person to be wandering around the jungle.
However, the staff and visitors at Our Jungle House gently convinced me to conquer my fears and not miss out on this unforgettable and infamous tour.
Considering 70% of jungle animals are nocturnal, I figured the night safari must be the best way to get the full jungle experience - and it certainly was.
Within 10 minutes of starting the trek, my fears had melted away; I felt the thrill of the chase and was caught up in the jungle buzz.
A captivating and eye-opening adventure
If you are looking to uncover the jungle's most enchanting secrets, spot adorable sleeping animals, and witness the mysterious landscape come magically alive, look no further than a night safari tour in the world's oldest rainforest.
First things first - safety and admin:
Located in Southern Thailand, Khao Sok is a popular spot for families, nature enthusiasts and adrenalin junkies alike. The park boasts a diverse ecosystem including flying foxes, wild jungle cats, elephants and gibbons.
The night safari is a popular two-hour trek starting from around 7:00 pm in the evening. It can be easily booked through various eco-resorts near the park. I opted for Our Jungle House, considering the affordable price and provision of car transfer to and from the park. They offer flexible package deals which include a range of other activities. It's worth noting that everyone must pay for a national park entrance ticket of 300 baht (children go free). However, the ticket can be used the next day if bought after 4:30 pm.
Personal guides
Those concerned about unfriendly encounters with snakes on the safari don't need to worry. You will have a personal guide with excellent experience to make sure you don't disturb or step on anything spooky. Rangers will always prioritize your safety and respect for the wildlife by following specific park guidelines. However, still make sure to prepare for the hot and humid climate, AKA: bring plenty of water, wear lots of mosquito spray and dress appropriately!
You will all be given headlamps and the actual trail is easy to walk. With no danger of anyone falling behind, even the little ones scared of the dark can join in the fun. In fact, Our Jungle House provides family night safaris and there were plenty of kids under the age of 10 excitedly bouncing about during my tour.
If you are feeling more adventurous, the guides can also take you off-the-beaten-path and away from the crowds to the inner depths of the jungle, overgrown with Liana vines and towering bamboo.
Hakuna Matata: The adventure begins
Safe to say our tour guide, Rango (AKA the modern-day Rambo), was an avid nature enthusiast and skilled explorer! Seven years in the business, he was a spider fanatic and even collected different species to keep in his own home.
Within the first few minutes of meeting Rango and starting our tour, we spied our first wildlife resident, the black scorpion. Naturally, Rango had a UV ray to hand and was able to illuminate the creature in a bright purple light so we could see its armoured shell and wicked pincers up close.
We continued trekking into the night, mesmerized by the swaying Dipterocarp trees and immersed in the rhythmic chirping of crickets, cicadas and exotic bird calls. Our senses heightened, Rango pointed out slick black bats, camouflaged stick insects, and agile tree frogs sitting peacefully among the foliage. With his trained eye, he introduced us to different breeds of spiders - I waited for the attack, but the spiders sat chilled out in their webs! I would have even gone so far as to call the baby tarantula 'cute'.
The most majestic animal we spotted, had to be the Wagler's Pit Viper snake. Vibrant gold and silky white, she lay draped over a tree as we stared in awe at her malevolent beauty. Rango made sure we kept our distance while he took quality pictures for us.
With the sounds of frog croaking and the thrum of fireflies echoing all around us, we carried on our journey and separated away from the other tourists to find our own less travelled path. Rango explained that we may even be able to spot the vibrant Malayan colugo, otherwise known as the flying lemur, sambar deer or the wild jungle cat! The adorable slow loris is also known to be found nestled in the high branches, its big yellow eyes gleaming bright against the dark.
Careful not to wake them, I was elated when we came across a small family of monkeys sleeping up in the bamboo! Gone was their cheeky demeanor as they snuggled up together, snoring peacefully and coiled up high with their long tails dangling down.
Made it out alive:
After two hours of fun, my group and I headed out of the jungle, alive and untouched! I felt immensely grateful to have experienced the jungle's unique moonlit beauty and found I had a newfound respect for all its friendly and wacky inhabitants, each one working hard and responsibly to keep the ecosystem in order. Educational and informative, the tour certainly revealed local efforts to maintain this rich biodiversity and protect these majestic creatures from human threats.
All in all, it was certainly a night to remember.