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Khao Sok National Park Facts

Khao Sok National Park Facts
Khao Sok National Park is 739 square kilometer park located in Thailand's Surat Thani Province. The region is believed to be more than 160 years in age. Evidence of the first humans living in Khao Sok dates to the 1800s, but an epidemic wiped out most of the population in 1944. Student activists and communist rebels in Thailand took over the caves in Khao Sok in the 1970s for seven years to try to protect the area from development and destruction, and in 1980 it was declared Khao Sok National Park. In 1982 a dam changed the landscape of the park and 52 fish species were lost in the area. Several animal species had to be moved to make way for the lake that resulted from the dam's construction.
Interesting Khao Sok National Park Facts:
Khao Sok National Park is Thailand's 22nd national park. Its location makes it southern Thailand's most popular park with tourists.
Khao Sok is part of the Khlong Saeng - Khao Sok Forest Complex.
Khao Sok is home to one of the oldest, if not the oldest, rainforest in the world. It is home to the largest virgin rainforest found in Thailand.
Khao Sok National Park is home to many waterfalls including Sip Et Chan, Wing Hin, Bang Liap Nam, Bang Hua Rat, Than Sawan, Mae Yai, and Ton Kloi waterfall.
There is a 400 meter long cave in Khao Sok National Park called Cave Underwater. Visitors to the cave can wade through provided there has been no heavy rain.
The symbolic flower of Surat Thani province, called the Bua Phut, is found in Khao Sok National Park.
Animals found in Khao Sok include the Asian elephant, Malayan tapirs, marbled cats, wild boars, clouded leopards, Asiatic wild dogs, gibbons, mouse-deer, porcupines, macaques, serows, sun bears, sambar deer, bantengs, guars, and the Asian black bear. Tigers are occasionally seen in the park but none have been spotted for a long time.
There are hundreds of bird species found in Khao Sok National Park including the rufous-collared kingfisher, blue-banded kingfisher, white-crowned hornbill, helmeted hornbill, great hornbill, osprey, banded pittas, and brahminy kite.
Khao Sok National Park is home to mountains, evergreen rainforest, valleys, lakes, caves, and rivers.
Some of the exotic plants found in Khao Sok National Park include rafflesias (the world's largest flower), pitcher plants, lianas, dipterpcarp trees, bamboo, coconut palms, and buttress roots.
Reptiles and amphibians found in Khao Sok National Park include monocled cobras, leeches, cobras, king cobras, reticulated pythons, and tree frogs.
Insects found in Khao Sok National Park often include millipedes, Thai black tarantulas, ants, termites, praying mantis, golden orb web spiders, cicadas, jewel beetles, scorpions, and atlas moths.
Visitors to Khao Sok can enjoy camping, hiking, lake safaris, jungle safaris, kayaking, swimming, guided tours, and staying in cabins and hotels.
Khao Sok National Park has warm temperatures all year. March and April are the hottest months in the area, and the rainy season runs from May to November. December to April is the driest time to visit the park.


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