Amphoe Waeng
Hala-Bala Wildlife Reserve
A
not-to-be-missed attraction for nature lovers, Hala-Bala is one
of Thailand’s more recent conservation areas. Officially
established in 1996, the reserve is located near the Thai-Malaysian
border. Covering an area of approximately 433.16 square kilometers,
it extends over Sankala Khiri Mountain Range and the deep forests
of Hala and Bala Forests that are not connected to each other.
Although they are a part of the same reserve, Hala Forest is in
Amphoe Betong in Yala Province and Amphoe Chanae in Narathiwat
Province while Bala Forest, the only part that is open to the
public, spans Amphoe Waeng and Amphoe Su Khirin in Narathiwat.
Highway No. 4062 (Khwam Man Khong Road) goes through Sankala
Khiri Mountain Range, making access to the reserve easier. Visitors
can start at Ban Buketa in Amphoe Waeng, go through Bala Forest
and end up at Ban Phu Khao Thong in Amphoe Su Khirin for a total
distance of 18 kilometers. On both sides of the road are the most
verdant jungles in Thailand. To study nature, you only have to
drive through the area and you will likely see many extraordinary
things from the park office on.
For nature enthusiasts, simply driving through the area from
the Park Office onwards will provide extraordinary views of nature.
Approximately 5 kilometers from the office, is a wildlife lookout
point. The numerous Banyan trees flourishing in the area yield
plenty of fruit for animals that regularly come to feed there.
About 10 kilometers further is the Phu Khao Thong Protection Unit,
a sub-office of the reserve. From here it is possible to see a
sea of mist at dawn. Walking about 100 meters from the unit, visitors
will find a gigantic Somphong (Kraphong) tree that has a diameter
of 25 meters. The height of a section near the ground that supports
the trunk is about 4 meters. This tree likes to grow near water
and is a softwood tree used in making toothpicks or matches.
Along the route are several plants that are rarely found elsewhere
in Thailand such as the Yuan tree of the bean family. This tree
is regarded as the third tallest tree in the world, after the
redwood and eucalyptus, respectively. It has a white trunk and
can reach a height of 65 to70 meters. Normally, the tree is perfect
for making furniture. Another tree located here is the Saya tree
of the rubber family, which is the most striking tree of the Hala-Bala
forest. Looking carefully, visitors will see hornbills as the
forest are their preferred nesting sites. In addition, it is possible
to see the Hua Roi Ru Nam tree, which is one of the newest plants
found in the country.
Wildlife here creates an ecological balance for the area. Many
of the animals are on the list of nearly-extinct animals of Thailand.
They include the large black gibbon, or Sia Mang, that is totally
black in color and nearly double the size of the white-handed
gibbon. There is also the agile gibbon that is usually found on
Sumatra, Borneo and northern Malaysian jungles and southern Thailand.
With luck, visitors may be able to see two of these creatures
hanging from a branch. The area also has Thut frogs that are the
largest frogs in the country. It is about a foot long and weighs
over 5 kilograms. The frogs live in watershed forests on high
mountains. A survey discovered that four types of protected mammals,
which are the Sumatran serow, tapir, marbled cat, and Asian two-horned
rhinoceros, inhabit the area.
The hornbill, a rare bird, is an indicator of the state of the
forest. Nonetheless, the reserve has 9 out of 12 species of hornbills
in Thailand. These include the wrinkled hornbill, helmeted hornbill
(the only kind of hornbill that has a thick upper beak and Indonesian
villagers hunt it to get the beak to carve into ornaments like
ivory), Oriental pied hornbill, great pied hornbill, white-crowned
hornbill, bushy-crested hornbill, Malayan rhinoceros hornbill,
black hornbill, and wreathed hornbill.
Visitors wishing to enter the area for nature study must write
in advance to the reserve at P.O. Box 3, Amphoe Waeng, Narathiwat
96120 or the Wildlife Reserve Department of the Natural Resources
Conservation Office, Royal Forest Department, Bangkok. As the
reserve is a sensitive area, visitors are not permitted to stay
overnight. The best time to study nature here is from late February
to September, when there is little rain.
Getting there: Mini-buses can be hired from Amphoe Waeng
Market or from Su-ngai Kolok train station.
Namtok Sirindhorn
The waterfall is actually a stream that comes down from
a forest at a higher altitude. The falls feature a wide rock plateau
which is suitable for relaxation. Another attraction is the Southern
Forest Flowers and Decorative Plants Survey and Collection Project
under the Patronage of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The
project has more than 200 plant species that are grouped according
to their natural habitat. Signs provide plant names and useful
information. Plants here are both interesting in terms of local
botany and breeding to be developed as decorative and economic
plants. The project is open from 8.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. The waterfall
is located approximately 7 kilometers from Amphoe Waeng on Highway
No. 4057. Turn left onto Phua Khwam Man Khong Road and proceed
for around 8 kilometers, then drive another 300 meters to the
waterfall.
