Phou Hin Poun
National Park
Park Type
National Park
Year Established
1993
Total Area
180,000 ha
Provinces
Khammouane
Map
Things to See & Do
Important Visitor Information
Access
Kong Lor Cave is reached by paved road that leads from Route 8 at Khoun Kham (Nahin) district center. The northern side of Kong Lor Cave at Natan Village can be reached by dirt road that splits from Route 1E in Nakai District. The Rock Viewpoint is located on Route 8 between Route 13 and Khoun Kham District center.
Tours
Tours for Kong Lor Cave and the Natan Valley can be booked directly with the Kong Lor-Natane Ecotourism Association based at the cave entrance near Kong Lor Village. Nam None cave is managed by a local tour operator and does not require prior booking. It is advisable to book in advance with Green Discovery for the Rock Viewpoint, especially on weekends, holidays and the high season (Oct-March).
Fees
Fees are different at each attraction. All entry to the park requires paying each attractions fee rate and having local guides or boats guide visitors into the area. Solo camping inside the park without local guides is not allowed.
Biodiversity
Phou Hin Poun National Protected Area is biogeographically distinct from other National Protected Areas. It is one of two protected areas in Central Indochina Limestone, and protects a representative sample of the drier western limit of this feature. It is globally important for the Lao Langur Trachypithecus laotum, and contains nationally important populations of Assamese Macaques and White-cheeked gibbons. Phou Hin Poun also provides part of the range for one of the largest and most viable populations of Asian Elephant, and for gaur. Furthermore, Phou Hin Poun contains good populations of both species of bear, a nationally significant Serow population and at least 43 species of bat (largest bat diversity of any National Protected Area). The bare-faced bulbul Pycnonotus hualon is a member of the bulbul family, was newly described from the Central Indochina Limestone in 2009. Phou Hin Poun is also a type locality for the Sooty Babbler Stachyris herberti. A new species โ Limestone Leaf Warbler โ is also present.Phou Hin Poun National Protected Area also contains at least 14 species of turtle and is nationally significant for the conservation of reptiles.
Southern White-cheeked Gibbon
Nomascus siki
South-white cheeked gibbons are a primate species found in the Southern Annamites and live in high canopy jungles. The male is black and female has a light yellow color.
Status:
Critically Endangered
Laotian Langur
Trachypithecus laotum
The Laotian Langur is endemic to Laos. Phou Hin Poun is one of the only places where they can be seen, with a healthy and happy population living around the Rock Viewpoint zip lines.
Status:
Endangered
Bare-faced bulbul
Pycnonotus hualon
The bare-faced bulbul was newly described by scientists in 2009 and is found only in Central Laos around Phou Hin Poun. This bird can be seen perching on the limestone mountains around the Rock Viewpoint.
Status:
Least Concern
Laotian Rock Rat
Laonastes aenigmamus
The Laotian rock rat, or kha-nyou in Lao, was discovered by scientists in 2005. It is only found in the limestone areas of Khammouane Province, with Phou Hin Poun representing the major part of its habitat.
Status:
Least Concern
Topography, Climate & Forests
Topography: Predominately limestone karst ranges with steep slopes, cliffs and bluffs and caves in many areas, rising to 1500 metres near Phou Mon. Flat bottomed valleys or kouans ranging in size from a few hundred hectares to 40 square kilometres. Major rivers include the Nam Hinboun in the north and west, and the Nam Pathen, Nam Pakan and Nam Don in the west and south. Many of these rivers flow through underground caves, the largest of which is between Kong Lor and Natan on the Nam Hinboun and is navigable by boats.Phou Hin Poun is slated to become Laos’ first UNESCO Global Geopark.
Forests and habitat: Main forest types include semi-evergreen forest, vines and bamboo forest, mixed deciduous forest, and deciduous dipterocarp forest. The vegetation of the large kouans is heavily modified and dominated by secondary species. Extensive areas of semi-vegetated and bare limestone; extensive caves; limited wetland areas, including several nongs; habitat linkages to the Nakai plateau and Nam Kading National Protected Area.
People & Culture
There are 95 guardian villages of Phou Hin Poun spread over six districts in Khammouane Province. Ethnic composition of the park includes Lao Loum (Kaleung, Tai Bo, Tai Sam and Meuy sub groups); and Makong (Kwa, Tro sub groups) โ mainly in the east of the park.There are numerous temples and shrines in limestone caves and a number of sacred forests and areas. At Ban Na there are the remains of an extensive town called Alan which covers 20+ hectares, including remains of a number of buildings built of brick. Ban Nakhu has the remains of a stupa built of brick about 3-400 years ago.
Conservation & Management
The national park office is based at PAEO in Thakek. The director of the park coordinates provincial and district district forestry staff to implement conservation activities. In addition to the headquarters, there are field bases (Thakek, Gnommalath, Hinboun Districts). Phou Hin Poun has a management plan that follows a participatory co-management arrangement, which involves communities in management and conservation at the site level. There are three main zones identified for protecting key species and habitat, which include gibbons and their required high canopy forests. The Rock Viewpoint is also engaged in supporting protection around its concession, which has an important, viable population of Lao Langurs.
๐Address: Protected Area Management Division, Department of Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Khouvieng Road, Vientiane, Lao PDR
๐ +856-021-215000
๐ฉ [email protected]
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