Thung Kik

Kaeng Ko

Ko Luang Waterfall

         The topography is that of  fold mountains (complex mountain landscape) which have a north-south axis, with the most northerly point at Doi Tao in Chiang Mai.  The south at to the north of the Khuean Bhumibol Reservoir, in Sam Ngao District in Tak Province, and are between 400 and 800 meters above sea level. It is home to the Northeast’s highest summit, “Don Huai Lao” Which is  1,334 meters high. The mountains feed a number of waterways including the Mae Hat Creek, Mae Ko Creek, Pong Ka Creek, Muang Creek, Khun Men Creek, and Khrai Creek. . The rivers in this area are tributaries for the Ping River, which runs along the Park’s western boundary.

         A river flows through the valley from Doi Tao district in Chiang Mai Province to the upper part of the reservoir above Bhumibol Dam in Sam Ngao District, Tak Province. The Ping River is approximately 100 kilometers long, averages 500 meters wide, and averages 30 meters in depth. Its widest section  in the National Park is approximately 6 kilometers in width, which is located in the southern area above the Bhumibol Damand is commonly referred to as “Bo Lom” or “Phra Bat Huai Hang” by locals.

        The Mae Ping National Park is similar to other areas in the northern provinces due to the landscape’s low elevation and extensive forest cover. However, certain areas have a climate that is distinct from the surrounding area. The average temperature in the upper portion of the National Park is around 25 degrees Celsius, while the temperature in the lower portion of the National Park, near Bhumibol Dam in Tak province, is slightly higher, at around 27 degrees Celsius. September is the wettest month, and theaverage annual rainfall is 1,060-1,184 mm.

         The majority of forest areas are deciduous, forming approximately 80% of all forests, and they are scattered throughout the Park. They are especially prevalent however in the mountains, and favor sandy soil and elevations of less than 1,000 meters above sea level. The other 20%, is Evergreen Forest, which is concentrated in the narrow valleys and creeks.    
Deciduous Dipterocarp Forest  is the most abundant plant community in Mae Ping National Park, found nearly everywhere, both on the plains, along the steep slopes, and on the ridges between altitudes 450 – 1000 above sea level. The most common plants are Burma Sal, Burmese Sal, Dipterocarpus tuberculatus, Hairy Keruing, Quercus kerrii Craib, Phyllanthus emblica, Lannea coromandelica, Terminalia alata Heyne, Canarium subulatum, Strychnos nux-vomica, and Melientha suavis Pierre. Lower ground plants include Phoenix acaulis, Cycad, Pueraria candollei, Ground Orchid, and different types of grass. 

          Mixed deciduous forests are found throughout the plains and along the mountain slopes at elevations of 450 – 800 meters. Common types of wood found are Teak, Iron Wood, Dalbergia  cultrata Graham, Canarium subulatum, Millettia brandisiana, Burma Padauk, Schleichera oleosa, Dalbergia dongnaiensis, and Vitex pinnata. Lower ground plants are Bauhinia saccocalyx Pierre, Thyrsostachys siamensis Gamble, White Bamboo, Bambusa bambos, Bambusa nutans, Phoenix acaulis, Pueraria candollei, Myrica esculenta, and Colona flagrocarpa.

          In the deciduous forest area, animals include the Burmese Hare, Indian Muntjac, Banteng, and birds such as the Red Junglefowl, Chinese Francolin, Buttonquail, White-Bellied Woodpecker, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Common Flameback, Black-Headed Woodpecker, Red-Bellied Blue Magpie, and Rufescent Prinia. There are also reptiles such as the Ground Lizard, Clouded Monitor Lizard, Malayan Pit Viper and many others.

           Tropical Evergeen Forest consists of Dry Evergreen Forest and Tropical Rain Forest plants including Hopea odorata, Black Rosewood, Mangifera caloneura, Irvingia malayana, Spondias pinnata, and Beleric myrobalan. It is a habitat and hiding place for Asiatic Black Bear, Banteng, Slow Loris, Rhesus Macaque, Lar Gibbon, squirrels, and birds such as the Oriental Pied Hornbill, Puff-Throated Bulbul, and Asian Fairy Bluebird. There are grasslands such as the Thung Kik and Thung Na Ngu, which are plains located on hillsides approximately 550 meters above sea level. The soil is sandy clay or gravel, and the area is prone to frequent wildfires. There are smaller perennials scattered far and wide, including Semecarpus cochinchinensis Engl, Terminalia alata Heyne, and Terminalia chebula, while the lower ground is home to Phoenix acaulis, Imperata cylindrica, Myrica esculenta Buch, and White Angel. 

             It is a habitat for small to medium-sized wild animals such as Indochinese Ground Squirrel, Chipmunk, Lesser Bamboo Rat, Indian Muntjac, Wild Boar, Malayan Porcupine, Civet, Common Palm Civet, Streak-Eared Bulbul, Bulbul, Grey-Headed Parakeet, Bee-Eater, Black-Headed Woodpecker, Scaly-Breasted Munia, Black-Shouldered Kite, Turnicidae, Spotted Dove, Greater Coucal. There are also many reptiles and amphibians, such as Oriental Garden Lizard, Many-Lined Sun Skink, Common Asian Toad, Rana limnocharis, and Spotted Narrow-Mouthed Frog. In the hilltop caves, cliffs and limestone cliffs are Serows, Chinese Goral, Malayan Porcupine, Indo-Malayan Bamboo Rat, Rhesus Macaque, Common Palm Civet, Squirrels, Bats, and a various types of hawks and Red-Tailed Swallow. In the area of the waterfront area or the water source are the Smooth-Coated Otter, Crab-Eating Mongoose, Fishing Cat, Common Water Monitor Lizard, and waterbirds such as the Common Moorhen, Lesser Whistling Duck, Grey Heron, Chinese Pond Heron, Little Heron, and other creatures such as the Amaurornis phoenicurus, Giant Asian Pond Turtle, Soft-Shelled Turtle, Painted Keelbacks, Rana limnocharis, Green-Backed Frog, Horseface Loach, Dwarf Snakehead, Catfish, and Eel Garden.

          Wild animals abound, especially along the Ping River including the Indian Muntjac, Banteng, Wild Boar, Asiatic Black Bear, Serows, Chinese Goral, Fishing Cat, Red Junglefowl, Viverricula indica, monkeys, Indo-Cchinese Lutung, gibbons, Golden Jackal, Burmese Hare, and squirrels. There are also many different species of birds, both resident and migratory, within the National Park area and it is also an important source of freshwater fish species such as theNile Tilapia, Striped Catfish, Siluridae, Cyprinidae, Goby, Giant Gouramy, Macronema Catfish, and Hampala Barb.