Namtok Ngao National Park
Contact Location : Namtok Ngao National Park 76/5 Moo 1, Ngao Sub-district, Mueang District, Ranong Province 85000
Telephone Number : (+66) 7 781 0651, (+66) 8 3915 9515
Email : ngaowaterfall@hotmail.com
Facebook : Namtok Ngao National Park
Information
Ngao Waterfall is a symbolic place in Ranong town where the stream flows down from a high cliff. Namtok Ngao National Park covers an area of approximately 417,500 rai or 668 square kilometers in Muang and La-un District, in Ranong Province, Phato, Thung Tako and Lang Suan District, in Chumphon Province. The landscape includes a complex mountain range that stretches between the two provinces, and the Khao Nom Sao peak ridge demarks the border between Ranong and Chumphon Provinces.
Background
Namtok Ngao National Park or Khlong Phrao National Park as it was once named, was established in 1978. Surat Thani Regional Forest issued a letter to the Royal Forest Department informing them that the Thung Raya Na Sak National Reserved Forest Area in Sawi District, Chumphon Province, contained mostly fertile forests and complex mountain landscape. The forests were home to valuable trees, upstream forest, abundant wildlife and natural features, so it was suitable for establishment as a national park or wildlife sanctuaries that could attract tourists. The Wildlife Conservation Division surveyed and informed us that the forests were not however ideal for a wildlife sanctuary.
Therefore, the National Park Division ordered officials to conduct a preliminary survey, and in 1981, Mr. Pramual Kulmat, the Member of the House of Representatives for Chumphon, issued a letter to General Prem Tinsulanonda, the then Prime Minister, the area near to Moo 13 in Tako Sub-district, Thung Tako District, Chumphon Province, be included in the list of protected areas because it has beautiful year round waterfalls, and fertile forest conditions. The Prime Minister agreed and ordered the Royal Forest Department to proceed.
The National Park Division called the authorities to establish the Khlong Phrao National Park in 1981. Later, there was a communist insurgency in the area, which made it unsafe for officers to continue the operation. Therefore, the establishment was temporarily suspended.
When the situation returned to normal in 1983, the National Park Division sent officials to continue establishing Khlong Phrao National Park, and operations restarted in 1984.
The Ngao Waterfall was originally in the Forest Park, located in Ngao Sub-district, Mueang District, Ranong Province, along the boundary line of Khao Namtok Ngao National Reserved Forest, It has an area of approximately 2.93 square kilometers.
It is a famous tourist attraction in Ranong, which was managed by the Ranong Provincial Forest Office from 1955 until 1981. The National Park Division then took responsibility, which has given the National Park Superintendent of Laem Son National Park, who was in charge of Namtok Ngao Forest Park.
Later that year, in 1989, the Namtok Ngao Forest Park was annexed by the Khlong Phrao National Park area. The whole area wasrenamed "Namtok Ngao National Park in 1994.
Namtok Ngao National Park is comprised 417,500 rai (668 square kilometers) and the Royal Decree specified the area includes La-un forest, and Ratchakrut forest in Bang Kaeo, La Un Tai, Bang Phra Nuea and La Un Nuea Sub-district, La Un District, Bang Rin, Hat Som Pan, Ngao and Ratchakrut Sub-district, Mueang Ranong District, Ranong Province, Thung Raya Forest, Na Sak Forest, Khao Tang Ah Forest, Khlong Chon Forest, Phato Forest, Pang Wan Forest and Pak Song Forest in Khao Khai Sub-district Sawi District, Chong Mai Kaeo and Tako Sub-district, Thung Tako District, Nakha, Wang Ta Ko and Hat Yai Sub-district, Lang Suan District and Pang Wan, Phrarak, Phato and Pak Song Sub-district, Phato District, Chumphon Province as National Parks. It was announced as Thailand’s 93rd National Park in the Government Gazette, Volume 116, Part 44 Ko, dated June 2, 1999.
Note : After paying the entrance fee to the National Park, please carry the receipt for inspection.
417,500 rai (668 square kilometers)
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Nature trails ⇔ Trekking ⇔ Visit Waterfall ⇔ Observe flowers/plant ⇔ Bird/Butterfly ⇔ Mineral water bathing
Welfare shop : (coffee, drinks, snacks): open daily from 8.00 – 17.30 hrs..
National Park Headquarters: AIS, TRUE, DTAC
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Namtok Ngao National Park is complex mountain range located on a north-south axis with very few plains. Its 2 most famous peaks are Khao Nom Sao, at 1,089 meters above sea level, and Khao Dan. The mountain ridge divides the provinces of Ranong Chumphon, and it is a vital watershed source for the Sawi Canal, Phrao Canal, Tako Canal and Lang Suan Canal in Chumphon Province, and the La-un Canal, Ra Wi Canal, Hat Som Paen Canal, Bang Rin Canal, Ngao Canal and Ratcha Krut Canal in Ranong Province. The soil characteristics of Namtok Ngao National Park are soil series 26, which is loam, and reddish clay, in the high mountainous areas, and sets 53 and 54 (data from the Land Development Station). Therefore, there is an increased risk of erosion.
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Namtok Ngao National Park is influenced by the monsoons, so it rains heavily between May and October, making it suitable for photographing waterfalls and observing Phricotelphusa sirindhon Naijanetr. From November to April, there is less rain and cooler weather.
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The Namtok Ngao National Park forest is a tropical rain forest with a dense canopy and lower ground plants. The most common trees are Podocarpus neriifolius, Hopea odorata, Lum Pho (Intsia palembanica Miq.), Champak, Dipterocarpus alatus Roxb. ex G.Don., Dipterocarpus grandiflorus (Blanco) Blanco, Mesua ferrea Linn., Lagerstroemia see, Queen's Flower, Needle wood, Anisoptera costata Korth., Aphanamixis polystachya, Hopea pierrei Hance, Tetrameles, Bullet wood, Mangifera caloneura, and Parashorea stellata Kurz. The lower ground plants and epiphytic plants include Calameae, Salacca wallichiana (Gaertn.) Voss, Bamboo, Ferns, Dendrodium formosum, and Rafflesia kerri. (1) Forest type: tropical rain forest accounts for 99.8% of the Namtok Ngao National Park Forest area. From the peak of Khao Namtok Ngao to the south, there is a grassland forest of about 1.3648 square kilometers, or 0.2% of the total area. (2) The topography include complex mountain ranges and watersheds for waterways in in Chumphon and Ranong provinces. The sensitive ecosystem areas include Ngao Waterfall, Khlong Phrao Waterfall, Bang Rin Waterfall, Heo Muang Waterfall, Heo Phrao Waterfall, Tako Canal, Phrao Canal, Pang Wan Canal, A Canal , Anek Canal, Phra Canal, Yae Canal, Thap Khon Canal, in Chumphon Province, Bang Kaeo Canal, La-un Canal, Ra Wi Canal, Hat Som Paen Canal, Bang Rin Canal, Ngao Canal, and Rat Krut Canal in Ranong Province. (3) Plant species include valuable plant species such as Podocarpus neriifolius, Hopea odorata, Lum Pho (Intsia palembanica Miq.), Champak, Dipterocarpus alatus Roxb. ex G.Don., Dipterocarpus grandiflorus (Blanco) Blanco, Mesua ferrea Linn., Lagerstroemia See, Queen's Flower, Hopea pierrei Hance, Mangifera caloneura, Parashorea stellata Kurz, Melanor Ground plants found include rattan, bamboo, ferns, and wild bananas. Wild animals: Two herds of wild elephants live in the Park, one of 11 and seven elephants, live in the Phato Forest in the Namtok Ngao National Park. (4.) Other wildlife consists of tapirs, guars, bears, Barking Deer, monkeys, langurs, wild boars, Chamois, squirrels, cobras, King Cobra, pythons, turtles, Softshell Turtles, and birds such as the Great Argus, Great Hornbill, Oriental Magpie-Robin, doves, Drongos, Common Hill Myna, White-Crested Laughing Thrush, Old World Orioles, Baya Weaver, and Red Junglefowl. Other animals: An important endemic animal in Namtok Ngao National Park is "The Princess Crab" (Phricotelphusa sirindhon Naijanetr), a species of waterfall crab first discovered at Ngao Waterfall, Ranong Province. (5) Other Resources Namtok Ngao National Park has another important and well-known endemic animal, the "Chao Fa Crab" (Phricotelphusa sirindhon Naijanetr), a new type of waterfall crab in the world, was first discovered at Ngao Waterfall, Ranong Province. 1.2 Tin and kaolin are resources found near to Hat Som Pan, Bang, Ngao and Rat Krut Sub-district, Mueang District, Ranong Province. 1.3 The soil characteristics are mostly soil series 26, which is loam, and reddish clay in high mountainous areas, sets 53 and 54 (data from the Land Development Station). Therefore, there is an increased risk of erosion. |
How to get there by car :
Convenient transportation is possible from Ranong town along Phetkasem Road (Ranong - Phuket route). After 13 kilometers turn left opposite the grass hilland continue for about 1 kilometer.
- National Park Ranger Station No Ngo No. 1 (Khlong Phrao)
- National Park Ranger Station No Ngo No. 2 (Khlong Yae)
- National Park Ranger Station No Ngo No. 3 (Bang Kaeo)
- National Park Ranger Station No Ngo No. 4 (Rawi)
- National Park Ranger Station No Ngo No. 5 (Phraek Yang)
- National Park Ranger Station No Ngo No. 6 (Ban Khlong Arak)
- National Park Ranger Station No Ngo No. 7 (Hat Som Paen)
Accommodation : Namtok Ngao 204-210 (Phon Rang 4-10)
Namtok Ngao National Park offers accommodation, lodging, and camping grounds, including tents, an equipment rental service, a mineral pool, and a restaurant.