Nam Tok Chet Sao Noi National Park

Contact Location : Nam Tok Chet Sao Noi National Park, Moo 9, Ban Kaeng Lu, Muak Lek Sub-district, Muak Lek District, Saraburi Province, 18180
Telephone Number : (+66) 3 634 6586
Email : 7saonoi@windowslive.com
Facebook : Namtok Chet Sao Noi National Park

Background         

           Namtok Chet Sao Noi National Park, formerly Namtok Chet Sao Noi Forest Park, was established in 1980 by the Royal Forest Department. It covers 864,000 square meters, of which 302,400 square meters are located in Muak Lek district, Saraburi province and 561,600 square meters in Pak Chong district, Nakhon Ratchasima province. It was transferred to Nakhon Ratchasima Regional Forest Office. Then in 2001 it was transferred back to Saraburi Regional Forest Office.

          In 2003, a neighborhood survey to find a new area for integration with the former Namtok Chet Sao Noi Forest Park was conducted in preparation for the declaration of Namtok Chet Sao Noi National Park, which had been carried out in sequence.  At present, Namtok Chet Sao Noi National Park is under the Prachinburi Protected Area Regional Office 1 (Saraburi Branch), National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Namtok Chet Sao Noi National Park has a supervised area of 41.11 square kilometers or 25,555 rai within Muak Lek Forest - Thap Kwang National Reserved Forest, Plot 1, Dong Phaya Yen National Reserved Forest. Some certain areas are in Lang Khao Forest Plantation of Tha Rahat district, Khao Noi Forest Plantation, Lam Thong Lang - Nong Makha Forest Plantation, Pak Chong Forest Plantation and the afforestation area under the permanent afforestation project (Forest Plantation Target or FPT3/2) in honor of His Majesty the King on the 50th anniversary of the throne in Saraburi.

Note : After paying the entrance fee to the National Park, please carry the receipt for inspection.

 

Chet Sao Noi Waterfall

     Nature trails ⇔ Visit Waterfall ⇔ Stargazing ⇔ Camping


   Welfare shop : open daily from 8:00 - 15:00 hrs. Coffee, drinking water, and snacks are available for sale.


  Mobile phone signal :

National Park Office area: AIS, TRUE, DTAC  


- Namtok Chet Sao Noi National Park Headquarters


  

         Namtok Chet Sao Noi National Park is mostly mountainous interspersed with plains. The area is relatively dry with shallow topsoil with height between 180 and 402 meters above sea level. Chokchai Phatthana is the highest point at 402 meters above sea level,  followed by the peaks in the center of the area and in Ban Dong Nam Cha, 386 and 359 meters above sea level, respectively. The foothills on the east and the north of the park are adjacent to Muak Lek Canal, which has water all year round and it flows into Pasak River in Wang Muang District. In the middle there is a small creek called Laeng Creek, which has water only during rainy season.

 

 

 

 


          The National Park has collected rainfall data from Muak Lek Weather Station located approximately 10 kilometers from the area, and from Pak Chong Agricultural Weather Station located approximately 26 kilometers from the area. The findings indicate that this national park area, located in central Thailand, is influenced by the seasonal monsoon system. The southwest monsoon's influence brings in moisture from the sea and ocean from May to October, resulting in the rainy season. From November to February, the northeast monsoon's influence blows the cold wind from northern Asia, resulting in winter. The summer is defined as the period between mid-February and April. The annual rainfall is an average of 1,191 millimeters, and the annual average temperature is 26 degrees Celsius.

 

 

 

  


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 Flora and Fauna 

         The forest is generally dense with hand-planted trees, as it was destroyed in the past. The area has been restored later. However, some areas of the woods are naturally recovering. All surrounding areas are agricultural and residential, encircled by roads and no other contiguous or adjacent natural forest. The diversity of plant and wildlife species is, therefore, limited.

      Plant communities in the National Park can be classified into three types: gallery evergreen forest, mixed deciduous forest, and planted forest.

         The gallery evergreen forest can be found only in the area adjcent to Muak Lek Creek and spreads in patches along the watercourse. The spices of plants found include: Ashoka, Fairy petticoats, Protium serratumDipterocarpus alatus, Iron wood, Indian mahogany, Alexandrian laurel, Devil Tree, Cinnamon, Cluster Fig, Yellow Millettia wood, Freshwater mangrove , Monkey Jack, etc. Additionally, there are plants that grow in the water and damp areas, such as Willow-leaved water Croton, Eel grass, long pepper, Water lily, Maidenhair fern, Horn Fern, Umbrella plant, Coat buttons, etc. The vines found include Wax Plant, Entada rheedii Spreng, Indian Birthwort, Bauhinia involucellata Kurz, Wooly Congea, Bauhinia scandens L. and various types of rattan. Moreover, epiphytic plants are also found, such as the Bird's Nest Fern, the Oak-leaf fern, the Cymbidium tracyanum O'Brien, etc.

      The mixed deciduous forest is located in the central part of the area, primarily consisting of naturally recovering forest. The canopy can be divided into two layers. The primary upper-canopy trees are Burma Padauk, Pinari, Alburnum, Cotton tree, Garuga pinnata, Black plum, Senna garrettiana (Craib) Irwin & Barneby, and figs. The secondary-canopy trees are Easter tree, Vitex pinnataBignoniaceae, Cork Tree, Harrisonia perforataCatunaregam tomentosa, etc. In addiontion, Bambusa bambos and Gigantochloa compressa Parkinson are commonly found in the area. The ground and cover plants are primarily seedlings of the secondary canopies and shrubs. Blady grass is also found in some areas

         Planted forests are classified as the park's main plant community because the original area was destroyed. This kind of community has white leadtree as the dominant plant. In some areas, the reforestation with original species has been carried out to enrich the forest, therefore, plants in that area diverse, similar to the mixed deciduous forest society.

        Namtok Chet Sao Noi National Park has a moderate diversity of wildlife species. The survey found 21 different species of mammals (the further survey is underway), one of which is classified as a preserved wildlife species, namely Serows and 11 of which are classified as protected wildlife species, such as Malayan pangolins, foxes, red-eared flying squirrels, and Malayan Porcupines, etc.

         Seventy eight bird species have been found during the preliminary survey, 74 of which are protected species, including black baza, oriental scops owl, rosy minivet, and greater racket-tailed drongo. Additionally, the survey found a total of 40 species of reptiles and amphibians, 48 species of butterflies, and 13 species of dragonflies (the further survey is underway).



How to get there by car :  

       Saraburi is 108 kilometers from Bangkok along Phahon Yothin Road, and 113 kilometers along the Northeast Railway line. From Saraburi City, take Mittraphap Road, proceeding about 41 kilometers through Kaeng Khoi District to Muak Lek District. From Muak Lek District, turn left onto Highway No. 2224 (Muak Lek-Sap Noi Nuea) and proceed about 12 kilometers, then you will find the entrance of the park on the right, opposite of Namtok Chet Sao Noi Temple.

How to get there by tain

          From Bangkok, take the train on Northeastern train and get off at Muak Lek Station. Then take the Saraburi - Kaeng Khoi - Muak Lek bus and get off in front of the National Park.

How to get there by Bus

          Visitors can  take Bangkok - Saraburi or Bangkok - Lopburi bus at Bangkok Bus terminal (Mo Chit 2), which takes about 2 hours to reach Saraburi bus terminal. Then visitors have to take Saraburi - Kaeng Khoi - Muak Lek bus, which takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes, to arrive in front of the National Park. Alternatively, there is an option of taking Bangkok - Nakhon Ratchasima bus, which takes about 3 hours to reach O So Kho market or Dairy Farming Promotion Organization of Thailand Market, Muak Lek district. Then take Saraburi-Kaeng Khoi-Muak Lek bus, and get off in front of the National Park.


 

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