The
adventurers first laid their boots on the soft jungle soil by 7.30am and before
long the first challenge for them was set. How to cross a fast running stream
without the use of a bridge?
Local guides and porters cut down a
tree to build a temporary overpass, and the trek into Kon Ka Kinh National Park
continued on.
"A log bridge replete with a
handrail made by creepers allowed us to venture into the otherwise inaccessible
jungle and return home safely." said local guide Dinh Khanh Toan.
"Streams
run very fast in flood season and it makes for a dangerous crossing. Local
porters, who are from the ethnic Ba Na group, are experienced with jungle
trips, and we really need them for the trip, there are four streams to cross on
the trek," Toan said.
"It's a bit nerve wracking
crossing the temporary bridge. However, I slowly passed the first stream with
help from local guide and porters," said a team member Nguyen Quang Sang.
Jungle adventure
K'Bang District in the Central Highlands province
of Gia Lai was the starting point for a jungle adventure that Sang and a group
of 20 young people took. They trekked three days and two nights into the lush
forest home of some fabulous wildlife.
The trippers could see some endangered primates –
gray-shanked douc langurs – and other local wildlife living in the area.
"You can see wild boar, reptiles, Tibetan
bear and deer. However, tigers have not been seen in the area for years,"
Sang said.
The
group spent a day at the headquarters of park, 70km away from the district, in
preparation for the jungle trekking. They then took a van from K'Bang district
– the closest drop-off point to the park's centre.
They had on hand all necessary belongings for the adventure; food,
sleeping bags, leggings, bush-whackers, hammocks, compasses and Global
Positioning System (GPS) receivers as well as some specialist equipment carried
by the ranger.
The team, now swollen with the addition of local porters hired to
carry some of the food, equipment and cooking tools, started the journey very
early in the morning.
The van approached Ha Dung village, the team then
took a 30-minute motorbike taxi drive to the trekking starting point because
the 10km drive in is inaccessible to cars.
"The first few kilometres of the trek did not
give us trouble as the terrain was quite low and easy. We walked with a fast
pace through the first section of the forest," Sang said.
On the first day the team stopped by the second stream for lunch
after a four hours trek. They quickly prepared a lunch of rice balls and canned
food for a quick meal in 30 minutes.
"I had the first experience with unfamiliar
and uncomfortable conditions away from home. It's very important to make a team
line-up and follow discipline, if trailing behind in the jungle you could miss
the trail," said tripper Hoang Duy.
"It's the first jungle trip for all of us, so
the local guide and porters instructed us carefully during the trek," Duy
said, adding that life in jungle is not easy.
It got dark in jungle in the late afternoon and
the guide decided to make camp on a flat ground near the stream.
"The jungle trippers set a tent near a water
source for the night's stay because they needed water to cook and wash. Anyway,
trekking along the stream will lead us to the last stop or help us to find the
way home in case you lose your way," said Sac, a Ba Na ethnic man.
"However, compass and GPS receivers will
assist trippers when exploring the jungle. But we could see the stars (the
Great Bear) to help us navigate in the right direction," the 27-year-old
added.
The team took an hour to seek firewood to cook and
keep warm at night as well as making preparations to prevent animals
approaching.
Pork and chicken are a favourite for grilled
dishes in jungle when it's very cold at night.
"It's quick to prepare dinner. Each member
was assigned to make a dish for the wildlife lover's party. We roasted pork,
chicken and cooked rice in a bamboo-tube over an open fire," said Hoang
Thanh Huyen.
"Porters also carried in some jars of wine –
a specialty drink of Ba Na ethnic group – in the Central Highlands region. We
danced around the fire and had a very nice party," Huyen said."We have never had such exciting time in the
jungle before," Huyen enthused.
"Sleeping bags were the best choice for
avoiding mosquitoes. It keeps us warm when it's wet in the deep damp
jungle," Huyen added.
The team slept in hammocks tied between trees
under a canopy made of trees, leaves and some canvas.
Top of the rock
After having breakfast the next morning, the
adventurers spent the second day climbing to a height of 1,400m above the sea
level to the stand upon the White Rock precipice, the highest peak of the
national park.
The trippers left heavy luggage at the camp because
of the slopping paths, only food, snacks and water were brought for a
spectacular lunch on the top of the rock.
"We were tired on the second day because of
tough terrain. The path was not so long, but uphill gradient slowed our
pace," Tran Ai Tam, the team leader said.
"We had to clear the way with bush-whackers,
while others of us were sidelined to pick leeches out of our legs and
hands," Tam said.
"The jungle has very high humidity and
numerous animals living in it so it is a suitable environment for terrestrial
leeches. However, the trippers use chemical sprayers or bag of salt to prevent
leeches from sucking their blood," Tam, who has years of jungle
experience, explained.
Tam said that climbing 400m up to the top of White
Rock from the camp used up much time and power. The mount finally came into
sight after five hours trailing up sloping terrain.
Sac, the local guide, said the mount gives an
overview of the park when it's clear and sunny. They spent an hour enjoying
lunch on the rock then the team returned to the camp.
On the second night the campfire party was fed
left-overs of roasted pork, beef and chicken from the previous night.
"We could not store raw meat, so we cooked it
all well for the second night dinner," said local guide, Phinh.
The team returned to the starting point by the
next morning.
Local guide Toan suggested how to go about taking
the tour. He also stressed that all trippers are prohibited from hunting or
taking flora and fauna from the park.
"You should take a bus to Mang Yang district
to book package tour in the park. Local guides and porters are available for
days and nights trekking in jungle. Each porter askes only VND100,000 for a
full day service, while a meal will be VND100,000 each," Toan said, adding
entrance ticket costs VND80,000.
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