Bu Gia Map National Park – How to Explore wild & Nature in 2023

Bu Gia Map National Park Wildlife guide – update 2023

Bu Gia Map National Park is a protected area located in the southern part of Vietnam, in the province of Binh Phuoc. It was established in 2002 and covers an area of approximately 26,032 hectares.

The park is named after the Bu Gia Map mountain, which is one of the highest peaks in the area, reaching a height of 996 meters above sea level. The park is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, including several endangered species such as the sun bear, Indochinese tiger, and Siamese crocodile.

The park is also home to several ethnic minority communities, including the Ma, Stieng, and Cho Ro. These communities have lived in the area for centuries and have developed a unique culture and way of life.

Tourists can visit the park and participate in various activities, including trekking, camping, bird watching, and wildlife spotting. The park is also home to several waterfalls and streams, making it a popular destination for swimming and other water-based activities.

Overall, Bu Gia Map National Park is a beautiful and diverse area, rich in both natural and cultural heritage, and is an important conservation area in Vietnam.

Find out about: Vietnam Birding Tours & National Park Tour

Fact: One interesting fact about Bu Gia Map National Park is that it was once a site of intense fighting during the Vietnam War. The park was located near the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a network of roads and trails used by the North Vietnamese Army to transport troops and supplies from North Vietnam to South Vietnam.

Bu Gia Map National Park is a must-visit for wildlife and nature enthusiasts. Here are 9 highlights to look forward to:

Here are 9 highlights of Bu Gia Map National Park:

1. Scenic mountain landscapes: The park is home to the Bu Gia Map mountain range, which offers stunning views of the surrounding area.
2. Diverse flora and fauna: The park is home to a wide range of plant and animal species, including several rare and endangered species such as the sun bear and the Siamese crocodile.
3. Trekking: Visitors can explore the park’s forests and mountains on foot, with several trekking trails available.
4. Waterfalls: The park is home to several waterfalls, including the Bu Gia Map waterfall and the Chang Riec waterfall.
5. Bird watching: The park is home to over 150 species of birds, making it a great destination for bird watching enthusiasts.
6. Ethnic minority communities: Visitors can learn about the cultures and traditions of the Ma, Stieng, and Cho Ro ethnic minority communities, who have lived in the area for centuries.
7. Wildlife spotting: The park is home to several rare and elusive animals, including the Indochinese tiger and the clouded leopard.
8. Camping: Visitors can camp in the park and experience the beauty of the natural surroundings up close.
9. Historical significance: The park was once a site of intense fighting during the Vietnam War, and visitors can learn about the history of the area and see remnants of the war such as bomb craters

Visit Bu Gia Map National Park for wildlife.

Bu Gia Map National Park is a great destination for wildlife enthusiasts. The park is home to a wide variety of animals, including several rare and endangered species such as the sun bear, Indochinese tiger, and Siamese crocodile. Visitors can also spot smaller animals such as civets, porcupines, and squirrels.

To increase your chances of seeing wildlife in the park, it is recommended to hire a local guide who is knowledgeable about the area and can help you spot animals. Visitors should also respect the park’s rules and regulations, which are designed to protect the park’s flora and fauna.

There are several trekking trails in the park that offer the opportunity to see wildlife up close, including the Bu Gia Map peak trail and the Lop waterfall trail. Visitors can also take a boat ride on the Serepok River, which runs through the park and is home to a variety of water birds and other aquatic animals.

It is important to note that some of the animals in the park, such as the tigers, are nocturnal and may be difficult to spot during the day. However, the park’s natural beauty and diverse wildlife make it a must-visit destination for any wildlife enthusiast.

Tips

Visit Bu Gia Map

While Bu Gia Map National Park is known for its diverse wildlife, there are still many reasons to visit the park even if wildlife isn’t your main focus. Here are some other activities and attractions that visitors can enjoy:

1. Trekking and hiking: The park offers several trekking trails that wind through its forests and mountains, offering stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
2. Waterfalls and swimming: The park is home to several waterfalls, including the Bu Gia Map and Chang Riec waterfalls, which offer great opportunities for swimming and relaxation.
3. Cultural experiences: Visitors can learn about the cultures and traditions of the Ma, Stieng, and Cho Ro ethnic minority communities, who have lived in the area for centuries.
4. Historical significance: The park was once a site of intense fighting during the Vietnam War, and visitors can learn about the history of the area and see remnants of the war such as bomb craters.
5. Camping: Visitors can camp in the park and experience the beauty of the natural surroundings up close.
6. Bird watching: The park is home to over 150 species of birds, making it a great destination for bird watching enthusiasts.
7. Photography: The park’s natural beauty and diverse landscapes make it a great destination for photographers, with many opportunities for stunning shots

There is no ATM here so its better that take cash with you

Go with local guide

We don’t tell you this to sell more tours, but simply because it’s the best way to see more wildlife.

And not to get lost…

The local guides know the park from the inside out and know where the animals often forage. More importantly, the guides have well-trained eyes that will help you to discover everything from the smallest to the largest wonders of Bu Gia Map national park. You will be surprised what you would have walked past without noticing had you been visiting on your own!

Visit on weekdays

Bu Gia Map national park is Vietnam’s most popular national park. 80% of the visitors in Bu Gia Map are Vietnamese. It is great to see that locals are enjoying their own nature parks, which will only make them more aware of what still survives there. And hopefully helps in the protection of these wonderful places. But you might be looking for a place to get away from your busy daily life.

Try to avoid weekends and national holidays. If your planning only allows a visit on the weekend, it is definitely still worth visiting. But you will have to share the roads and the main attractions like the trails with many locals.

Like in other parks around the world with high visitor numbers, wildlife has learned that people are not to be feared. That’s why the popular parks often offer better wildlife observation opportunities than nature reserves with very low visitor numbers and therefore often bigger problems with poaching. The good news is that generally speaking, Vietnamese do not really like walking. Even less when it is in a jungle. So, even on busy weekends, you might still have the forest to yourself.

Do NOT feed the animals

Most people understand you should not feed the wildlife. In Bu Gia Map, the wildlife is quite shy but if you find some young macaque or mammals “DON’T FEED THEM”

Feeding wild animals can significantly change their behavior. Feeding or leaving unattended food to large animals, such as bears, can lead them to aggressively seek out food from people, sometimes resulting in injury. Feeding can also alter animal behavior so that animals routinely travel in larger groups, which can make disease transmission between animals more likely.

Bring a Outdoor clothings

Most of the time in Bu Gia Map quite humid and hot, you should prepare suitable clothing and suncream

Bring a compass

This really only applies if you are visiting without a guide. Even though there has been some improvement on the more popular trails, still some trails in there are not well-marked. And besides that, there are no good trail maps available. Often (wildlife) trails branch off the original tourist trails and might cause confusion.

All people we have met who thought they had a good sense of direction, get totally disoriented in these jungles. It is easy when following e.g., a river. But once you get into the continuous forest it is really hard. Even the most basic map can help you if you bring a compass. Study the map before you start the trek.

If you do get lost, and know there is a road to the east that cuts through the entire park, a compass will help you find it. Without it, you are completely lost and will rely mostly on luck!

A compass and some basic study of the area/map would have solved this situation. Phone signal has improved a bit in recent years. But still, once you are deeper in the jungle, you won’t be able to call for help. With an analog compass, you do not rely on battery life.

The souvenir shop in the park at the visitor center might have cheap compasses in stock. But to be sure, better bring one from home or buy it before you enter the park, and test if it indeed points in the right direction…

Park restaurants close early?

Where you eat will largely depend upon where you stay as you’re likely to eat most of your meals dinner at least at your hotel or guesthouse. If you are out and about in the national park, you can eat at one of the restaurants at HQ. The Restaurant is located next to the information center and is a better option than Dipterocarpus doesn’t ask in terms of food and surroundings.

The menu consists of reasonably priced Vietnamese rice, noodle, meat, and fish dishes – expect to pay around 150,000 VND for a dinner of stir-fried chicken, rice, and a vegetable side with a drink, less if you just want noodles or a stir-fried rice.

Buy leech socks and insect repellent

On our tours, we provide leech socks when necessary, but if you’re visiting the park on your own and plan on trekking in the jungle, especially in the months of Jun to October, buy a pair of leech socks and insect repellent in the souvenir shop in the park.

And wear long pants that you can tuck into these leech socks. You will probably regret wearing shorts.It sounds more scary than it is, leeches are small worm-like creatures of 1 to 3 cm long. They don’t transmit diseases. Though there have been some unusual cases of hookworm entering the bite site.

This is not scary either and definitely not common. But if you start to notice a strong itch a couple days after and see a red trail meandering just below your skin starting from the leech bite site, then it is wise to either take deworm medication or freeze it with nitrogen ice or the freeze spray used for sports injuries.

The leech bite does not hurt, usually, you don’t feel anything at all. The only ‘problem’ with leeches is that if they attach long enough, more than 30 seconds or so, they will inject anticoagulant. When you remove them afterward, they will keep bleeding for quite a while. So, getting blood stains on your clothing is the only real trouble.

For some people, just the idea of being ‘attacked’ by leeches is the biggest issue Lol.

Accommodations

Traveling to Bu Gia Map you will not have to worry about the accommodation to stay overnight. There are many options for you to choose from, from the homestay to the resort. Below are some options for accommodation in Bu Gia Map National Park you can choose to stay.

What is there to see?

Bu Gia Map National Park is a beautiful and diverse area that offers a range of attractions and activities for visitors to see and experience. Here are some of the things you can see and do in the park:

1. Wildlife: The park is home to a variety of animals, including several rare and endangered species such as the sun bear, Indochinese tiger, and Siamese crocodile.
2. Trekking: The park offers several trekking trails that wind through its forests and mountains, offering stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
3. Waterfalls: The park is home to several waterfalls, including the Bu Gia Map and Chang Riec waterfalls, which offer great opportunities for swimming and relaxation.
4. Ethnic minority communities: Visitors can learn about the cultures and traditions of the Ma, Stieng, and Cho Ro ethnic minority communities, who have lived in the area for centuries.
5. Historical significance: The park was once a site of intense fighting during the Vietnam War, and visitors can learn about the history of the area and see remnants of the war such as bomb craters.
6. Bird watching: The park is home to over 150 species of birds, making it a great destination for bird watching enthusiasts.
7. Camping: Visitors can camp in the park and experience the beauty of the natural surroundings up close.
8. Scenic landscapes: The park’s diverse landscapes include mountains, forests, rivers, and waterfalls, offering many opportunities for scenic photography and sightseeing

Other activities

In addition to the attractions and activities mentioned earlier, there are many other things to do in Bu Gia Map National Park. Here are some additional activities that visitors can enjoy:

1. Boat rides: Visitors can take a boat ride on the Serepok River, which runs through the park and offers great views of the surrounding forests and wildlife.
2. Cycling: The park offers several cycling routes that wind through its beautiful landscapes and offer great exercise and sightseeing opportunities.
3. Picnicking: Visitors can enjoy a picnic in one of the park’s many scenic spots, such as near a waterfall or by the river.
4. Fishing: Fishing is allowed in some parts of the park, offering visitors the chance to catch fish and enjoy a relaxing outdoor activity.
5. Yoga and meditation: The peaceful and natural surroundings of the park make it a great destination for yoga and meditation enthusiasts.
6. Photography workshops: Some local tour companies offer photography workshops in the park, allowing visitors to learn from experienced photographers and improve their skills while enjoying the park’s beauty.
7. Local markets and handicrafts: Visitors can explore the local markets and shops in nearby towns to discover unique handicrafts and souvenirs made by the local ethnic minority communities.

How to get to Bu Gia Map?

Bu Gia Map National Park is located in Binh Phuoc Province, in southern Vietnam. Here are some ways to get to the park:

1. By car or motorbike: Visitors can rent a car or motorbike and drive to the park. From Ho Chi Minh City, it takes about 4-5 hours to drive to Bu Gia Map National Park.
2. By bus: There are several bus companies that offer routes to nearby towns such as Bu Dang or Bu Gia Map. From there, visitors can take a taxi or motorbike to the park.
3. By train: Visitors can take a train from Ho Chi Minh City to Phuoc Long Station, which is the closest station to the park. From there, visitors can take a taxi or motorbike to the park.
4. By plane: The closest airport to Bu Gia Map National Park is Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. From there, visitors can take a car or motorbike, or arrange for a private transfer to the park.

Weather & Climate in Bu Gia Map

Bu Gia Map National Park is located in a tropical climate zone, with hot and humid weather all year round. The park has two main seasons: the dry season and the rainy season.

The dry season lasts from December to April, with temperatures ranging from 26°C to 33°C (79°F to 91°F). During this time, the park experiences lower humidity levels and less rainfall, making it a popular time to visit for outdoor activities like trekking and camping.

The rainy season lasts from May to November, with temperatures ranging from 25°C to 31°C (77°F to 88°F). During this time, the park receives heavy rainfall and high humidity levels, making it less suitable for outdoor activities. However, the park’s waterfalls are at their most beautiful during this season.

Overall, the best time to visit Bu Gia Map National Park is during the dry season, from December to April. Visitors should be prepared for hot and humid weather throughout the year and should bring appropriate clothing and gear for outdoor activities.

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