Wildlife Photography, Birding and Herping in Cat Tien National Park

Being a part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, wildlife photography, birding and herping in Cat Tien National Park offer unforgettable wildlife adventures in Vietnam. Together with local expert guides, Cat Tien wildlife tours offer an unforgettable experience with sightings of Germain’s Peacock Pheasant, Orange-necked Partridge, Bar-bellied Pitta, Gaur and Civet.

Cat Tien National Park: A biodiversity hotspot in Vietnam

Cat Tien National Park, spanning 71,920 hectares across South Cat Tien, Cat Loc, and West Cat Tien, is a UNESCO biosphere reserve since 2001. It is renowned for its diverse wildlife, including:

  • Mammals: Gaur, Sambar Deer, Hog Deer, Muntjac, Mouse Deer, Yellow-cheeked Gibbon, Black-shanked Douc Langur, Elliot’s Silver Langur, etc.
  • Birds: Orange-necked Partridge, Germain’s Peacock Pheasant, Green Peafowl, etc.
  • Reptiles: Cattien Bent-toed Gecko King Cobra, Ruby-eyed Pit Viper, White-lipped Pit Viper, Kukri Snake, Horn Lizard, Flying Lizard, Ratsnake, Keelback, etc.
  • Amphibians: O’Reang horned frog, Limborg’s forest frog, Vietnamese Bug-eyed Frog, etc.
Germain's Peacock Pheasant
Germain’s Peacock Pheasant
Mada Paddy Frog
Mada Paddy Frog

Key Birds, Reptiles, Amphibian, and Mammal Species in Cat Tien Wildlife

Bird highlights in Cat Tien National Park:

  • Pheasants: Germain’s Peacock Pheasant, Orange-necked Partridge, Siamese Fireback, Green Peafowl
  • Pittas: Bar-bellied Pitta, Blue-rumped Pitta, Blue-winged Pitta
  • Storks: Asian Woolly-Necked Stork, Lesser Adjutant Stork
  • Kingfishers: Banded Kingfisher, Black-backed Dwarf Kingfisher, Blue-eared Kingfisher, Stork-billed Kingfisher
  • Broadbills: Banded Broadbill, Black-and-red Broadbill, Dusky Broadbill
  • Woodpeckers: Black-and-buff Woodpecker, Heart-spotted Woodpecker, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Pale-headed Woodpecker, White-bellied Woodpecker, Laced Woodpecker
  • Jacanas: Bronze-winged Jacana
  • Pigeons: Ashy-headed Green Pigeon
  • Cuckoos: Violet Cuckoo, Banded Bay Cuckoo
  • Owls: Collared Scops Owl, Oriental Bay Owl, Brown Boobook, Spot-bellied Eagle Owl, Asian Barred Owlet
  • Frogmouths: Blyth’s Frogmouth
  • Nightjars: Great-eared Nightjar, Large-tailed Nightjar
  • Trogons: Orange-breasted trogon
  • Bee-eaters: Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Chestnut-capped Bee-eater
  • Mynas: Golden-crested Myna
  • Weavers: Asian Golden Weaver
Bar-bellied Pitta
Birding and Herping Tours at Cat Tien Wildlife
Bar-bellied Pitta

Herp Highlights in Cat Tien National Park:

Amphibians:

  • True Frogs: Mada Paddy Frog, Burmese Squat Frog, Green Cascade Frog, Limborg’s Frog
  • Flying Frogs: Annam Flying Frog, Helena’s Flying Frog
  • Tree Frogs: Bamboo Mossy Frog, Vietnamese Bug-eyed Frog, Spot-legged Tree Frog, Mukhlesur’s Narrow-mouthed Frog, Dark-sided Chorus Frog, Striped Sticky Frog
Round-tongued Floating Frog
Round-tongued Floating Frog

Reptiles:

  • Geckos: Bu Dop Bent-toed Gecko, Cattien Bent-toed Gecko, Tokay Gecko
  • Pit Vipers: Vogel’s Pit Viper, Ruby-eyed Green Pitviper, White-lipped Pit Viper
  • Skinks: Doria’s Ground Skink
  • Lizards: Vietnamese Blue Crested Lizard, Indochinese Flying Dragon, Clouded Monitor, Bengal Monitor, Horn Lizard, Flying Lizard
  • Snakes: Burmese Python, Cattien Kukri Snake, King Cobra
  • Crocodiles: Siamese Crocodile
Cattien Bent-toed Gecko -  Cyrtodactylus cattienensis - © NguyenVuherp
Cattien Bent-toed Gecko – Cyrtodactylus cattienensis – © NguyenVuherp

Mammals Highlights in Cat Tien National Park:

  • Pangolins: Sunda Pangolin
  • Flying Lemurs: Malayan Flying Lemur
  • Loris: Pygmy Slow Loris
  • Langurs: Black-shanked Douc Langur, Elliot’s Silver Langur
  • Gibbons: Red-cheeked Gibbon (Southern Yellow-cheeked Gibbon)
  • Elephants: Asian Elephant
  • Mongooses: Javan Mongoose, Crab-eating Mongoose
  • Otters: Small-clawed Otter, Smooth-coated Otter
  • Martens: Javan Yellow-throated Marten
  • Bears: Asiatic Black Bear
  • Civets: Masked Palm Civet, Common Palm Civet
  • Ungulates: Gaur, Large-antlered Muntjac, Lesser Mousedeer
  • Squirrels: Pallas’s Squirrel, Indian Giant Squirrel
  • Porcupines: Malayan Porcupine
Cat Tien Wildlife
Red-cheeked Gibbon

Cat Tien Wildlife Tours: Birding, Herping and Primate

Bird Hides in Cat Tien National Park:

Cat Tien National Park boasts three well-situated bird hides near the Park Headquarters, offering excellent opportunities to spot key species such as Germain’s Peacock Pheasant, Siamese Fireback, Green-legged Partridge, Orange-necked Partridge, Bar-bellied Pitta, and Blue-rumped Pitta. These hides are accessible via the Visitor Centre or through the hide keeper at the bamboo hide. Each visit requires a fee of $25 per person, with potential for negotiated rates depending on the hide and group size.

Bird Hide tour WANEE Go-WILD
Hide for bird Photograph

Travel by Jeep at Cat Tien National Park:

  1. Grassland Safari: Travel by jeep to the grasslands, resembling a safari experience where you can enjoy wildlife such as deer, muntjac, gaur, and peacock.
  2. Crocodile Lake: Journey to Crocodile Lake, where you can use google translate or hire a guide to search for primates and martens along the way.
  3. Night Safari: Purchase a ticket for the night safari to see civets, mouse deer, deer, lorises, mongooses, and more.
  4. Special Destinations: Rent a jeep to reach specific spots like the Crocodile Trail, followed by a 5km walk to the lake, or visit Heaven Rapids for Black-shanked Douc Langur and birdwatching.
  5. Flexible Rentals: Jeep rentals are flexible, available by the hour or for specific time slots such as one morning or afternoon. Fees vary accordingly.
Photography Tours
Photography Tours

Experienced Local Guides for Cat Tien Wildlife Tours:

At WANEE, our guides are well-trained and experienced in local wildlife to ensure a memorable and enjoyable adventure. They all have completed at least one year of wildlife education and experienced a minimum of six months of guiding, making them well-prepared to be on your tour.

  1. Lead Guide: 10 years of experience as a wildlife and bird guide throughout Vietnam.
  2. Biologist Guide: 4 years studying biology with a focus on mammals, birds, and herpetology, and over 2 years of tour-leading experience, participating in projects like Mekong Shorebird and Semi-desert Bird Biodiversity.
  3. Bird Guide: 2 years of bird guide training, knowledgeable about Southern Vietnam’s bird biodiversity.

Our guides are fluent in English and are dedicated to ensuring a fulfilling experience, consistently receiving positive feedback from guests across Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Europe, Brazil, Mexico, and America.

Tours for Wildlife Photography, Birding and Herping in Cat Tien

Number of Tours: We conduct approximately 7 tours per month, including long tours lasting 14 to 23 days, with a minimum of one long tour each month. Shorter tours vary in number, but the total remains around 7 tours monthly. We also cooperate with Rock Jumper and Eagle Eye to operate extended tours across Vietnam.

Customer Satisfaction: Our tours consistently achieve 60-70% of the target wildlife sightings that our guests focus on, ensuring a high rate of satisfied customers.

Why Choosing WANEE for Wildlife Photography, Birding and Herping in Cat Tien National Park?

With over 100 successful tours annually, we promise a memorable adventure, achieving above 90% of our wildlife spotting targets. Convenient accommodations and enthusiastic service ensure your satisfaction. Maybe we’re not the best, but we always try our best!

With WANEE, we’ll embark on a journey to fully explore the untamed beauty of Cat Tien wilderness, all while ensuring its preservation for generations to come.

  • Genuine Hospitality: Our friendly team ensures your satisfaction, ready to replace guides or drivers if needed. Safety and insurance are included for your peace of mind.
  • Dedication to Excellence: “We may not claim to be the best, but we always give our best.”
  • Passion-Driven Success: With 100% enthusiasm, our team consistently surpasses 90% of wildlife sighting goals.
  • Seamless Comfort: Stay conveniently within the park for nighttime wildlife watching—no river crossings required. Enjoy clean, air-conditioned rooms with a choice of traditional or European-style meals.

We try harder everyday to provide unforgettable wildlife experiences. Join us to immerse yourself in nature and create lasting memories at Cat Tien National Park!

Booking Information

Contact Details:

Tour Packages:

Pricing and Availability:

  • Prices start from $150.
  • Birding: Best from September to April.
  • Herpetology: Ideal during the rainy season from April to September.
  • Mammal Watching: Available all year round.
  • Discounts available upon discussion.
  • Click here to book.

Conclusion

Experience the wonders of Cat Tien National Park through our tailored Birding, Herping, and Wildlife Tours. Encounter iconic species like Germain’s Peacock Pheasant and Gaur amidst breathtaking landscapes. With expert guides leading the way, including specialists in birding and wildlife, we ensure every tour exceeds expectations. Our commitment to excellence, reflected in high customer satisfaction and above-target wildlife sightings, guarantees an unforgettable adventure. Whether exploring bird hides, embarking on jeep safaris, or immersing in night wildlife encounters, every moment promises discovery and delight. Join us for an enriching journey into Vietnam’s biodiversity at Cat Tien National Park.

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