N   03° 35.506'
E 102° 10.816' (WGS84)
Kuala Ganda
As the Crows Flies
Direction -50° -51.12kms
 from my house
Terrain - Lowland & wetland forest . Size of Birdable area -Limitless Distance to walk -fair on open tracks
Birding distance - Binocular Special attire- mosquitoes protective   Other special mention- nil
Bird's life:- Bird species:- For budding birder :-
This place is in a basin, part of Krau district on the eastern slope of Gunong Benum. It is very much forested and in fact the north slope where Kuala Krau is, was once destined as the National Park.

After the way in, which is through a series of Malay villages, the road forked. The paved left, leads straight to the Elephant sanctuary of Kuala Ganda. Then a right fork immediately starts with a gravel surface road. This stretch of 5 kilometers, is an all weather track runs through pristine  lowland forest. Chances of birding is limitless, except that there are certain spots that were even most promising. The colony of Oriental Pied Hornbills [about 35 of them] mooched around the approach road within the kampong area each morning before 9.00 am. I have seen that they adjourned into the forested area to join up with the other couple of species.

Along the way, there are  Asian Fairy Bluebirds, Barbets, Broadbills, Trogons and Red bearded Bee-eaters. The list goes on and on.
  There are regular tours heading for this sanctuary. Not much publicized as the agent are keeping this a captive market. There is now another new destination "Deer Park".

Not that bad after all. Yes, if you do not to see that many birds, you can spend time with the Elephants.

The prime destination -Visitor's Center Kuala Ganda. You could feed and ride on the Elephants. [from Thailand]

 
     
The exact land mark as where to go when you are there.

At the forked junction, watch that signboard to go "Birding" way.
   
  Don't under rate this scene. Some rare Babblers are waiting for their daily dip in the water.

 

Stream like this segment drained the forest ground
 
Of course we do birding away from the maddening crowd.

Road is good but narrow

 
  On some stretches of the track, the forest do thin off and here is one for the GPS.

If the break is too big and coupled with tall grasses, exercise caution! The officer from the Wildlife Dept. had warned us about the sightings of Tigers. If you do hear loud unfriendly  noises, think again! The Ostrich from the Deer Park makes similar noise.

No point showing the forest of trees, gauge the condition of road for yourself.

 
 
When the jungle disappear, civilization starts.

This spot is my favorite being alone on most trip, I liked the company of the guard house.

End of the road- the school for Wildlife Department.

 

  
 
   

This jungle is home to many uncommon species. We had trogon and Asian Paradise FC white Morph when this picture was taken.

A Birder -seriously concentrating.

 

The whole way from the junction was paved. Scene as shown in Pix 4 is thing of the past.
Another VWander photographic guide  

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