Five percent of the world’s species are
found in the area, including the white
handed, gibbon, the pig tailed macaque,
the Malayan tapir, the muntjak, the
Asian elephant, tigers a variety of deer
and reptiles, such as the notorious King
Cobra and the Reticulated Python as
well as the more curious flying lizard.
An incredibly large variety of fish can be
found too, especially across its stunning
coral reef, which is an impressive five
times larger than Australia’s Great
Barrier Reef. If you rent a kayak or small
boat to go through it, you can be assured
that beauty will take a new meaning for
you.
This takes us to talk about the flora,
in an incredibly rich soil grow plenty
of vines and plants, as well as exotic
fruits such as the mangosteen, the
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jackfruit, the jujube, rambutan and the
infamous durian. However, if we talk
about something that stimulates the
senses, Ratchaprapha’s most famous
plant is the Rafflesia Kerrii. Known as
Bua Phut in Thai, it has two unique
qualities: First of all, it is the largest
flower in the world, at times measuring
almost a metre in diameter. Secondly
and more notoriously, the Rafflesia is
probably the plant with the most terrible
and nauseating smell in the world, as it
exudes a stench of rotten flesh in order to
attract flies that pollinate it. Worth a visit,
go near it only if you dare!
We then turn out attention to the
landscape. Taking your time to gaze at
the stunning scenery that Ratchaprapha
has to offer is nothing short of a gift and
a privilege. The multitude of limestone
rocks eroded throughout the years, even
centuries, bear testimony to what is a
marvel to the spectator and a gold mine
to the geologist. The vast quantity of
Karst Topography is something that has
brought many to study the vicinities of
the reservoir. The limestone formations
tower to commanding heights and are
perfect to snap pictures of from below.
The temperature in Ratchaprapha is
tropical, much like in most of Thailand.
The hot season is between January
and June where temperatures go from
between twenty five all the way up to
thirty six degrees. This peaks in the
months of March and April during
which we see temperatures reaching
thirty seven or at times even thirty
eight degrees. During the wet season
however beginning in May and ending