CAT TIEN JUNGLE LODGE
Travel Adventures
hills of the national park. It’ s a marvellous spot for swimming and kayaking during most of the year, but at the height of the dry season( February to April) it dries up completely. Just before I visited, a large wild elephant was spotted bathing in the lake here.
There are two longhouses:
The main one can accommodate up to 30 people, while the small one sleeps 15. Mattresses are laid out on the bamboo floor with mosquito nets hung from the ceiling.
Bamboo screens partition guests, providing some privacy. There were only a couple of other guests when I visited, which was lovely, so it’ s difficult to imagine what it would be like with 30 or more people. The Longhouse often receives large groups, so it’ s worth calling ahead to make sure it’ s not too busy.
The bamboo longhouse at Ta Lai: sleeping is on mattresses on the wooden floor
The price is 450,000vnd per person, including breakfast. Camping( 200-300,000vnd) is at the bottom of the hill under cashew trees. Lunch and dinner are available for 150,000vnd per head, and refreshments served throughout the day, including excellent, locally sourced coffee. 30 % of the revenue goes directly to the two ethnic minorities in Ta Lai Village, the Mạ and the S’ tieng, whose traditional homes the Longhouse design is based on.
Staff are young, active, friendly, and between them speak about four different languages. Walking, biking, swimming and kayaking are all on offer: the surrounding landscape is perfect for outdoor activities.
This is a fabulous place and I hope that it will encourage similar projects in the coming years.
View from the bamboo terrace at the Ta Lai Longhouse: the lake below is great from swimming
CAT TIEN JUNGLE LODGE
Address: 854 Nam Cat Tien Commune, Tan Phu District, Dong Nai Province [ MAP ] Price: $ 70- $ 140 | Contact: info @ wildworld. vn
On the lush banks at the confluence of the Dong Nai and Da Huoai rivers, Cat Tien Jungle Lodge is just a few metres from the National Park ferry crossing. Recently opened, Jungle Lodge offers some of the most comfortable rooms in the area. Owners, Gary and Phuong, are passionate about their project and about the sensitive development of the Cat Tien area in general. There are currently only 16 rooms on their large riverfront property, which means there’ s lots of space( indoors and outdoors) in which to relax and plan your national park adventures. At first sight, it’ s a odd collection of building styles and materials: a large, green-painted, brick villa, a two-storey wooden lobby and restaurant, and several tile-roof houses. But, once you’ re on the premises, the space works really well. The communal areas are light, spacious and airy; the garden( dotted with fruit trees) is verdant and quiet; the riverfront walkway is lined with bamboo, and the bar by the swimming pool is a wonderful place to see the sunset.
Rooms at Cat Tien Jungle Lodge are cosy, thoughtfully furnished & very spacious The MAG Vung Tau 55