Nam Ka, a nature conservation area in Lak district, Daklak province has an area of approximately 24,555 hectares of core and about 1,100 hectares of buffer. The altitude is from 418 m to 1294 m, the average temperature from 200 - 250 C, average annual rainfall is 1800 mm and average humidity is 85%.
Nam Ka forest is evergreen forest with about 56 species of mammals, 140 birds, 587 species of plants. Including Elephant, Tiger, Gaur, Leopard, Langur patch, Pheasant, Wild chicken, Monkey, Crested Argus and some rare species noted in the World Red Book... Nam Ka, humid tropical forest which is very special about the richness of habitats, populations of organisms and animals. Terrain is diversified, the abrupt change and alternating between high mountain - dense forests, low hills - the glade forest, bushs and valleys - fields, marshes, lakes, ... make the scenery of nature is very interesting.
Currently, Vietnam Highland Travel regularly organizes 3days/2nights tour with Trekking and Homestay. Joining this trip, travelers will be immersed in the wild with activities: Climbing, wading across streams and trekking through the primeval forest. In the evening, travelers will have the opportunity to interact with indigenous people and learn about features of Ethnic culture through staying, talking and cooking with local people in their family.
From Buon Ma Thuot city, driving via Highway 27 about 80 km then turn right, keep going about 16 km to Rai village. This is a small Ede ethnic village, located by the mountain of Nam Ka (1294 m), in Nam Ka commune - Lak district - Daklak province. Rai village has about 15 households and about 75 residents. People here live mainly on rice cultivation, raising cattle, pigs and other kinds of poultry. Besides, they also earn more money by hunting and gathering. Ede people practise matriarchy and their language belongs to the system of the Malayo-Polynesian language system. They come to Vietnam from Malaysia South Island by boat so their house architecture also built in the boat shape to remember their ancestors crossing the sea to the land. The family that we spend the night at Rai village is chief Ay Sel’s. This is a traditional long house-on-stilts of the Ede style with a staircase decorated a young moon symbolizing faithful and a couple of breasts symbolizing prosperity and matriarchy. Inside the house, a long K'pan bench is used for artisans who perform the Gongs or worship to the God (Yang). H'gor drum, an indispensable instrument in the living of the Ede.
From Rai village, trek about 14 km through the forest and paddle boating about 4 km, we will get in Jatu village, a village of the M'nong Bih. M'nong people, one of the native ethnic groups in the Central Highlands, M’nong has many small groups such as M'nong Gar, M'nong Nong, M'nong Bih ... who also practises the martriarchy and their language belongs to the Mon-Khmer language system. The M'nong has two characterized architectural styles of house that are the ground floor and the floor-on-stilts. The house where we stay overnight in Ja Tu village is the long house-on-stilts. The host is Ama Loan, he is also the chief of the village. Like Rai village, Ja Tu is a small village with about 14 households and about 60 people living together. They make live mainly by rice cultivating, raising cattles and gathering from forest.
About 15 km far away from JaTu village, we arrive at the tourist site of Lak lake, where we can visit local people, ride elephant, row dugout canoes before returning to Buon Ma Thuot city. End of a challenging trip with impressive memories and an unforgettable journey.
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