River dolphins
Very rare.
Pierre André — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Pierre André — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Pierre André — CC BY-SA 4.0
One of South-East Asia's rarest experiences: watching Irrawaddy river dolphins in their home on the Mekong. These are small grey dolphins with a round, beakless head, critically endangered, with only about a hundred left in the Mekong, many of them living in the deep Kampi pool north of Kratie town. Visitors board a small boat with a local guide, who draws close, cuts the engine or paddles quietly, and everyone waits for the dolphins to surface: a glinting grey back, an audible puff of breath, and sometimes a whole family swimming together. The river here is wide, scattered with green islands and flooded trees. The best time is early morning or late afternoon, in the dry season from December to May, when low water gathers the dolphins in the pool and they are easiest to see. Boat fees help protect the dolphins and support local fishermen. The price is USD 10 per person for one or two, and USD 8 per person for three or more, per visitor guides. The heat is fierce most of the year, so go out in the morning or before sunset, with water and a hat.
Very rare.
Engine off.
Green islands.
Kampi pool on the Mekong, about 15 km north of Kratie
Not guaranteed but very likely, especially in the dry season from December to May, early or late in the day.