Okoki

Okoki is the most remote ecotourism site in Cambodia. Due to the isolated location, Okoki is free from human habitation. Nevertheless, there is some disturbance caused by illegal hunters or traditional forest burning during dry season. Despite this, the region remains a pristine environment for mammals as well as birds like elephants (hardly ever seen), the rare white winged duck or the green peafowl.

Okoki is just 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the Laos border in the Chhep protected forest and belongs to the province of Mondulkiri. The inhabitants of Dongphlet, the nearest village to Okoki are Kui – a Khmer ethnic minority, and they live on simple agriculture and exploiting the forest. A committee, which was elected by the villagers of Dongphlet, is responsible for setting up a camp at Okoki and they are also taking care of food as well as providing local guides. This ensures that they receive a direct economic benefit from tourists and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) sites.

Okoki is usually visited as part of a tour of different Cambodian sites. It is an 1-day drive from the nearest town and a very long day drive from Siem Reap. Its remote location has ensured the continued survival of some very rare birds including three critically endangered species of vulture. They are called red headed, slender billed and white-rumped vulture. Along the watercourses the bird watching is challenging, however previously unrecorded species can be spotted by visitors regularly.