So today we went about 80KM southeast of VTE to search for Elephants in the Phou Khao Khuay national park. There is a town called Baan Na that has an elephant observatory. Some of you may remember the Vientiane Times article about the new tower; the old tower having been destroyed by elephants.

Anyway, we arrived to find the path completely flooded, so forded some streams, road a tractor type thing, then walked another few kilometers to find...cows. No elephants this time. BUT, you can go out and stay overnight at the tower, and the elephants usually come around at dusk. We saw plenty of elephant evidence (broken trees, elephant shit, elephant tracks, etc.) but no elephants.

Anyway, it was alot of fun. More pictures below, including our alternative path around the flooded road through some water and around some rice paddies. We'll go back after the rainy season and stay overnight. The system is pretty good, it gives the local villagers financial buy in so they don't kill the elephants. so there's an entrance fee for the park, a fee for the village, and a fee for the required guide.

All in all a great day.