By:
• Torn Chanritheara

• September 30, 2024 , 10:55 AM

PHNOM PENH – Teuk Phos, one of eight districts of central Kampong Chhnang province, has a lot to offer nature lovers. Srae Ampil waterfall should be on their list.

Lying at the foot of Phnom Srae Ampil, Srae Ampil is one of the eco-tourism sites in Teuk Phos’s Kdol Sen Chey commune.

Commune chief Moeung Visalsok said the 1,700-hectare site was established in 2016 but didn’t get much attention until 2019.

Visalsok said the community was established to protect the forest, mitigate illegal logging and create jobs for locals who had engaged in logging and turn them to tourism activities.

“Previously, people didn’t have any job so they didn’t have a choice,” he said.

“We transformed this into a tourism site and the local people welcomed the initiative.”

Srae Ampil waterfall is located in Teuk Phos district. Photo: Moeurn Makthong

He said that members were proud of the community since many people now know about it and visit the waterfall.

The site, 110km from Phnom Penh, draws vacationers wishing to refresh their busy days with a variety of activities. It has a lot to offer. The waterfalls are mostly shallow enough to bathe in and there is trekking in the forest.

There are no bungalows, hotels or guesthouses but it is suitable for camping and people in the community serve food.

Visalsok said the stream is in zigzag form with trees on both sides, creating a unique place for tourists to spend time with nature while areas surrounding the waterfall consist of small hills which offer opportunities for camping and trekking.

Such forest conditions also allow the adventurous to explore the natural environment.

Visalsok said it was not easy to organize Srae Ampil eco-tourism site. The most challenging issue was the finance needed to provide services which would lure people away from what they had done previously.

Help came later from sources, including philanthropists, so that wooden kiosks were built along the stream. The Ministry of Environment also helped organize the compound, including building more kiosks and restrooms and filtering a pool.

Commune chief Moeung Visalsok said the 1,700-hectare site was established in 2016 but didn’t get much attention until 2019. Photo: Moeurn Makthong