The butterfly-watching season at Kaeng Krachan National Park has started earlier than usual this year, with thousands of butterflies already visible at Ban Krang Camp.
Park officials attribute the early arrival to this year’s dry season setting in ahead of schedule, creating ideal conditions for butterfly activity.
Mongkol Chaiphakdee, head of Kaeng Krachan National Park, said park rangers stationed at Ban Krang have reported a significant increase in butterfly sightings since early February. While the peak season is typically in April, visitors can now see a wide variety of butterfly species gathering at mineral-rich patches near streams.
Kaeng Krachan, a UNESCO-listed forest located about 1.5 hours from Hua Hin, is home to more than 250 species of butterflies. Ban Krang Camp is one of the best locations in the park to observe them, particularly at mineral licks where they congregate to absorb essential nutrients. Another prime spot is along the road from Ban Krang to Panoen Thung, particularly between kilometre markers 16 and 18, where butterflies can be seen in large numbers along the roadside.
In addition to butterflies, visitors to Kaeng Krachan National Park may encounter a variety of wildlife, including leopards, black panthers, dholes, spectacled langurs, Fea’s muntjacs, serows, gaur, and Asiatic wild dogs. The route to Ban Krang and further up to Panoen Thung is a popular area for wildlife photography.
As with all national parks in Thailand, an entrance fee is required. Admission to Ban Krang costs 60 baht per adult and 30 baht per child for Thai visitors, while foreign visitors pay 300 baht per adult and 150 baht per child. There is an additional vehicle fee of 30 baht.
With the butterfly-watching season now underway, visitors have an early opportunity to see these colourful species in their natural habitat.
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