Jahoo — Attraction in Mondulkiri

Jahoo was a phenomenal experience and my favourite part of the whole holiday. I did the longer tour—2 nights and 3 days. We were lucky that there were no other guests besides some students, so we basically had the place to ourselves.

At first, I almost didn’t book because of the cost, but it was absolutely worth it. The experience supports the local indigenous community, provides education, and does important community work around conservation and protecting endangered wildlife—which I was fortunate to see some of.

Here are some answers to questions I had:

The sleeping quarters are really cute wooden cabins, beautifully decorated with mattresses and mosquito nets on elevated platforms. They even have cool glass ceilings.

The hiking was manageable for me—I have moderate fitness and found it fine. The trails are mostly flat but because it’s the jungle, there was some off-the-beaten-track trekking. The cabins serve as a base where you can leave your things and return throughout the day after hikes.

The showers were cold but refreshing, perfect for the humid heat.

Meals were freshly cooked and delicious—a mix of noodle soups, rice, and curry. The menu was quite meat-heavy but also included vegetables.

A new family cabin was being finished during my stay, so if you visit soon, you might be one of the first to try it!

The site is safe, and the guides are excellent—one walks in front, one behind for support.

Towels are provided.

I recommend bringing mosquito spray (though the site has coils and repellents), a fan (my manual fan was a lifesaver in the heat), lightweight quick-dry clothing (you will sweat a lot), and sturdy hiking boots. The gibbon watching starts at 4:30am and involves some muddy off-trail walking since it was the rainy season. So good boots and a sense of adventure (and not minding getting a bit dirty) are essential.

My only advice to the company would be to pay closer attention to dietary requirements. I’m vegetarian and have an allergy. Most meals included meat, which was fine since some had vegetarian alternatives, but two meals contained allergens I couldn’t eat and could easily have been left out. Also, I gave some avocados (Mondulkiri is famous for them) to the kitchen to add to meals, but I never saw them again, which was a bit...

The Jahoo Gibbon tour is the reason you want to go to Mondulkiri! This was the best experience in our lives and nothing will ever top the experience of seeing the gibbons and other primates/animals in their natural habitat, sleeping in the beautiful thatched/bamboo bungalows with views on the jungle and last but not last spending time with the wonderful, kind and knowledgeable staff, both the local Bunong guides and the expat researcher/manager.

We definitely recommend to stay at the Jahoo Gibbon camp for at least one night. This way you can do multiple hikes, have a night tour, and see many animals. And of course don’t forget: do the (super early but super worth it) gibbon morning trek after a night sleep in the beautiful bungalow. The pictures do not do justice to how beautiful and relaxing it is. The camp has three bungalows, this way they make sure it will never be overcrowded at the camp. They serve you super delicious breakfast, lunch and diner at the beautiful main area, while the staff join you to talk about the animals, nature, etc you just encountered.

All the tours are private, so it’s just you and your partner/party during the hikes.

We visited in the rainy season and were a bit afraid the experience would be very wet and uncomfortable. We had luck with the weather and our fake Wellington rain boots bought at the market in Sen Monorom (around $5) were a life saver. Don’t be afraid to visit in the rainy season, just...

This place is truly magical and an absolute must-see during your trip to Cambodia.

Your adventure begins around 4:30 AM when you're picked up from your hotel and driven to the Jahoo camp. There, you'll receive headlamps and set off to observe the beautiful Gibbon families in their natural habitat—an incredibly unique experience. After an hour of watching these amazing primates, you'll return to the camp for a traditional Cambodian breakfast.

Next, you'll embark on another jungle walk, discovering various plants, birds, and animals, including monkeys and giant squirrels. You'll also have the opportunity to pick fresh wild ingredients straight from the jungle and cook a special indigenous meal with your local guides—an incredible culinary experience with delicious food!

After lunch, your guides will set up hammocks, giving you two hours to relax and unwind in the serene jungle. Finally, you'll return to the camp before heading back home.

This was truly a highlight of my trip! The experience is outstanding, especially considering the affordable price. The people are incredibly friendly and passionate, and the jungle and camp are simply breathtaking.

Highly...