Koh Kong Province : Areng Pepper Mountain

The Stung Areng Ecotourism Community, a protected area community in the Southern Cardamom Range National Park, has received funding from the Ministry to build a bridge across the stream and stairs to the Monkey Pepper Mountain, including a bridge and stairs with safety railings, which will make it easier to travel to Monkey Pepper Mountain.

The protected area community has received support from the Green Belt to help manage natural resources. In the past, the Ministry of Environment has provided funding to help communities in protected areas to strengthen their livelihoods and conserve natural resources. Monkey Pepper Mountain is located in the Stung Areng area in Chak Russey Village, Chamnab Commune, Thmar Bang District, Koh Kong Province. Phnom Peper Kangkep is a natural area with unique natural tourism potential, like a paradise for adventurous tourists who, upon arrival, have visited the Cloud River, the Sea of ​​Trees, wild animals, incomparable waterfalls, flocks of birds flying in the sky, the fields of indigenous people of the Areng region and ancient sites, etc. The head of the Areng River Eco-Tourism Community, Mr. Long Koy, said that in 2019, His Excellency the Minister of Environment, who visited Phnom Peper Kangkep, saw the difficult situation and asked the community to request the development of Phnom Peper Kangkep. Until the end of 2021, officials from the Koh Kong Provincial Department of Environment coordinated with the community to build and develop the Monkey Pepper Mountain area. This included building bridges across several streams, building stairs, building clean and hygienic bathrooms, building safety barriers, installing a clean water system including a water heater and solar panels, and building a cook's house. All of these achievements were completed in early 2022, which helped tourists easily travel to this place and the number of tourists continued to increase. The community leader said that Monkey Pepper Mountain has become a natural resort area in almost all seasons, and when tourists reach Monkey Pepper Mountain on a mountain at an altitude of more than 450 meters, they can pitch tents or hang hammocks and rest under cool trees in all seasons.

He said that tourists who want to visit there can contact the Stung Areng Eco-Tourism Community, where the community provides tourism services such as food preparation, security, and guidance to make it easier for tourists. In mid-2022, the Koh Kong Provincial Department of Environment discovered a potential waterfall area for eco-tourism hidden on the back of the Kangkep Pepper Mountain...