Madagui – the wild forest of the Central Highlands
19:22 04/03/2009

      Located 152 km from Ho Chi Minh City, the Madagui Forest in Lam Dong Province is renowned for its natural beauty and intricate system of springs and streams.

Part of the Nam Cat Tien National Forest, Madagui spans 600 ha and enjoys a refreshingly cool climate. It has also become a popular tourist attraction thanks to its rugged scenery, caves and diversity of flora.

The forest makes a perfect getaway to relax, enjoy a picnic, camp and find adventure.

Madagui has an incredibly diversified ecosystem, including rare and valuable plant species, ancient trees that are hundreds of years old and a number of endangered animals.

When night falls, visitors can join the local ethnic people and dance around a fire.

Other ethnic cultural entertainment includes gong performances and an animal circus featuring monkeys, dogs

The area is also a resort destination for horse-riding, fishing, distance shooting, hiking and massage.

Trekking through the caves, explorers can use wooden ladders to climb steep rocky passages. Photographers will find excellent angles to shoot within the curved stone passages.

Tourists can also have a great adventure conquering Than Nui (Mountain Deity) Park and Ac O Maze before or enjoy a raft ride along the Da Huoai River.

MADAGUI
Km 152, Highway 20, DaHuoai
District, Lam Dong Province.
(063) 876 681 – 876 691

The path to the Voi (Elephant) Stream is also stunning. Tourists who like to hike will love the approach to the upper reaches of the stream. There, they will find a secluded place to bathe in the cool water.

To get even closer to nature, visitors can sleep in tents next to Tien Stream or in “Tarzan-style” houses in large trees.

Visitors are also provided with Uazs or Jeeps if they wish to go by car into the jungle and up into the mountains.

The local cuisine is also not to be missed. The Camellia Flava Restaurant in the Central Highlands’ communal structure can serve up to 400 guests.

It provides delicious and exotic foods like a soup made from passion-fruit buds and minced pork, vegetables fried with beef, boiled bamboo shoots and much, much more.

Madagui is also famous for its diverse range of local fish dishes caught from the waters of the forest.

A slew of villas named after fruits such as banana, papaya and sapodilla, among others offers three-star accommodation. Services include some state-of-the-art swimming pools, tennis and billiards.

From HCMC, visitors can take a bus to Lam Dong – Da Lat (three hours), then on to Madagui. Or contact local travel agents – most in Saigon offer tours to the area. Prices vary, depending on how many days you wish to stay.

Reported by Vinh Bao-Luu Hong

Source : thanhniennews.com