Peam Krasop Wildlife Sanctuary, Protected mangrove forest in southwestern Cambodia.

Peam Krasop Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected mangrove forest in southwestern Cambodia with elevated walkways winding through the dense vegetation. An observation tower allows visitors to view wildlife from an elevated vantage point and see across the landscape.

Peam Krasop Wildlife Sanctuary was established as a protected area in 1993, covering 245.91 km2 of mangroves and islands in southwestern Cambodia. It is also protected under the Ramsar Convention. Shrimp farming and large-scale charcoal production have cleared coastal swamp forest, but enforcement of environmental law has improved with political stability.

The people who live here practice fishing methods that have been passed down through generations and remain adapted to their surroundings. You can observe this traditional way of life in the boats and nets visible throughout the waterways.

Access to the sanctuary passes through the Boeng Kayak settlement, where the community-built mangrove walk begins: one kilometre of elevated walkways, picnic platforms, a suspension bridge and a 15-metre observation tower. Entry to Boeng Kayak is charged, at different rates for foreigners and Cambodians. The walkways cross inter-tidal ground, so plan around tides and rain.

The area is home to rare river dolphins that can sometimes be spotted from the walkways if you are fortunate. These marine mammals depend on the waters of the sanctuary and represent one reason why this ecosystem is so valued.