From Pleiku, the main city of Gia Lai province, after traveling more than 80km to An Khe town, we continued to travel another 30km to reach Kbang district. Traveling another 60km of steep mountain passes with the vast green landscape of mountains and forests on both sides of the road, we finally set foot on Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve. The nature reserve is located in Farm 4 in Gia Lai province.
The road is difficult not because people are afraid of difficulties.
After registering with the reserve, the group was led by two rangers to the waterfall. Ahead of us was a distance of more than 12km, still traveling by motorbike through steep and dizzying slopes. Even a light rain would cause us to lose our way. It was only the beginning, but we could already feel the dangers and hardships of the journey to explore the K50 waterfall.
After more than 1 hour of riding motorbikes through the forest, the group finally arrived at Trai Bo area. It is a vast grassland chosen by the locals as a place to build their houses. Leave your motorbike here and start conquering the waterfall with your own feet, those who love wild nature. This is also the starting point for the journey of trekking, crossing forests and wading streams through Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve.
The time we went to the waterfall was March, the most beautiful time of the year here, with warm sunny weather and little rain. This season the stream water was not high but each person still found a tree branch to use as a stick for safety. We struggled to wade through the stream for more than 2 hours, there were muddy sections up to the knees, there were sections where we had to cross the stream with water up to the waist, and the slippery rocks made me sometimes fall into the water. Although I felt tired, my legs still refused to falter, because before my eyes was the magical, magnificent beauty of the waterfall.
Emotions burst when before my eyes appeared a waterfall that kept flowing noisily, creating white foam. Right at the foot of the waterfall were rocks of many strange shapes, stacked on top of each other.
We stood still for a long time, admiring the K50 waterfall from afar like a silver silk strip, sparkling and shimmering in the middle of the mountains and forests. The whole space around the waterfall looked so majestic, poetic and magical. It seemed like all the quintessence of heaven and earth, of nature were gathered in this place, a place like paradise on earth. To me, the K50 waterfall is more beautiful than a painting, because it is a work of art of creation, a gift that Mother Nature has bestowed on this wild forest located in the Northeast of Gia Lai province.
Ink painting in the mountains and forests
The group decided to set up camp at the foot of the waterfall. We were quite lucky to have two experienced and enthusiastic forest rangers as our guides. Mr. Hung and especially Mr. Rot, a Ba Na ethnic, were very familiar with the terrain and extremely professional when wading through the forest.
After that, everyone divided up to find dry wood to light the fire, cook rice in bamboo tubes, spread nets to catch fish, and pick vegetables. And we had a wild dinner that not everyone has the chance to experience in their life. In the quiet of the night, by the flickering campfire, there is nothing more interesting than feeling the sound of the waterfall echoing in the air, with the joy that seems to be enough to erase all the fatigue of a hard day of trekking.
The next morning, the group broke camp and continued their journey to conquer the waterfall. After a night of recovery, we were strong enough to go up to the source of the waterfall. In reality, it was only a short distance of less than 500m, but we had a hard time climbing slopes with a slope of nearly 60 degrees. The path was quite wet and there were many leeches. Because this was the source area in the old forest with thick vegetation covered with green moss, there were countless leaf leeches. It was a type of leech that lived on trees, and when it bit, it was not easy to recognize.
The dawn of the new day seemed to give the whole group more energy to weave between the cliffs. Then down the mountain slope to gradually nurture the excitement as the sound of the waterfall got closer and closer. And finally, the overwhelming emotion when seeing with our own eyes the masterpiece of nature. The waterfall roared from a height of 50 meters, flowing like a stream of hair, cleverly dotted with moss-covered rocks. It was difficult to describe the surprise and then admiration at the harmonious arrangement of heaven and earth.
Standing on top of the waterfall, we were able to enjoy the majestic and wild natural picture of the mountains and forests. Letting our souls follow the dance of nature and the cool air, what could be more wonderful than that unforgettable moment!
Returning to Trai Bo, we decided to change our route, not wading through the stream but through the forest. Trekking through steep slopes, we had to sit down occasionally to catch our breath to relieve fatigue. Under the canopy of the forest, full of big trees, leaves so dense that no sunlight could penetrate, the group became small but filled with emotions. Because everyone felt like an expedition member in a movie with a strong jungle feel. And thanks to that feeling, we forgot the sweat that kept pouring down, and our calves were gradually numb because the forest path was not easy to conquer. With this path, the whole group could only keep going, not daring to rest because there were so many leeches. In addition, the heat seemed to drain everyone's energy.
If you are a nature lover and are not afraid of challenging trekking journeys, I advise you to plan to explore K50 waterfall this summer. Don't forget to exercise and prepare the necessary tools for the journey of conquest that awaits you ahead. The "fairyland" of Gia Lai is still hidden, challenging the backpackers to find. And remember, be conscious backpackers to join hands to protect the pristine beauty of this pristine waterfall!
More information:
+ Distribution:Currently in Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve there are over 8 different waterfalls, but the most beautiful and majestic is K50 waterfall (also known as Hang En waterfall). Next is K40 waterfall or Ba Tang waterfall, also considered a beautiful waterfall in the Central Highlands region.
+ Itinerary:From Ho Chi Minh City/Hanoi, you fly with Vietnam Airlines to Pleiku, the main city of Gia Lai province. From the center of Pleiku city, follow Highway 19 towards Quy Nhon for about 80km to reach An Khe town. At the intersection to Kbang, turn left, go 30km to reach Kbang commune. Continue for about 60km more to reach Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve (under the management of Farm 4, Gia Lai province). K50 Waterfall is located in this nature reserve.
+Some notes before going to the waterfall:
- You need to call the reserve in advance to register, to check the weather conditions whether it will rain or not. Contact: Mr. Hung 0978 035 772
- Prepare tents, sleeping bags, food & water for 2 days, and leech repellent because there are a lot of leeches in the forest.
- Hiking shoes or wading shoes, jungle gear, light jacket.
+ Sightseeing:K50 Waterfall is located quite far from Pleiku city center, so once you arrive in Pleiku, in addition to exploring K50 Waterfall, you should combine exploring other places in the suburbs of Pleiku.
- T'nưng Lake: Locals call it Bien Ho, located nearly 10km from Pleiku city in the direction of Kon Tum. The road down to Bien Ho is as beautiful as a painting, with endless green pine trees on both sides. At the end of the road are stone steps leading to a romantic house in the middle of the lake. From here, you can see the flowers in full bloom, most beautiful at the end of September when Pleiku is in the wild sunflower season.
- Chu Dang Ya: In the language of the J'rai people, it means wild ginger, this is a volcano that has been inactive for millions of years, with a characteristic funnel-shaped crater. Chu Dang Ya volcano is hidden among the mountains, silent, still but full of life and charm. At the top of the mountain, you will experience the peaceful, tranquil feeling of the wild natural scenery typical of the Central Highlands, below is a deep green plain.
- Bien Ho Che Ancient Road: a very famous check-in spot in Pleiku today, charming with two rows of ancient pine trees over a hundred years old creating an extremely poetic feature for the mountain town. The ancient road is located more than 5km from Bien Ho in the direction of Chu Dang Ya volcano.
-Central Highlands Tombs: on the way from Pleiku to Yaly Hydroelectric Plant, you will pass through the villages of the Ba Na people. There are still Central Highlands tombs here. If you are lucky, you will meet old artisans carving tomb statues.
+ Cuisine:Below are some famous specialties/culinary addresses in Pleiku and An Khe that visitors must try.
- Chicken is only on Do Trac street, Pleiku
- Dinh Coffee & Lifestyle: 375A Quang Trung, An Khe. Coming to Dinh Coffee, you will be immersed in a warm, comfortable space, with extremely attractive dishes, or enjoy the sweet taste of a cup of pure roasted coffee with the seat you like best.
- Thu Ha Cafe: There are many shops in Pleiku, you should try to enjoy the typical coffee flavor of Gia Lai.
- Pho Hong Hai To: 22-24 Nguyen Van Troi, Pleiku. This place has a signature dish that no tourist who sets foot on this land can miss, Gia Lai dry pho. The locals often give it another popular name, "pho hai to", meaning that two bowls of pho are "enough". Price is about 25,000 - 35,000 VND/bowl.
- My Tam Chicken Rice 2: 6 Quang Trung, Pleiku.
- Pho Bo Vien Tau Ly: 36 Tran Phu, Pleiku. This restaurant is very famous in Pleiku so you don't need to worry about the quality. The restaurant space is not very large but it is very crowded, you should go early to avoid running out of seats. The price here is about 30,000 VND/bowl.
- Bun Huong: Kiosk 16, HAGL Stadium. Price 40,000 VND/bowl.
+ Accommodation:
- Hoang Anh Gia Lai Hotel: 01 Phu Dong, Pleiku
- Green Bamboo – Tre Xanh Plaza Hotel: 18, Le Lai, Pleiku
- Se San Hotel: 89 Hung Vuong, Pleiku
- Pleiku Hotel: 124 Le Loi, Pleiku
- Khanh Linh Hotel
- An Khe Hotel: 572 Quang Trung, Tay Son Ward, An Khe Town.
+ Weather:
- The best season of the year in Gia Lai is from August to January of the following year, with cool weather at night. From February to April is the peak of the dry season, with hot weather. From May to July is the rainy season.
- But An Khe is different because this is the intersection between the plateau and the plain. So the best time of year to visit this place is from January to June.
Article and photos: Aloha Nguyen
