Bou Sra Waterfall

Bou Sra is the best-known waterfall in Cambodia, on the Preak Chhbok river near the Vietnamese border, falling in two main steps, the upper around ten metres and the lower nearer twenty-five, into a forested gorge. Viewing platforms look at the upper fall and a path with steps descends toward the lower one, and there is a zip line across the gorge. The site is on Bunong land and the waterfall has significance in their tradition. Volume varies enormously: at the end of the rains it is a thundering curtain, while by March and April it thins considerably. The drive out from Sen Monorom passes through rubber plantations that have replaced a great deal of the forest that used to cover this route.

What you actually see

• The two tiers - upper and lower falls in a forested gorge.
• Viewing platforms - the built overlooks above the drops.
• The descent path - steps down toward the lower fall.
• Bunong land - the community whose territory the falls sit in.

When to go

September to December, after the rains, when the volume is at its greatest. By March and April the fall is much reduced. The road is easiest in the dry months, which is the usual trade-off.

Honest expectations

Flow drops a lot late in the dry season. The site has been developed with platforms, stalls and a zip line, which affects the atmosphere. The road out is rough in places. Rubber plantations along the way are a stark sight.

Nearby

Sen Monorom lies west; the Vietnamese border is east.