Introduction
The compact town of Kampot, on the Kampot River, has a sultry, unhurried air, and faded French colonial buildings with balconies and terracotta tiles; fishermen can be seen casting their nets from the delightful riverside promenade, as the gentle chatter of people enjoying sunset drinks sounds out.
Bokor, situated at the end of the Elephant Mountains and used by the French as a cool retreat in the summer months, serves as a backdrop to this soothing scene. Fine views across the town can be had from its top on clear days.
From Kampot you can also access Bokor National Park, a protected area of rainforest and grasslands, which despite illegal logging remains home to an array of wildlife, including tiger, leopard, elephant and 300 bird species, among them the delightfully named spot-bellied eagle owl.
