Myanmar Travel - Nature Observations (Myanmar Eco-tourism)

Myanmar is the largest Country in the main land south-east Asia and 2/3of area is covered by thick forest which can be classified into three types generally

1. Tropical rain forest
2. Ever green forest
3. Deciduous forest etc..

It is an only country you will ever see unspoiled natural forests in with the world valuable teak forest, iron wood forest, sandal wood forest etc.. are still existing. This stimulate the various species of mammals such as tiger , leopard , black-bear, dear , samba, hog-badger, rhino, wild boar, elephant , are to dwelt.

Myanmar being entirely shut in on all sides, either by high mountain ranges or by the sea has been able to develop its own fauna, besides attracting many from the neighboring countries, and is accordingly very rich in its variety of birds. In the West we find Indian and Himalayan ones or their Local types, in the North-East Chinese, and in the South-East Siamese and Malayan; whilst in the central plains we have a few birds peculiar to Burma alone. Many are common to the whole province whilst others are very local in their distribution.

I have divided up the country into the following zones or districts; unfortunately in many of them the birds are very little known, but should be the same as those found in the bordering districts.

I. Tenasserim
II. Lower Burma
III. The Dry-Zone
IV. The Southern Shan States
V. Bhamo District
VI. Myitkyina
VII. The Upper Chindwin
VIII. The Northern Chin Hills
IX. The South Chin Hills and Mt. Victoria
X. Arracan

Mergui Archipelago

The diving in Myanmar is a unique. It offers not only sightings of large pelagic but schooling fish. The various fishes like sharks are fairly common - silvertip, black tip, Grey reef shark, hammerheads, whale sharks and the occasional bull shark. Luckily, We have seen over 100 Manta Rays on one dive alone! Great macro life can be found. Sea horses, ornate ghost-pipe and stone fish are amongst the archipelago's rare inhabitants. Huge barrel sponges, soft and hard corals abound.

Our diving-side is composed of over eight hundred islands and covering an area of ten thousand square miles. These islands had been closed to all foreigners for over fifty years until January 1997. This beautiful area is totally untouched by modern development, with a rich history of maritime trade, mysticism and piracy.

Due to the archipelago's virtual isolation, the islands and surrounding seas are alive with an amazing diversity of wildlife, flora and fauna. Parrots, sea eagles, Brahminy kites and herons fill the skies, whilst on land the animal population includes wild cattle, elephants, monkeys, deer, wild pigs, tigers, crocodiles and rhinoceros.

The only human inhabitants in the area are the sea gypsies who have made the boat their home, and sea their life, a nomadic sea-faring race whose lifestyle has changed very little over the years, they have been the sole inhabitants of the Mergui Archipelago over the years and still practice the same fishing and boat building techniques used for generations.

For more information about; Mergui Archipelagoes Tours