Kampi Dolphin Pools

Kampi is a stretch of the Mekong River approximately 15 kilometers north of Kratie town and the most reliable location in Cambodia to observe the critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphin, one of the rarest cetacean species in the world. A small resident population of around a dozen individuals inhabits this section of the river year-round, gathering in the deep pools between rocky outcrops where upwellings concentrate fish. Visitors hire small wooden boats from the Kampi riverside community to paddle quietly among the pools and wait for the dolphins to surface, often at very close range. The best viewing times are early morning and late afternoon. The Mekong Discovery Trail information center at Kampi provides excellent background on dolphin biology, the threats they face, and ongoing conservation efforts.