Explore Khao Sok National Park with Real-Life Tarzan

Meet legendary Khao Sok local guide Jaja, a real-life Tarzan who can literally smell the air and tell which animal is nearby. With his man bun, machete in hand, and bottles strapped to his belt, Jaja’s exactly the jungle guy you’d want by your side if you were ever stranded in the forest.

We found Jaja while searching for something different to do in Thailand, and this jungle adventure on Seek Sophie turned out to be one of the best things we did. Definitely not the typical “walk through some trees” kind of trek.

He led us deep into the forest, spotting things we never would’ve noticed without him, like a stick insect perfectly camouflaged way up in the canopy, or a snake hiding among leaves, something that we would’ve 100% walked right past. It honestly felt like he had a third eye in the jungle, seeing a whole world that was invisible to us.

At one point, he whipped out his machete, cut down a bamboo, sliced it open, and got us drinking fresh water straight out of it in just minutes. Then, he showed us how to make bamboo cups and spoons - then we even brewed coffee in it and drank straight from our bamboo cups!

Besides being the best nature guide ever, Jaja is also a seriously good chef. He cooked us a yummy bamboo meal — red curry, chicken and rice — over a fire he built in the middle of the jungle. After our bellies were full, we followed him on a night safari.

Sometimes you can spot civets or even slow lorises here, but we weren’t that lucky this time, just a few nocturnal bugs, snakes, and frogs. Still, walking through the dark with nothing but our headlamps and Jaja’s pointing things out felt like we were seeing a completely different and secret side of the forest.

If you’re heading to Khao Sok, there are a few different ways you can explore with Jaja depending on how much time you have. We did the day-to-night trek with bamboo cooking and a night safari, but you can also go for longer or shorter options: like a 2D1N camping with Jaja (yes you will sleep in hammocks in the forest!) or a simple bamboo dinner + night safari combo, or just a day trek on its own.

What made this experience with him extra special though, is the story of how he became a guide. Jaja used to be one of Khao Sok’s most skilled hunters. By 9 years old, he already knew how to track animals and survive alone in the forest. But as he grew older, he started questioning why he was hunting the very animals he loved so much. So he stopped hunting completely, learned English while working as a waiter, and eventually turned his forest skills toward protecting the jungle instead.

Now, he brings travellers into his backyard through this Seek Sophie experience, but the best part is… he’s not doing it alone! Jaja also teaches other ex-hunters to become nature guides, turning a community of former hunters into protectors of the jungle.

It’s also a good reminder of how important responsible tourism is for places like this. It’s not just about doing something cool and raw, it actually helps locals make a living in a way that protects the wildlife and rainforest instead of harming it. If travellers don’t choose these kinds of experiences, many guides might have no choice but to turn back to less sustainable ways of surviving.

It’s such a wholesome thing to learn about, and we’re so happy to play a small part in this meaningful work that keeps both the people and the forest thriving.

Check out our Khao Sok National Park hiking video here! 👇

See our full guide to exploring Khao Sok National Park here 👇