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Bunong Culture

In Cambodia the main ethnical group is Khmer people but in Mondulkiri there is the Bunong people which have a different culture and traditions from Khmer. We are almost 37 000 in Mondulkiri.
Most of us are working in farms to grow pineapple, rice, banana, cashew nuts and vegetables like eggplant, pumpkin, cucumber, corn or sweet potato. We also grow rice in the mountain, to fullfill our daily needs.
We are producing our own rice alcohol called Jar Wine which is only made here. It takes one hour of preparation and one month of fermentation.
Our way to work the land is connected to the nature spirits and rituals we do that will let us know if a land is good to grow or not. In that way, we organize a ceremony to attract good luck and protection from the spirits and start the farm.
We also have traditions linked to everyday life like weddings, birth, new year... For these occasions we wear special clothes and play Gong music. 
Our religion is animism, we believe in reincarnation and listen the spirits of the forest, mountains, waterfalls and trees.
 

Elephants

In this area of Cambodia, Elephants are present since a really long time, living in the jungle. As neighbors Bunong people and elephants have always lived close to each other. It explains the unique relationship they have with them.

A long time ago, the elephant were carrying wood such as bamboo from the jungle to the village to build houses. This is why Bunong started to tame them.

In our days in this area, 5 elephants have a mahout. These elephants are a legacy from the father who gives to his son.The Bunong mahout will go to see his elephant which lives free in the jungle everyday, and knows how to communicate with him. Using sounds like "How" (means "stop") or "Tun Tun" ("turn around"), "Hai" ("come") or "Koon" ("no")

The only tool a mahout has is a little bamboo stick.

Here, you will not see a mahout using a hook to drive an elephant. A relationship between a mahout and an elephant is unique and it is based on respect and knowing each other.

By doing a trek to meet an elephant with us, you fully support an ethic way to discover this wonderful animal which is not treated like this everywhere.

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