The 2023 Ultimate Guide to Night Hiking in Taiwan
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Loading... - Akinari Sato
- 08 Feb 2023
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NIGHT HIKING IN TAIWAN
Taiwan is a small island with a broad range of environments. The most densely mountainous country in the world is also flush with six forest types, including broadleaf forests, subtropical regions and a diverse flora of over 4,000 species of vascular plants. Over half of the main island of Taiwan sits at or above 1,000 meters elevation, a hot zone for wildlife. This range of environments supports bountiful fauna. Sixty one species of mammals, over fifty thousand species of insects, including roughly 400 known butterfly species, and four hundred species of birds. Most importantly, for our purposes here, there are ninety two species of reptiles and thirty species of amphibians recorded in Taiwan. While we’ve provided a guide for hiking in Taiwan, night hiking in Taiwan is one of the most exciting experiences visitors can have.
When the sun goes down, there is a vast array of wildlife that comes out. The best part about night hiking in Taiwan, is that one does not need to travel far, or have their own vehicle, to reach areas teeming with reptiles, amphibians, and certain mammalian life. The diversity and accessibility make Taiwan a must visit destination for herpetology hobbyists, and even night hiking beginners!
Night Hiking Gear
This is the easiest part of night hiking. Most people will argue having adequate gear on a hike is necessary, but night hiking is different! The only crucial gear for night hiking is a headlamp, extra batteries, a first aid kit, and comfortable hiking shoes. The necessary gear is few, but choosing the right gear is still important to amplifying your experience and chance of spotting Taiwan’s wildlife at night.
Choosing the right headlamp
Lumens
Lumens is the term used to quantify the amount of light being put out of a light source. Typically, lumens can range from 15 to over 500. Lower end lumens will suit casual camping well or reading at night. Not too bright to disturb others or yourself, but can illuminate enough. However, we are here for night hiking! The ideal lumens for night hiking is the higher end, 200 – 500+. You will need to see far in the forest, and be able to decipher branches from snakes. This takes time and practice, but having the right headlamp will do wonders.
Beam Type
Headlamp and flashlight beams can vary from a flood light to extremely focused. Many flashlights are adjustable, moving from a flood to a focused square or circle. Ideally, your headlamp or flashlight is adjustable. Some great options are Fenix, and Black Diamond.
If a choice has to be made between flood and focused beams, go with the focused beam as it will force you to focus on each area of the forest. Read More…
