On a cloudy Sunday of the rainy season, we decided to go back to Safari World, Bangkok’s largest zoo.
In Bangkok, clouds, and even rain, are actually signs that you should spend some time outside, as there are more chances to find a colder temperature, you won’t need sun cream, the rain is actually hot and it very rarely rains all day anyway. The rainy season has huge tropical rains but usually only once a day and most of the time in the evening. It didn’t rain at all in our case and we didn’t suffer from the heat at all.
I like zoos in general, I love animals and to watch animals in front of you has nothing to do with watching documentaries. Of course, some zoos are not recommended as they don’t treat their animals well, but I believe most do as much as they can. There are a few zoos in Thailand that I would not recommend, particularly the “tiger themes” ones which are known to drug their animals, and in general all those where you can take pictures directly with tigers or lions. The most controversial “tiger zoos” in Thailand such as the Sriracha Tiger Zoo or the Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi have been closed since a few years.
Safari World is THE zoo to visit in Bangkok, especially as the Dusit Zoo that was next to the King’s Palace in Bangkok’s historic center has been closed since 2018. A new government zoo is currently being constructed in Pathum Thani, it’s supposed to open in 2017.
We had already visited Safari World a few years ago, when Melody was 3 years, and she remembered vividly the Dolphin show, particularly Dolphins jumping a few meters out of the water to hit a ball with their tail and send it into the public. We didn’t watch it that time though as we arrived quite early and we would have had to wait more than an hour for that show.
Safari World is located approximately 30 kilometers to the northeast of Central Bangkok (Asoke), and it’s easily accessible with less than an hour’s drive.
As the largest zoo in the vicinity of Bangkok, it naturally draws a considerable number of visitors, Thais of course, but notably tourists from China and India that seem to come as part of tour bus groups. The park comprises two distinct sections: the Marine Park and the Safari Park, and you have the flexibility to purchase tickets for either or both. It’s worth mentioning that online ticket prices do not offer any savings, so it’s advisable to acquire your tickets on-site, it’s even cheaper on site if you’re a resident (I showed my work permit to get the Thai price).
Marine Park
The Marine Park is essentially a conventional zoo, featuring a variety of animal shows and an extensive array of species. The enclosures are generously sized, thoughtfully landscaped, and well-separated from each other. Despite its name, the Marine Park doesn’t exclusively focus on aquatic life; it’s home to a diverse range of animals and birds.
Some of the notable highlights include:
- Dugongs, intriguing marine mammals native to Thailand, found near Chantaburi, close to Koh Chang.
- White Pelicans and Scarlet Ibises, notable for their abundant presence.
- Walruses
- Capybaras
- Malayan Tapirs, recognized for their distinctive black and white appearance.
There are animal shows at Safari World throughout the day. It’s difficult to do all of them as the shows are located at various ends of the zoo and it’s vast. However, they can be skipped anyway as the quality of the animal shows leaves something to be desired. The Orangutan show involves primates dressed in human clothing performing tricks, the Elephant show tends to be uneventful with the usual tricks, and the Dolphin show is just average. There’s also stunt shows (spy war and cowboy stunt show) which we didn’t watch.
One attraction that comes at an additional cost is the “African River” theme park ride, which, regrettably, falls short of expectations. It’s essentially a slow ride in a simulated boat on rails, providing only a glimpse of poorly crafted outdoor sculptures in a somewhat decrepit state. For atheme park ride in a zoo, one might anticipate encountering more animals, but disappointingly, there is just one— a Python in a terrarium, and it’s not even an African species.
Safari World, having been around for three decades, shows signs of weathering and was further affected by the challenges posed by being closed during the Covid (the cost to feed all those animals must be huge). While it maintains cleanliness and overall maintenance, certain animal enclosures could benefit from refurbishment. The gardening is well-maintained, but there’s room for improvement. Despite the mediocre quality of the shows, they do draw crowds, particularly among Chinese and Indian tourists, leading to their perpetuation I guess.
Visitors have the option to purchase grass to feed the animals at select locations, a favorite activity among children. Interacting with animals such as giraffes up close is always a memorable experience.
Safari Park
The Safari Park experience differs from the Marine Park. Visitors explore this section in individual cars or zoo buses, driving directly into the enclosures. The Safari Park consists of sections for herbivores and predators, encompassing tigers, lions, and bears. While giraffes are part of the Safari Park, you can also feed them from the Marine Park, from a raised up platform.
The Safari Park is a vast sanctuary for African wildlife, teeming with thousands of animals and an abundance of bird species. It’s been thoughtfully designed to replicate the African wilderness, providing ample space for animals to thrive in the Thai climate. Notably, it boasts an extensive giraffe population, one of the largest outside of Africa. Additionally, there are over 10 rhinoceroses, hippos, various antelope species, oryx, buffalos, and wildebeest. The avian population is equally impressive, with thousands of white storks, marabou storks, pelicans, and crowned cranes. Emus are also present, though they hail from Australia, and ostriches are notably absent.
The Safari Park truly stands out as the highlight of the zoo, offering visitors a unique opportunity to observe an array of magnificent African wildlife in a spacious and well-kept environment.
Overall, Safari World is an excellent zoo, despite a few minor drawbacks. The animals appear to be well-cared for, and there is an extensive and diverse collection of species to admire. A must for families living in Bangkok.
