Giraffe feeding
From the railing, very close to the animals.
Khao Kheow Open Zoo, the open zoo near Pattaya
An open zoo in Si Racha, near Pattaya, with giraffe feeding, a penguin parade and an elephant show.
Check availability and pricePrices
From 340 THB, when booked in advance.
Important information:
- The tram and carts inside the zoo are not included in the ticket.
- Shows according to the official website schedule: Elephant show at 11:00 and 14:30 (at weekends also 12:30), a penguin parade at 10:00 and 14:00 (at weekends also 15:30), a bird parade at 10:30 and 14:30. Times may change.
- Opening hours, the child price and height: write to us before booking and we will confirm.
- The zoo is in Bang Phra, Si Racha. Transfer is not included.
What you do
Feeding, parades and shows
In the open zoo you can feed giraffes from the railing and see penguins, an aquarium and animals from many continents.
During the day there is an elephant show, a penguin parade and a bird parade according to the schedule. A tram and golf carts for travelling inside the zoo can be bought on site.
Shows throughout the day
Elephants, penguins and birds, according to the schedule.
Tram
For travelling inside the zoo, at an extra charge.
Elephant show
At 11:00 and 14:30, and on weekends also at 12:30. Times may change.
When to go
According to the official show schedule, all three shows, the penguin parade, the bird parade and the elephant show, run in a morning round between 10:00 and 11:00 and an afternoon round between 14:00 and 14:30. Anyone arriving after 11:00 will see them only in the second round, and the schedule may change. According to Pattaya City, the heaviest rain in the area falls from August to October, and the cool season runs from mid-October to mid-February.
Getting there
- The zoo is in Bang Phra, Si Racha, close to the tourist areas of Pattaya and Bang Saen, according to the official website.
Good to know
You can get around on foot, by tram, by rented golf cart, or by vehicle.
A golf cart is rented for two hours.
The zoo's official website notes that enjoying a zoo takes a whole day.
About the place
Khao Kheow Open Zoo belongs to the Zoological Park Organization of Thailand and operates under royal patronage. It lies in the Bang Phra area near Si Racha, about 25 km from Si Racha town.
The zoo was founded in 1974 at the foot of Khao Kheow mountain, because Dusit Zoo in Bangkok had too many animals, and it opened to the public in 1978. The site covers roughly 800 hectares.
Today the zoo is home to animals from hundreds of species from Asia and Africa.
In recent years the zoo has also become known for Moo Deng, a pygmy hippo born in July 2024 who became an internet star.
According to the official website, the zoo is divided into three areas. The presentation area, about 160 hectares, is open to visitors, with animals in surroundings as close to nature as possible. The service area, about 80 hectares, has places to rest, a food court and a lake. The education and research area, about 570 hectares, is closed to visitors.
In the research area, rare species are bred and returned to the wild, for example in a project to return storks and pelicans to nature.
In Eld's Deer Park, which covers more than an acre, you can enter by car or by tram, feed the deer and take photos with them. There are also places to sit. According to the official website, it is one of the zoo's top ten attractions.
In the African Savanna area, which covers about two acres and is surrounded by a dry ditch, giraffes, zebras, ostriches, rhinoceroses, springbok, oryx and impalas live together. According to the official website you can see them up close and feed them yourself.
In the Walk Through Aviary you can stroll inside a large bird enclosure of about two acres, along about 800 meters of stream. It has waterfalls, ponds and plants, and more than 80 kinds of birds, including storks, pheasants and egrets. There are also reptiles and small mammals, such as tortoises.
The Wildlife Wonderland area presents animals from several continents. A pygmy hippo from Africa lives there together with hundreds of fish. Through a large glass wall under the water you can watch seals swim over your head, and according to the official website this is the only tunnel of its kind in Thailand.
On Lemur Island you can feed ring-tailed lemurs up close. According to the official website this is possible only on weekends and holidays, and you reach the island by raft with the zoo staff. You receive special food and gloves for hygiene.
The elephant show area is built so that you can see the elephants move underwater. According to the official website, only a few zoos in the world show this.
The name Moo Deng means bouncy pork in Thai, and it is also a type of meatball. Fans chose the name in a social media poll, and it matches the names of her siblings, Moo Toon (stewed pork) and Moo Waan (sweet pork).
What awaits you
Night safari: an activity after dark.
Eld's Deer Park, an African savanna and a bird enclosure you can walk through.
Feeding deer and savanna animals, and on weekends and holidays also lemurs.
Elephants moving underwater in the elephant show area.
Who it suits
Great for
- Groups: the official website asks you to arrange a group visit in advance, and there are golf carts for 4 or 6 passengers.
- Anyone who would rather not walk much: the zoo has a tram service and golf carts for getting around inside.
- Bird lovers: there is a bird enclosure you can walk through, with more than 80 species
- People who like feeding animals up close: deer, savanna animals and, on weekends and holidays, lemurs
Gallery
Photo gallery
Frequently asked questions
What to know before you book
Is the tram included?
No. The tram and carts inside the zoo are bought separately.
When are the shows?
An elephant show at 11:00 and 14:30, a penguin parade at 10:00 and 14:00, a bird parade at 10:30 and 14:30. At weekends there are more shows.
What is the child price?
Send us the children's heights and we will confirm the price.
Is the transfer included?
No. If you need it, we will add a transfer from your hotel. Write to us.
Is there a night safari?
Yes, a night safari area operates after dark. Days and times vary, so it is worth checking them before you travel.
Who runs the zoo?
The Zoological Park Organization of Thailand, under royal patronage.
Why is Moo Deng so famous?
She is a pygmy hippo born at the zoo in July 2024. Pictures of her spread across social media.
What can you see at the zoo besides the shows?
Eld's Deer Park, an African savanna with giraffes and zebras, a bird enclosure you can walk through, and the Wildlife Wonderland area with animals from several continents.
Can you feed the animals?
According to the official website, you can feed the animals in Eld's Deer Park and in the African savanna. The lemurs on their island are fed only on weekends and holidays.
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