Youthapong Charoenpan
Located about 81 kilometers southeast of Bangkok in Chon Buri province, Khao Kheow Open Zoo is set in a huge park covering about 5,000 rai (800 hectares) in Tambon Bang Phra (Bang Phra sub-district).
Operated by the Zoological Park Organization of Thailand, Khao Kheow Open Zoo opened its doors to the public 30 years ago. The zoo boasts over 200 animal species, and up to 8,000 animals in total within its boundaries. These days it's also possible to make a trip to the zoo even more exciting by joining a night safari.
 Nocturnal observations
The Khao Kheow Open Zoo's night safari covers a 3-km route, and takes about one hour to complete. Children often find the nighttime setting adds an extra dash of excitement to the proceedings.
The night safari package I had booked included dinner. The program began with what was, quite honestly, a fairly ordinary meal of Khao Pad Gai (Chicken Fried Rice).
Fortunately, it was a nice breezy moonlit sky, free of clouds, during the night of our nocturnal wildlife excursion. Before heading off on the zebra-patterned trolley bus, staff from the zoo first provided some interesting facts about porcupines, which many of the children on board to try and get a closer look at one of the large rodents. The creature, he explained, tended to increase its body size as a way of warding off perceived threats. But if an intruder gets close enough, it may come to grief on one of the animal's long, sharp erectile spines, which can measure up to 30 centimeters in length.
In my experience, the best place to sit on the trolley bus is in the first three cars since it's then possible to get a clearer view thanks to the vehicle's powerful spotlight. You need to be alert since the operator of the light can't shine the light on any animal for too long, otherwise it might become disturbed and also scare away other animals nearby.
Thanks to the 'open zoo' concept, you get to see deer roaming around freely in the wilderness, and they even come as close as the road at times providing a useful photo opportunity.
One area that remains the same by day or night is the International Wild Cats Center. Here you get to see Siberian tigers and up to 50 other species of 'Big Cats' safely looked after behind a glass-fronted complex that nevertheless features a habitat similar to that which they would inhabit in the wild.
Passengers couldn't contain their excitement when coming across a pair of two male buffaloes, locked with their horns in combat. This turned into amusement when the two combatants paused when the light shone upon them, only to continue their fierce battle once it moved away again.
Unlike many typical zoos, where animals are often closely guarded or kept in seemingly cramped and uncomfortable conditions, Khao Kheow is about as 'open' as it is possible to get given that some of the park's inhabitants are rather dangerous.
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It may be worth examining the potential
of your camera at night before setting off on this trip since it can be
quite tricky to achieve decent results unless you have already gained
some experience in this area.
Some children who are a
little afraid of the dark may find the trip a bit spooky since the
driver has to drive in complete darkness during some stretches of the
trip. In contrast, others may find this aspect quite compelling.
Considering the extremely affordable
entry fee – 100 baht (US$3.5) for adults, or 50 baht for children
(below 135 cm in height) – Khao Kheow's night safari offers excellent
value for money. Add another 69 baht to the adult price or 39 baht to
the price per child and you will also be able to enjoy a small meal
before heading off on your adventure.
Khao Kheow Open Zoo has been carefully planned and designed, and is an
environmentally-friendly zoo that clearly looks after its residents
very well.
Click here for a related article where you can learn more about the zoo's regular daytime offerings.
You can go directly to Khao Kheow Open Zoo's official website at http://www.kkopenzoo.com or
call them directly on Tel: +66 (0)38 298 195 to find out more
information, or consider spending a night's stopover at a luxury
campsite located nearby called Es Ta Te Camping Resort.
Transport connections:
Car: Located in Chon Buri province’s Sri Racha district, the quickest
route by car from Bangkok is to take Highways 7 or 34 to Chon Buri.
From there you can pick up Highway 3. The zoo is clearly signposted for
motorists.
From Pattaya City, head for the new Highway 36 and look out for the signs.
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Life in Thailand 
Life in Thailand
Thai ways of living - be it countryside or city - have their own distinct styles, rhythms and habits. The kingdom, and especially Bangkok, is also home to an interesting variety of locals and expatriates. Learn about the views and lives of local and expatriate communities, in addition to helpful tips for those exploring and living a Life in Thailand.
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