Don’t Forget to Explore Thailand Nature

Zoo
Thailand has an incredibly wide variety of exciting attractions to keep even the most demanding of holidaymakers happy. There are swimming pools, beaches, boat trips, go-karts, paintballing parks, water sports, bars, clubs and restaurants to name just a few. But there are also many other options for those tourists who are perhaps looking for entertainment with a bit more of a connection to nature.

Thailand’s wildlife and countryside have lots to offer the nature-loving tourist and there is no shortage of places to visit in order to get a taste of them. Some of these greener crowd-pullers are located close to the centre of town, but others take full advantage of the quite stunning landscapes to be found within easy reach of Thailand’s most popular holiday resorts.

Khao Kheow Open Zoo

Khao Kheow Open Zoo is located just off the main road back to Bangkok, about fifteen kilometres this side of Chon Buri, making it about a half hour drive from Pattaya. If you follow the sign posts to Khao Kheow Country Club, you will find it without any trouble. Its name literally translates to “Green Mountain” and as you approach the entrance it is immediately apparent how they settled on it. In fact, the whole area is dominated by a plethora of huge, rolling hills which are enveloped in delightfully attractive evergreen forests. It is an area of great natural beauty.

The zoo itself is ridiculously good value; it costs all of 50 Baht per adult to enter, even less for children, and the site is simply enormous. Walking around the place would be out of the question, although strolling around particular areas is very much the order of the day. Fortunately, a road runs through the whole park and you are encouraged to drive yourself around. There are lots of parking spots, together with refreshment stands conveniently located throughout the zoo. Mature trees provide lots of welcome shade from the sun. For those who have travelled on coach trips, the zoo has open air buses that ferry visitors around.

Khao Kheow is an interactive kind of zoo and there are enjoyable “Meet the Animals” shows scheduled throughout the day. Moreover, you have the opportunity to feed and touch those animals which do not present a threat to your personal safety.

The variety of animals on display at the zoo is truly impressive. Close to the entrance, amongst others, there is a big family of hippos displaying their terrifying sets of teeth, several huge white rhinos and different varieties of gibbon, all of whom happily display their awesome athleticism in swinging playfully between the trees. The bears clearly know their audience and appear from the shade to pose for onlookers in the hope of being rewarded with a tasty treat. If you need a break, there is also a pretty boating lake and lush gardens decorated with beautiful wooden pagodas.

As you move on through the park, you will encounter zebras, salt water crocodiles, camels, lamas, elephants, emu’s and ostriches, to name but a few of the species on show. There is also a walk through aviary, a children’s zoo, and several varieties of snake in glass cages, an extremely pleasant deer park and a lovely nature trail.

Cats Complex

Another real highlight of the place is the new Cats Complex, which is located some distance from the main body of the park. However, the drive over takes you through some quite stunning scenery. The view down the valley that runs between the various green mountains and eventually down to the sea is nothing short of spectacular, especially in the late afternoon with the low sun reflecting off the ocean. There is even a pretty little man-made waterfall running off the side of one of the hills, which is a lovely spot to relax or, if you choose, to have a swim.

The Cats Complex itself is extremely impressive, with a fantastic selection of big cats. There are several species of tiger, including the astonishingly captivating white tiger. There are lions, panthers, leopards, ocelots and many others.

Thrilling Night Safari

Of course many wild animals are not particularly active during the day, but come alive at night, when hunting is often easier and certainly cooler. The zoo itself is open between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. which effectively means only during daylight hours. However, Khao Kheow also offers a thrilling night safari, which includes a buffet dinner, a forty five minute tour on one of the park’s auto trams with a zoo guide providing an interesting commentary and finally a half hour animal presentation show. It is a great opportunity to see many of the park’s most fascinating animals when they are at their most active.

Elephant Village and Crocodile Farm

Pattaya’s Elephant Village is located just off Soi Siam Country Club just the other side of Sukhumvit Road, provides all sorts of pachyderm related entertainment, including a selection of shows, and rides along pleasant country trails. Not far away is the Million Years Stone Park and Crocodile Farm, which you can find by turning off Sukhumvit Road at the 140 km post and following the road for approximately five kilometres. As one might anticipate bearing in mind its name, it is home to a large population of crocodilians as well as many other animals. There are regular shows throughout the day demonstrating the interaction between this most fearsome of creatures and their keepers.

The Sanctuary of Truth

At the opposite end of the animal spectrum from crocodiles, one would probably have dolphins. The Pattaya’s Sanctuary of Truth can be found north of the City on Soi 12 off Naklua Road, has a salt water lagoon in which they keep and train these delightful creatures. They have presentations throughout the day and there is also the opportunity to touch and even swim with the stars of the show.

Outdoor Stables

For those of you who prefer to do more than just look at animals, horse riding provides a great alternative for a day out. Pattaya’s Outdoor Stables is located in the beautiful Kao Mai Geomountains that lie to the east of the City, not far from the BIRA motor racing circuit on the main Highway 36 to Rayong. Their well trained horses are suitable for all standards of rider and the virtually uninhabited surrounding countryside offers a near endless supply of interesting rides to keep customers happy. Even if you do not feel comfortable on horseback, they can provide well maintained mountain bikes with which you can tackle the various mountain trails, alternatively there are well marked footpaths for those who prefer to use their own two feet.

However you choose to travel, you will be assured of breathtaking scenery and simply delightful sunsets from vantage points high in the rolling hills. Beautiful, brightly coloured birds will often accompany you, flying from tree to tree as you ride along. The crowds, bright lights and bars of Walking Street seem like a world away from such a peaceful, relaxing environment, yet it is actually just a twenty minute drive. The friendly team at Outdoor Stables is always more than happy to drive into town to pick you up and will of course drop you back at your hotel once your day’s riding is over. Just give them a call on the number provided above.

Be Sure Not to Miss Out

While on any trip to Thailand it is easy to do little more than lounge by the pool, stroll on the beach and tackle the many delights of Beach Road and Walking Street in the evening. However, there is every reason to see what else the area has to offer. There are lots of gorgeous countryside and a wealth of fascinating wildlife. If you take time, you will be spellbound the beauty of much of the surrounding areas and thrilled by the various exotic creatures you encounter.