📝 Written 30 Jun 2026 · ✅ Fact-checked 3 Jul 2026 · prices and schedules can change — check with the operator before booking
Chiang Mai Night Safari sits in Hang Dong district, about 12 kilometers from the city center. It's been running as a nighttime zoo since 2006. What sets it apart from a regular zoo is that it opens in the evening and takes visitors around on an open-sided tram along two routes: Savanna Safari, home to plant-eating animals (giraffes, zebras, deer, rhinos), and Predator Prowl, home to predators (tigers, lions, wild dogs). There's also a walking zone called Jaguar Trail around the lake, plus a light-and-fountain show and scheduled animal shows.
The question people ask most before buying a ticket is: what exactly do you get, and is it worth 2–3 hours of your time? We've pulled together the actual prices for both Thai and foreign visitors, what the ticket covers, the real review score, and the pros and cons that past visitors have mentioned, to make the decision easier.
| Type | Thai visitors | Foreign visitors |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | ฿300 | ฿800 |
| Child (100–140 cm tall) | ฿150 | ฿400 |
Chiang Mai Night Safari (Admission Ticket)
A single ticket covers both tram routes for spotting animals: Savanna Safari, where plant-eaters live, and where giraffes and zebras will walk right up to the tram so you can hand-feed them, and Predator Prowl, home to predators like tigers and lions. It also includes the Jaguar Trail walking zone around the lake and an evening light-and-fountain show. The thing reviewers mention most often is hand-feeding the giraffes, which kids absolutely love — it's an experience you won't find at a typical zoo. Riding the tram through the dark also creates a very different atmosphere from viewing animals in daylight.
In terms of value, Thai visitors paying 300 baht for adults and 150 baht for kids find it reasonable for 2–3 hours and everything included. But foreign visitors paying 800 baht for an adult ticket often find it pricey compared to other zoos in the city in reviews, so the ticket price itself is a major factor in whether it feels worth it — depending on group size and which rate applies to you.
A note on animal welfare: TripAdvisor does not allow bookings for this attraction through its platform because it doesn't meet its animal welfare criteria, and a number of reviews raise concerns about shows that have tigers or elephants perform unnatural behaviors, as well as loudspeakers on the tram that are loud enough to disturb both visitors and animals. Anyone who cares about this issue should weigh it carefully before deciding. Visitors who come mainly to let their kids see animals up close still tend to rate the family fun highly.
- Hand-feed giraffes and other plant-eating animals up close — kids love it
- Tram ride through the dark for a very different vibe from a daytime zoo
- Light-and-fountain show plus a walking zone around the lake
- Thai-rate pricing feels reasonable for 2–3 hours
- Foreign-visitor tickets are pricey (~800 baht for adults) compared to other zoos
- Some reviews criticize shows for unnatural animal behavior · TripAdvisor won't list it due to animal welfare standards
- Tram loudspeakers are quite loud, which may not suit young children
Bottom line: who is it worth it for
It's most worth it for families with kids, especially at the Thai rate — kids get to feed giraffes, ride the tram through the dark, and watch the fountain show, all for 150–300 baht and about 2–3 hours of time. For travelers who care about animal welfare, or solo/couple travelers mainly focused on animal photography, it may be less worth it, since the foreign ticket price is high and there's criticism around some of the shows. If you'd rather see animals in a more nature-focused setting, one of the conservation-style elephant camps around the city might suit you better.
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