🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo sits on the Ratchasima–Pak Thong Chai road (Route 304), about 20 kilometres from Korat city. It's one of Thailand's larger zoos, laid out as an open park where the animals live in wide, spacious enclosures rather than small cages. Inside you'll find walking trails past the animals, a savanna-style safari zone, feeding stations, a reptile and aquatic house, and a small water park — enough to keep a family busy from morning into the afternoon.
Highlights for kids
What makes kids love this place is that they get to do more than just look. Korat Zoo has spots where you can hand-feed the giraffes and hippos, trams and golf carts to ride around the grounds, and a small water park to cool off in — so children come away having learned a bit about animals and burned off some energy too.
- Safari zone — ride the tram into the open savanna to see giraffes, zebras, deer and other hoofed animals grazing right beside you; usually the part kids get most excited about.
- Animal-feeding stations — feed the giraffes and hippos, and feed the flamingos too; food is sold inside, and children can hold it out themselves for an up-close moment.
- Tram, golf-cart and bicycle rental — the grounds are big, so take the guided tram or rent a golf cart to drive yourself and spare little legs a long walk.
- Children's zoo and reptile house — a small-animal corner to see up close, plus a reptile and aquatic building where kids love watching the fish and snakes.
- Water park — a small water park to cool off in; bring swimwear and a towel so the kids can have a proper splash.
- Animal shows — there are animal-ability shows such as otters and seals twice a day (around 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.), an activity some families choose to watch and others skip, whichever they're comfortable with.
When to go with kids, and what to bring
Mornings just after opening are best — it's cooler and the animals are more active. Korat gets hot in the middle of the day, so bring a hat, water and sunscreen, plus swimwear if you plan to use the water park. If you have toddlers or older family members along, renting one golf cart makes the day far more comfortable than walking it all.
Know before you go
- Opening hours — open daily, roughly 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (some periods close around 4 p.m.). Check the zoo's page for the latest times before you go.
- Approximate entry fees — around 130 THB for Thai adults and about 40 THB for children aged 3–12; under-3s are free, and it's roughly another 50 THB to bring a car in. Foreign visitors are charged more (prices are approximate and may change).
- Getting there — it's on the Ratchasima–Pak Thong Chai road (Route 304), about 20 kilometres from Korat city, a 20–30 minute drive with plenty of parking; you can also take a songthaew or hire a car from town.
- Good for which ages — fine for all ages, but especially fun for animal-mad kids aged 3–10; the paths are flat enough for a stroller, and the tram and golf carts help reach the farther zones.
Getting the most out of it, comfortably
Plan for a half to full day, since the grounds are large with several zones, and keep an eye mainly on the heat — take regular water breaks. If you're not comfortable with animal shows, you can skip the show times and focus on the safari zone and the feeding stations, where the animals are out in wide open enclosures — that's really the heart of a visit here anyway.
Plan a full Korat trip
See the Nakhon Ratchasima travel guide →