Attractions Near Udon Thani - Khon Kaen Zoo (Khao Suan Zoo)
The Khon Kaen Zoo has come a long way with some great improvements in recent years, and in 2014, the Khon Kaen Water Park was opened, creating another new attraction in the Udon Thani area. The zoo itself is still not large, certainly not compared to Chiang Mai zoo, but in this heat, do you really want to be walking for miles and miles? The whole site is about 15 acres, and can easily be in a day, with a little effort as there are slopes to tackle at every corner.
A good alternative is to take the shuttle bus (or tram as the Zoo calls it), which is a hop on/hop off service with a decent number of designated stops. The shuttle buses run at 15 minute intervals throughout the day so you never need wait too long to move on to the next stop.
The entrance to the animal cages is through the Welcome Centre. Walk straight through and turn right and head to the end of the building where there is a kiosk to buy your tickets for the shuttle bus. If you prefer, you can take a golf buggy around the grounds.
A good alternative is to take the shuttle bus (or tram as the Zoo calls it), which is a hop on/hop off service with a decent number of designated stops. The shuttle buses run at 15 minute intervals throughout the day so you never need wait too long to move on to the next stop.
The entrance to the animal cages is through the Welcome Centre. Walk straight through and turn right and head to the end of the building where there is a kiosk to buy your tickets for the shuttle bus. If you prefer, you can take a golf buggy around the grounds.
Khon Kaen Zoo
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Sky Walk Khon Kaen Zoo
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Khon Kaen Zoo
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All the favourite or 'traditional' zoo animals are here, Lions, Tigers, Hippo's, Bears and Monkeys. There are White Lions, White Tigers and Rhino too, plus an aviary containing a number of exotic bird life. Perhaps the oddest thing for most visitors is that there are no Elephants in the zoo, perhaps because they are native to Thailand and can be seen in lots of other places. The Orangutan enclosure is worth visiting and if you buy some food for them, one of them will offer a 'high wai' and clap to earn it's treat. The small Meerkat house is fun with the Meerkats doing what they do best, amusing the crowd with their curious and playful nature whilst being guarded by one highly vigilant team member.
Khon Kaen Zoo Shuttle Bus
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Khon Kaen Zoo
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Khon Kaen Zoo
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The likes of Sheep, Goats, Horses and Cows are not native to Thailand and thus feature in the zoo, and the goats can be fussed and fed which is fun for the kids and many adults alike. Bottle of milk can be bought for 20 baht and the goats instantly become your friend. Another nice feature is the Deer Park where there are simply hundreds of Deer present, mostly free to roam the grounds of the park and can be touched. They are still a little shy at times but will tolerate the attention they receive.
We arrive a little late to see the seal show, which starts at 11.30 & 13.30, but we did go to visit them just to watch them swim around, but could not find any, and I have no idea where they were hidden. At the Hippopotamus pen you can feed the Hippo's for free with clumps of grass that have been placed on the bridge over their pool of water.
Feeding times
White Tigers - 10.00 & 13.30
Tigers - 10.30 & 14.00
Lions - 11.00 & 14.30
White Lions - 11.30 & 15.00
We arrive a little late to see the seal show, which starts at 11.30 & 13.30, but we did go to visit them just to watch them swim around, but could not find any, and I have no idea where they were hidden. At the Hippopotamus pen you can feed the Hippo's for free with clumps of grass that have been placed on the bridge over their pool of water.
Feeding times
White Tigers - 10.00 & 13.30
Tigers - 10.30 & 14.00
Lions - 11.00 & 14.30
White Lions - 11.30 & 15.00
Khon Kaen Zoo
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Khon Kaen Zoo Deer Park
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Khon Kaen Zoo
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Zoo opening times - 8.00am to 4.30pm
Entrance fee - Thai adults 100 baht, Ferang adults 150 baht, Children 20 baht. Shuttle bus - Adults 25 baht, Children 10 baht Golf carts - 300 baht per hour plus 200 baht deposit. You can drive the golf cart yourself and take 3 other people, or use one of their drivers who will take 3 people. In typical Thai fashion there are plenty of places to sit, relax and buy drinks, snacks and ice cream. The original zoo is where the present day Sky Walk is located, where a number of Zebra, Ostriches and Giraffes were on show. These animals are still here but in far fewer numbers and the Sky Walk is open to visitors for free. This part of the park is very quiet today as the majority visit the main part of the zoo and forget that the Shy Walk exists.
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Khon Kaen Zoo Water Park
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The Khon Kaen Zoo Water Park featuring two adult and one kids’ swimming pool, a whirlpool canal water some 450 meters long, a water slide tower and twisted tube-shaped water slides, provides many thrills and spills, especially as the top of the water slide tower offers a 360 degree birds eye view.
I have not entered the park as it is not really my thing any more but it is very popular with the young Thai's. There are lockers to keep your valuables safe and showers to hose yourself down before and after your 'play time'. |
Khon Kaen Zoo Map
How to get to Khon Kaen Zoo & Water Park
From Udon Thani, head toward Khon Kaen on Highway 2. On arriving at Khao Suan Kwang, just south of the Udon Thani/Khon Kaen District border, take the road to the left at the traffic lights, then when off the highway follow this road and signs to the zoo. The zoo is not well signposted on the highway at the junction although there are signs leading to it.
Geo-coordinates are 16.834957, 102.907873
Geo-coordinates are 16.834957, 102.907873
