Chiang Mai Night Safari

Lonely Planet review

One of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's projects, the slick Night Safari has obviously had a lot of money spent on it. It's caused much controversy throughout its creation - primary of which is its location on 1.3 million sq km of Doi Suthep National Park land, and the consequential (and as yet unassessed) environmental impact it may have.

In the evening, you can go through the parkland on an open-sided bus on either the 'Savannah Safari' (wildebeests, giraffes, white rhinoceroses, zebras etc) or the 'Predator Prowl' (tigers, lions, Asiatic black bears, crocodiles etc). The more dangerous animals are separated from the bus by deep trenches; other animals sometimes come right up close. Afterwards an impressive water show, accompanied by the King's Jazz, is held at the 'Swan Lake'.

During the day, the Jaguar Trail around the same lake is a pleasant 1.2km walk where the 50 species (ranging from rabbits to orangutans) are generally not in cages. The breeding of animals has been a success here, with the recent addition of two black leopards and four lion cubs. It costs ฿30 by sǎwngthǎew to get to the Night Safari from town.