Pattaya Zoo: Your Ultimate Family Guide for 2025

Pattaya's zoos let visitors get close to more than 8,000 animals in their natural habitats. The main facility features 800 hectares of wild jungle that houses many rare species from the Red Book.

The tiger zoo stands out among Pattaya's best wildlife attractions. Visitors can spend 15 minutes with these majestic cats while expert handlers ensure safety. These wildlife parks give families a chance to feed different animals and watch shows where animals perform naturally without trainers. Our complete guide covers the best Pattaya zoos and provides helpful visiting tips. You'll find details about family-friendly facilities to plan your wildlife adventure in 2025.

Top 5 Pattaya Zoos Worth Visiting in 2025

Pattaya's wildlife attractions give families a chance to meet animals in different settings. Here are the five best animal destinations you should add to your 2025 itinerary, ranging from sprawling nature reserves to cosy farm experiences.

Khao Kheow Open Zoo: The Natural Habitat Experience

Khao Kheow Open Zoo reigns as Pattaya's premier wildlife destination with its impressive 2,000-acre natural landscape. This sanctuary houses over 8,000 animals from more than 300 species. The zoo's habitat-focused design features several themed zones, including a two-acre African savannah where zebras, impalas, and rhinos roam freely. Visitors can walk through an aviary filled with 80+ bird species. The Night Safari lets you watch nocturnal wildlife in action. An electric golf cart rental (750 THB for two hours) makes it easier to explore this massive park.

Sriracha Tiger Zoo: Tigers and Crocodiles Galore

Sriracha Tiger Zoo has reopened for 2025 after its temporary COVID-19 closure, showcasing its famous tigers and over 10,000 crocodiles. Visitors can enjoy entertaining shows with tiger performances and crocodile demonstrations. The zoo's unique exhibits show tigers nursed by pigs and tigers caring for piglets, which create amazing photo opportunities.

Tiger Park Pattaya: Up-Close Big Cat Encounters

Tiger Park Pattaya gives visitors the region's most intimate big cat experience. The park cares for over 300 tigers and lets guests spend 10-15 minutes in their enclosure. Kids under 15 can only interact with the smallest tigers and babies. A mini forest safari shows tigers swimming and playing in their natural environment.

Pattaya Sheep Farm: Perfect for Young Children

Thailand's biggest sheep farm welcomes young children with gentle animal experiences. This 100+ Rai property houses alpacas, Sika deer, goats, and ponies alongside its sheep population. Horse-drawn carriage rides through shady fields and animal feeding sessions are kids' favourites. The farm also features carnival rides, a trampoline, and play areas. Adult tickets cost 80-100 baht, while children's tickets are 50 baht.

Pipo Pony Club: Equestrian Adventures for Kids

Pipo Pony Club charms children with its collection of Shetland ponies brought from the United Kingdom. The club's fairy-tale setting includes a castle entrance and gardens filled with Smurf and My Little Pony characters. A Mongolian stunt group performs exciting acrobatic horse shows three times daily (10:30, 14:00, and 16:30). The club's terrarium houses exotic reptiles too.

Planning Your Zoo Visit: Practical Tips for Families

Planning a family zoo adventure in Pattaya needs some homework. Let me share what I learnt about the best times to visit, how to get there, and what it costs.

Best Seasons to Visit Pattaya Zoos

January is perfect for zoo visits with a comfortable 79°F and just one rainy day. The crowds are thinnest this month, which means shorter lines and a better chance to watch the animals. The weather stays pleasant from November through February – great for outdoor adventures.

Stay away from September when it rains 21 days – the wettest month you'll see. October brings the biggest crowds of the year, which might not be ideal for your family's visit.

Transportation Options and Parking

The trip to Khao Kheow Open Zoo from central Pattaya takes about 45-60 minutes and covers 48 kilometres. Drivers should budget €4-€7 for fuel.

Families without cars have several options. A round-trip taxi runs between 1,300 and 1,900 THB, depending on the car size. Public transport won't take you directly to Khao Kheow Open Zoo. You'll need to catch a public bus to Sriracha for 100 THB first, then grab a taxi from there.

Tiger Park Pattaya sits closer to town – just a 30-minute taxi ride from the city centre.

Ticket Prices and Family Packages

Khao Kheow Open Zoo charges 350 THB for adults and 120 THB for kids. Some sources list lower rates at 250 THB and 100 THB, respectively.

Tiger Park Pattaya's prices depend on how close you want to get to the tigers. Entry starts at 200 THB, while tiger interaction packages range from 690 to 4,500 THB.

Booking tickets online helps you skip the entrance lines and sometimes saves you money. Each park has its own rules for kids – some let infants under 100cm in free, while children between 101 and 135 cm get discounted rates.

Family-Friendly Facilities at Pattaya Zoos

Your family's comfort during zoo visits depends on what's available at Pattaya zoos. Let me share my experience with family-friendly facilities that make wildlife adventures enjoyable, especially with kids.

Stroller Accessibility and Rental Services

Pattaya's zoos are great for families who need mobility support, though services vary between locations. Tiger Park Pattaya's grounds let you move around easily with strollers. The tiger encounter areas aren't wheelchair accessible, so you'll need to plan ahead if anyone in your group has mobility needs. Sriracha Tiger Zoo also gives you stroller access and sits close to public transport. Families flying in will find specialised baby equipment rental services that bring strollers right to where they're staying. These services give you pushchairs, travel cots, and car seats—which helps save space in your luggage and money on airline fees.

Dining Options and Rest Areas

You'll need places to rest and eat after spending hours watching animals. Khao Kheow Open Zoo has a complete food court next to peaceful lakeside spots. Tiger Park Pattaya keeps families comfortable with cool, quiet rest zones in just the right places. You can choose between an international buffet restaurant and a café with reasonable prices. Some zoos let you bring your own food to enjoy at designated picnic spots surrounded by nature.

Baby Care Facilities

Taking care of babies while travelling needs the right facilities. Most Pattaya zoos manage to keep their restrooms and baby changing areas clean. The specialised rental services in town are a great way to get essentials like mosquito repellents, bottle sanitisers, swim nappies, and branded baby foods. These services put safety first and sanitise all equipment before delivery. If you're staying longer, rental companies will pick up and deliver anywhere in Pattaya, so you can focus on enjoying the zoo instead of worrying about logistics.

Making the Most of Your Zoo Experience

A regular zoo visit becomes an unforgettable adventure with interactive experiences. Let me show you how to make the most of your time at Pattaya's wildlife attractions.

Animal Feeding Opportunities

Kids and adults love feeding animals at Pattaya's zoos. Khao Kheow Open Zoo has designated feeding areas in several spots, including Wildlife Wonderland, where you can get close to birds and small mammals. The Eld's Deer Park stands out as a special spot where families can buy food and feed these gentle creatures. Sriracha Tiger Zoo's feeding sessions are best enjoyed in the morning when crowds are smaller, and you'll get better chances to talk with the carers.

Must-See Shows and Demonstrations

Each Pattaya zoo has its own unique animal shows you should plan your visit around:

• Khao Kheow Open Zoo runs three daily shows on holidays (11:00 AM, 12:30 PM, 2:30 PM) and two shows on weekdays.  The Flying Parade shows off exotic birds at 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM, while the Penguin Parade happens at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM, with an extra 3:30 PM show on weekends.
• Sriracha Tiger Zoo puts on tiger shows, pig races, elephant performances, and crocodile demonstrations. These shows mix fun with learning about animal conservation.

Photography Tips and Best Spots

Great zoo photos come from positioning yourself with natural light behind you. Wire mesh enclosures need special camera tricks: set your widest aperture, use your longest focal length, and keep your lens close to the fence without touching it. Khao Kheow's African Savannah area gives you amazing shots of giraffes, zebras, and rhinos in their open habitat.

Guided Tours vs. Self-Exploration

You can explore at your own pace with self-guided tours. Guided tours are a great way to get behind-the-scenes details about the animals. Families with kids should consider Khao Kheow's electric tram or golf cart rental, especially since the zoo spreads across 144 square kilometres. Night safaris from 6:00 to 8:45 PM let you see how animals behave after dark.

Conclusion

Pattaya's zoos give families an experience that goes beyond watching animals. My visits to these places showed me how they blend fun, learning, and adventure in unique ways. Khao Kheow Open Zoo impresses everyone with its natural habitats, while Tiger Park Pattaya lets kids get close to big cats in ways they'll never forget.

The right timing can make your zoo visit even better. The cooler weather from November to February provides perfect conditions to explore outdoors.