I went to the Phuket Zoo in September 2009. The zoo is quite small however it is very interactive and you have a chance to get up close with the animals.

To get to the zoo I caught a taxi from Patong Beach costing 450 baht return. We found a taxi driver in the street and had to haggle to negotiate a price and pick up time. We opted to find our own way to the zoo rather than going on a tour. The tour which included transport and entry fee was 700 baht however it was restrictive as you only had a few hours to spend there.

The price of the zoo entry fee was 500 baht for adults or 300 baht for kids.

Inside the zoo you notice the small cement cages and the animals inside. There are a variety of animals including monkeys, rabbits, birds and fish. There is also an aquarium which you enter through a crocodile’s mouth which showcases different fish species. 

Getting close and personal to the animals and getting your photo taken is a fantastic part of the zoo experience. I rode on an elephant with it performing tricks. If you are brave enough there is an adult tiger that you have the opportunity to sit next to and by request they also have a baby tiger that you get to hold and have photos taken with. The baby tiger I held was no bigger than a small dog and was very cute and fluffy with blue eyes. There are exotic birds you can have sit on your arms as well as an orangutan who will do poses and give you hugs. The cost of each photo is 200 baht.

There are 3 shows of monkeys, elephants and crocodiles that are scheduled at certain times of the day. The monkey show was ok where the monkey’s perform math tricks, play basketball, ride a tricycle and jump hurdles. At the end of the show there is also a photo opportunity where you get to have your picture taken with the monkeys. There was also a baby monkey that I got to hold and have photos with. 

In the elephant show the elephants peformed many tricks such as standing on logs, paint pictures (which were quite amazing), ride a modified bicycle and kick soccer balls in a goal. The crocodile show was a bit nerve racking as the handlers placed their heads in the crocodiles mouths and poke them around with sticks.

Overall, the zoo was a good experience. Its a bit sad to see such the animals in small cages however I like to think that the zoo is a work in progress and will eventually expand to house the animals in bigger more natural enclosures.