Phuket Zoo

In short

Phuket Zoo works for families with children and for groups of adults equally: the tropical wildlife and the animal shows — elephants, monkeys and even crocodiles — hold most people's attention regardless of age.

The zoo is near Chalong Circle and opens 8:30 to 18:00. There are dozens of enclosures with a wide range of animals, and you can feed most of them: drop 20 baht into the feed dispenser and help yourself.

There is a small aquarium, entered through what looks like a crocodile's open jaws, and an orchid garden with a great many varieties of the flower. Elsewhere on the grounds you will find a fish pond and a set of statues that includes an Egyptian sphinx and a Chinese dragon. It is a photogenic place.

The real draw, though, is the shows. Come early if you want the seats nearest the arena. The monkey show is genuinely funny — the performers ride bicycles, play basketball and work through arithmetic problems, pulling faces for the audience throughout. The crocodile show is a more serious affair, with handlers performing some risky routines.

The elephant show is the most popular of the three: the animals pass a football between them, dance, and demonstrate a certain amount of artistic talent. Each show runs several times a day, so you are unlikely to miss any of them.

We are glad to arrange the transfer here, and to any of the other places worth seeing on the island.