Chiang Mai Night Safari is a large wildlife park on the southwest edge of the city. The main event is the evening tram ride: two loops through open paddocks where giraffes, zebras, rhinos, lions and tigers are lit just enough to see after dark. A lakeside walking trail, a few short shows and a musical fountain fill the rest of the night.
It’s an easy evening out for families, and it works for older parents too, because the trams do most of the moving. The part people underestimate is getting back to the hotel after 9 pm, so that gets its own section below.
Hours, tram departures and show times change with the season. The times below come from the park’s schedule dated 1 September 2026, so check chiangmainightsafari.com before you go.
What to see at Chiang Mai Night Safari
The park is laid out around a lake. You see two zones from a tram and one on foot, and the shows happen around the lake and the main plaza.
Savanna Safari tram: giraffes, zebras and rhinos
The first tram loop runs through the grazing animals. The park map lists giraffes, zebras, white rhinos, wildebeest, red kangaroos, hippos, bison and several kinds of deer. The park describes this as the zone for seeing animals up close.
Predator Prowl tram: tigers, lions and bears
The second loop is the predator side: tigers (including white tigers), lions, hyenas, pumas, bears and crocodiles. Both loops together take about an hour, and trams leave every 30 minutes.
Three things to know before you queue:
- The two loops start from separate stations on opposite sides of the lake. Check the sign before you join a line.
- According to the park’s schedule, each loop can be ridden once per ticket. The same applies to the tiger show and the wild animal show, so choose your departure with some thought.
- The park runs commentary in Thai and in English. Ask at the station which departure is in English.
Jaguar Trail: the walking zone
The Jaguar Trail is a 1.2 km path around the lake with more than 50 species, including jaguars, clouded leopards, leopards, fishing cats, binturongs, flamingos, lemurs, otters and meerkats. Tiger World, a smaller zone of tiger species, sits next to it. On the current schedule both are open 11:00–20:00, so they close well before the last trams. If you want to walk the trail, do it first.
Evening shows and the musical fountain
Most shows run between 18:00 and 21:00. The 1 September 2026 schedule lists:
- Musical fountain show on the lake: 18:15, 19:15, 20:45
- Dancing show by the lake: 18:00, 19:00, 20:00
- Wild animal show (the park’s night predator show): 16:30, 18:35, 20:15
- Tiger show: 15:30, 17:30, 19:30. It was paused for renovation in 2025, so confirm it’s running on your day.
- Cowboy show and petting zoo: 18:00, 19:00
- Photos with small animals: 17:30–20:30, Friday to Sunday and Thai public holidays only
How to get to Chiang Mai Night Safari (and back)
No public bus runs directly to the park. Getting there is easy whichever way you go. Getting back after 9 pm is where the options differ.
Grab or Bolt. The simplest way there. On the way back, a lot of people leave at once after the last shows, and some visitors report long waits or no cars at all late in the evening. Leave a little before the crowd and keep your phone charged.
Red truck (songthaew). Flag one down in the city and agree the fare before you get in. For the return, reviewers say red trucks sometimes wait by the car park at night, but it isn’t guaranteed, and a shared truck may wait until it fills up. Climbing in and out of the back is also harder for older passengers.
Your own or a rental car. Straightforward, with two car parks along the entrance road. Just remember the drive back is in the dark, at the end of a long day.
Car with driver. Hiring a car with driver for the evening means someone picks you up at the hotel, waits while you’re inside and drives you back. It’s the least stressful option with tired kids or older parents, but arrange it in advance. Park entry is separate: you buy tickets at the gate or on the park’s official website.
When to go
Time of day. On the current schedule, night trams leave every 30 minutes from 17:30 (Predator Prowl) and 18:00 (Savanna Safari), with the last departures between 21:00 and 21:30. The ticket office closes at 21:00. A relaxed plan: arrive around 16:30–17:00, walk the Jaguar Trail while there’s still some light, eat something, then ride the trams after dark and catch a fountain show in between.
There are also afternoon tram departures, 14:30–16:00 on the current schedule. It isn’t the night experience, but it’s an option if your children go to bed early.
Day of the week. Weekends and Thai public holidays are busier. Weekday evenings are calmer.
Season.
- November to February: cool, dry evenings and the busiest months. Bring a light jacket.
- March and April: burning season. Smoke haze can be heavy, so check the air quality on the day before committing to an evening outdoors.
- May to October: green season. Evening rain is common, so pack a rain jacket.
Chiang Mai Night Safari tips
- Get an outer seat. Board near the front of the queue so you can choose. Animals appear on both sides of the tram.
- Skip the flash. It disturbs the animals and rarely helps the photo. A phone in night mode does better.
- Bring mosquito repellent, comfortable shoes for the trail, water and a light layer.
- Plan dinner. The park lists simple food: omelette on rice, sticky rice with grilled pork, sausages, buns and popcorn, plus vending machines. For a proper meal, eat before you arrive or on the way back.
- With kids. An afternoon nap helps. The petting zoo and the cowboy show suit small children, and the small-animal photos run Friday to Sunday. If you hire a car, ask for child seats when you book.
- With older parents. The trams cover most of the ground. The park says its visitor routes have wheelchair passageways, along with accessible toilets, parking and ramps, and a first-aid room with a nurse on duty during opening hours. If a late night is too much, the afternoon trams are an alternative.
Combine it with nearby places
The Night Safari sits next to Royal Park Rajapruek, the large royal gardens on the city’s southwest side. The gardens are a daytime visit (they generally close at 18:00), so the two pair well: gardens in the afternoon, trams after dark.
Baan Tawai, a woodcarving and handicraft village also in Hang Dong district, is another daytime option. Shops keep their own hours, so go earlier in the day.
FAQ
Do I need to book Night Safari tickets in advance? The park says you don’t need to book a time slot online. You can buy tickets at the gate or on its official ticket website. Prices change, so check the official site for current ones.
Can older visitors or wheelchair users manage it? The trams are seated, and the park says its routes have wheelchair passageways. The Jaguar Trail (1.2 km) is the main walk, and you can skip it.
Can we go in the afternoon instead? Yes. Afternoon trams run 14:30–16:00 on the current schedule. You’ll miss the night atmosphere and most of the evening shows.
How do I get back to the city at night? Grab, Bolt or a red truck can work, but waits can be long after 9 pm. If you’d rather not deal with it, arrange your ride back before you go.
Questions before you go?
Questions about visiting? Message us on WhatsApp.
Photos are stock images for illustration and were not taken at Chiang Mai Night Safari.
