Crocs, tigers and elephants - Samui for the animal lover
By Sarah Duffy
Samui isn’t just for tourists
Instead of spending your entire Samui break lounging on the idyllic Cheweng Beach, why not take a day away from the sands to check out some of the island’s animal attractions. Best visited on tours, in groups or as a family, the island’s animal shows and farms provide a fun alternative to Samui’s other, largely water-based highlights.
Not just for kids, Samui’s animal highlights are as diverse as the creatures they exhibit and include an aquarium, a butterfly garden, a crocodile farm and monkey shows. All of Samui’s animal attractions are well signposted and easy to get to by taxi, hire car or scooter, should you visit them independently of a tour, and many are within a short drive of each other meaning you can visit more than one in a day.
For those short on time looking for a taste of the island’s natural side, a Samui safari is the best way to get up close with elephants, monkeys, crocodiles, and even tigers. There are a number of outfitters on the island providing rugged jeep tours into the hinterland that will take you to two or three of the island’s animal attractions over the course of half a day or a full day.
Elephants are prized among Thais and these gentle beasts can be seen in action performing all kinds of feats on Samui. Watch them compete in a game or football or play musical instruments to the delight of surprised audiences. If you want to get even closer, try your hand at elephant trekking through the interior jungle and take in the natural surroundings at an easy pace. The elephant camp at Namuang Safari Park near Namuang is one of the best places to start an elephant trek.
Monkeys are traditionally used in Thailand to help farm coconuts and monkey shows can give you insight into how these dexterous creatures work. At the Monkey Theatre near Bophut visitors can feed the monkeys and have their photo taken with them after the show, offering an unforgettable experience. There are also a number of other monkey attractions on the island, usually indicated by a sign ‘monkey work coconut’ by the side of the road.
For the brave, a close up look at Samui’s rare Siam and saltwater crocodiles may appeal. These dangerous animals and their keepers will wow you with their skill and bravery as they perform in extreme shows. There is also a mini zoo onsite for a peek at some of Thailand’s other native animals and reptiles. The crocodile farm can be found behind the airport.
Monkeys help harvest coconuts
Another crowd-puller is the snake farm in Talingngam. Housing snakes as well as reptiles, the farm offers a number of poisonous and deadly species to gawk at. The shows that unfold might seem to compromise onlookers and handlers safety, but visitors can rest assured the farm meets exceptional safety standards and that the animals are not injured in any of the demonstrations.
If all those snapping jaws and fangs have you feeling jumpy, there’s no better place to head than the island’s butterfly farm in the southeast of Samui. Here you will have the chance to see some of the region’s beautiful specimens at close range as well as to learn about their breeding cycles in a natural environment.
For further relaxation, Paradise Island in the centre of Samui is one of the island’s newest animal attractions and spans 20 acres. Inhabited by a number of friendly animals such as deer, ponies, birds, emus and goats, kids and adults alike can wander the park and gardens for a relaxing day amid serene nature.
Samui is also known for its buffalo fighting, but if you would rather enjoy these animals while they are not sweating it out in battle, the Living Thailand Buffalo Show en route to Ban Thale exhibits buffalos at work paddy ploughing and offers rides in buffalo-drawn carts. These hard-working animals are much respected by Thais and were traditionally used in rice farming, with buffalos numbering six million just 20 years ago before farming machinery began to take over.
Those who enjoy getting in the water can discover Samui’s underwater life on a snorkelling or diving expedition. If you don’t have time to get in the water, a trip to Samui Aquarium and Tiger Zoo is a good alternative. Sharks, colourful fish and coral, and turtles all call the aquarium home and can be observed from a Plexiglas tunnel. The highlight of the complex, however, is the magnificent Bengal tiger show hosted daily.
Monkey Theatre show times: 10:30, 14:00 and 16:00 daily
Snake farm show times: 11:00 and 14:00 daily
Samui Aquarium and Tiger Zoo show times: 13:00 daily
Crocodile farm show times: 14:00 and 16:30 daily
