Dusit Zoo is a zoo in Bangkok, Thailand. Located at Khao Din Park in Bangkok’s Dusit District next to the Parliament House and Dusit Palace, it is the oldest zoo of Thailand, built by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) as his private garden adjacent to the royal palace. After the king’s death, the garden was left unattended for years.
In 1938, the constitutional government asked King Rama VIII‘s regency council to give this park to the Bangkok City Municipality to be open as a public zoo. The King donated deer and a number of other animals from the palace for public exhibition.
The City of Bangkok operated the zoo until 1954. Since then it has been transferred to the state Zoological Park Organization, which also operates Khao Khiao Open Zoo, Chiang Mai Zoo, Songkhla Zoo and Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo. Dusit Zoo or “Khao Din”, spans a total area of 188,800 square meters and is regarded as the most popular zoo in Thailand, attracting approximately 2.5 million visitors annually.
Dusit Zoo is located in the heart of Bangkok, with over 1600 species of domestic and international animals, including: 331 mammals, 170 reptiles, 849 birds. Animals from far and wide are featured at Dusit Zoo. Different types of monkeys, hippopotamus, alligators, tigers, and lions together with rare breeds (for Thailand) such as penguins, camels, wallabies, and kangaroos are kept here. Some other highlights include African Savanna, an area where giraffes, ostriches, and zebras roam, Nocturnal House, Reptile House, Pheasants Aviary, Hawks Exhibit, Elephants House, and an impressive Play Land, where many rides are available for your children’s laughs and giggles. The park also features an impressive lake, and at a very small fee, you can enjoy boat peddling and feeding the fish at the same time. There’s even a World War II underground shelter near the hippopotamus habitat – a good diversion for those interested in a bit of Thailand’s WW II history.
Highly recommended is the Food Centre, a large and convenient cafeteria where a great variety of local dishes and desserts can be enjoyed. There are also a 7-Eleven, a KFC, a Mama (instant noodles) stand, ice cream parlours and refreshment kiosks dotted around the zoo. You can even bring your own food and have a picnic as there’s plenty of shady gardens and benches.
The park features a large man-made lake in the middle, and various animal zones are placed around it. Large trees and manicured greenery line both sides of the path, providing shaded resting areas throughout. Upon paying the admission fee, you will receive a map detailing all the main attractions and facilities.
Dusit Zoo is expansive, so if you have limited time, it’s a good idea to pick out your areas of interest from the map and go straight to these places. Alternatively, for a quick observation, hop on the tram ride, a mini-train that takes you around the park in a breezy 20 minutes. If time is not your concern, an easy stroll in a clockwise direction is a guarantee that you’ll see everything the park has to offer.
Opening Hours: 08:00 – 18:00
Location: Rama V Road, DusitTel: +66 (0)2 282 7111-3 ext 128
Price Range: Kids THB 50, adults THB 100