Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Opening Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Recommended Visit Time: 3–5 hours

Best Time to Arrive: 9:00–10:00 a.m.

Best For: Families, children, animal lovers

Safari Phnom Penh is a family-friendly wildlife park located on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. The park features zoo exhibits, open-style animal enclosures, and a variety of live animal shows, making it a fun destination for visitors of all ages. Covering approximately 60 hectares, most visitors spend 3–5 hours exploring the park, especially if they plan to watch every live animal show.

The park opens at 9:00 a.m. and closes at 6:00p.m.

One of the highlights of a visit is the live animal shows, which typically begin around 11:00 a.m. and continue throughout the day until approximately 4:00 p.m. To make the most of your visit, it's a good idea to arrive before the first show so you have enough time to explore the exhibits between performances.

Whether you're traveling with family, friends, or on your own, Safari Phnom Penh offers an enjoyable day of wildlife encounters and entertainment.

Pricing

Foreigner entry:
Weekdays Adult $15, Child $8
Weekends Adult $20, Child $10

Cambodian entry:
Weekdays Adult $8, Child (90cm - 120cm) $4
Weekends Adult $10, Child (90cm - 120cm) $5

Cambodian children under 90cm free

Show times:

11:00 Bird Show

11:40 Multiple Animal Show

1:30 Elephant Show

2:40 Crocodile Show

3:40 Orangutan Show

Because exact daily schedules and seasonal showtimes can vary, it is highly recommended to check the specific performance timetable at the main entrance upon arrival.

Tips Before You Visit

Arrive before 11:00 a.m. to catch all of the scheduled animal shows.
Bring cash or a mobile payment option for animal feeding, souvenirs, and snacks. Mobile payments such as ABA are accepted at many locations.
Wear comfortable walking shoes since you'll be exploring a large park.
Bring sunscreen, insect repellent, and a reusable water bottle to stay comfortable in Cambodia's tropical climate.
Plan to spend 3–5 hours to fully enjoy the safari drive, animal encounters, feeding experiences, and shows.
Keep your admission ticket if you plan to leave the park for lunch and return later the same day.

Food

There are several food stalls and a restaurant inside the park selling meals, ice cream, tea, bottled water, and other beverages. The prices are reasonable, making it easy to grab lunch or a snack during your visit.

Outside food is not allowed inside the park. If you bring your own food, you'll need to exit the park to eat before returning to continue your visit.

Things to Do

Look at the Koi Fish Ponds

Near the entrance of the park, you'll find a large koi fish pond filled with dozens of colorful koi. It's one of the first attractions you'll see as you enter and offers a peaceful welcome before you begin exploring the rest of Safari Phnom Penh.

The vibrant koi are fun to watch and make a great spot for photos at the start of your visit.

Feed the Giraffes

One of the highlights of visiting Safari Phnom Penh is feeding the giraffes, including the adorable baby giraffes. Visitors can purchase either a bundle of bananas or water spinach to feed them.

Each bundle costs $1, whether you choose bananas or water spinach. It's a fun, interactive experience and a great opportunity to get up close to these gentle animals while taking memorable photos.

My favorite part of the park was feeding the baby giraffes. They were incredibly gentle and would stretch their long necks toward visitors hoping for another banana.

Watch the Bird Show

The bird show is one of the park's most impressive performances. During the show, the birds demonstrate their intelligence by performing a variety of tricks. One of the highlights is watching them fly directly to audience members, gently take cash from their hands, and return it to their trainers.

It's fascinating to see how well-trained the birds are, and the show is entertaining for both children and adults.

See the Orangutan Show

Before the show begins, you'll find an orangutan sitting on a scooter near the entrance, happily posing for photos. If you hand him some money, he'll politely thank you by pressing his hands together before placing the money into the storage compartment on the front of his scooter. He certainly knows how to pose for the camera!

The orangutan show is one of Safari Phnom Penh's most entertaining attractions. During the performance, the orangutans dance to music, interact with their trainers, and strike funny poses that keep the audience laughing.

The lively atmosphere makes this show enjoyable for visitors of all ages. I recommend arriving a few minutes early to get a good seat.

Feed Some Animals

Besides the giraffes, visitors can also feed rabbits, guinea pigs, and elephants. As you enter the park, you'll first come across the rabbit and guinea pig enclosure, where you can get a closer look at these adorable animals.

For the elephants, bundles of bananas or sugarcane are available for $1 each, allowing visitors to enjoy a fun up-close feeding experience.

Ride the Elephants

For $3 per person, visitors can enjoy a short elephant ride around the designated area. Each elephant can carry up to two adults, or two adults with two young children, depending on the combined weight.

Professional photographers are also available to capture your experience while you're riding.

A Note About Elephant Rides

Elephant rides are a controversial attraction. Many animal welfare organizations have raised concerns about the welfare of elephants used for riding, including how they are trained and whether carrying visitors for long periods can affect their well-being.

I understand these concerns. During my visit, I chose to participate because I was accompanying young children who wanted to experience the ride. From what I personally observed, the elephants appeared clean and well cared for, but I recognize that it's difficult to assess an animal's welfare based on a single visit or appearance alone.

Whether to participate in an elephant ride is a personal decision. If animal welfare is an important consideration for you, it's worth researching the attraction beforehand so you can make the choice that aligns with your values.

Watch the Elephant Show

The elephant show is one of the funniest performances in the park. The elephants dance, play basketball, and they also demonstrate painting with brushes held in their trunks.

One audience member is invited to participate in a special act where the elephants gently massage them with their trunks before carefully stepping over them.

According to local superstition, having an elephant step over you is believed to bring good luck and help remove bad fortune or worries. I was lucky enough to be chosen during our visit, and it was definitely one of the most memorable experiences of the day.

After the show, the elephants gently intertwine their trunks to create a seat where visitors can sit for a souvenir photo. It's a unique photo opportunity and one of the highlights for many visitors before the ride ends.

Watch the Crocodile Show

If you're looking for excitement, don't miss the crocodile show. During the performance, the trainers demonstrate incredible bravery by placing their hands—and even their heads—inside the crocodiles' mouths.

They also pull the crocodiles by their tails into the center of the stage to perform various tricks. Some of the crocodiles appeared a little grumpy after being awakened from their naps, which made the performance even more suspenseful. Watching the trainers work so confidently with these powerful animals was both thrilling and unforgettable.

Final Thoughts

If you're visiting Phnom Penh with children, Safari Phnom Penh is one of the city's best family attractions. Between the interactive animal feedings, entertaining live shows, and opportunities to get close to wildlife, it's easy to spend half a day here.

Although some attractions, such as elephant rides, may not appeal to every visitor, there are still plenty of experiences to enjoy without participating in them.

Overall, I enjoyed my visit and would recommend Safari Phnom Penh to families, first-time visitors to Cambodia, and anyone looking for a fun day surrounded by animals.

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