Samphran Elephant Ground & Zoo
Trip Start
Unknown
1
11
27
Trip End
Ongoing
Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand
Sunday, April 27, 2008
The highlight is undoubtedly the Elephant Theme Show. The show was all encompassing and gave better value for money. What I particularly liked from the start was the use of English narration and dramatic sound effects.
During the show, we saw how the elephants are not only revered by the Thai people, but how useful the elephants have been throughout their history. We were given demonstrations of how they caught elephants in the wild. Then how they were used for logging by picking up tree trunks with the help of their tusks and then pulling them along the ground. Next came some light humour with the Elephant World Cup. A herd of elephants came on wearing team colours for various countries. They did some various party tricks like picking up objects on the ground while racing down a course and dancing to disco music. They also tried some head stands. But the highlight was a penalty shootout using giant balls. After scoring a goal, it got down on its knees and did a good impression of a footballer doing a victory dance.
The climax of the show was the big battle between the Siamese and Burmese armies. In the olden days, the kings fought on elephant back. Everything was recreated for the show in fine detail from the battle gear of the elephants to the uniforms of the soldiers. The show was certainly dramatic with not only the sword fighting but also the loud explosions. If you are going to the show with young children, you should get them to cover their ears for this part. At the conclusion of the show, there is an opportunity for you to go closer and take a picture with the giant elephants. If you like, you can also buy sugar cane or a bunch of bananas to feed the elephants for only 10 baht. There is also an opportunity here to ride around the arena on the back of the elephant for only 70 baht.
Around the back of the park is a new area where you can have a longer elephant ride which lasts about 20 minutes. They take you around the garden and then passing through a dramatic waterfall and along an artificial river. This has been beautifully created and together with the colour flowers gives a colourful backdrop for any photo.
We arrived at the park at about 11.45 a.m. During weekdays, the first scheduled show is the Crocodile Wrestling Show at 12.45 p.m. So we had timed this right. While we waited, we wandered around to see what else was on offer. Near the entrance, there is an opportunity to have your picture taken with two tigers that were born at the park. This costs 100 baht for up to four people in one photo. They give you one print for this though you can use your own camera to take as many pictures as you like. Nearby were about half a dozen young elephants that were chained to the ground. Each elephant had a keeper to look after its needs. Nong Grace was a bit nervous to go near them at first, but the trainer encouraged her by saying that they wouldn't hurt. Surprisingly, she even went on an elephant ride around the park which she never wanted to do before.
The crocodile show lasted about 20 minutes. The audience certainly loved it as there were gasps of horror and nervous laughter at all the right times. As soon as the show finished, we then made our way over to the elephant ground for the show that I already talked about. Before this, they put on a magic show which was entertaining for the kids. This started at 1.15 p.m. and then the elephant show at 1.45 p.m. So, you basically go from one show to the next without a break.
After the last show, we wandered around some more, looking at the crocodiles in the pens and also the beautiful orchids. Nong Grace also had a great time playing on the swings in the playground. The entrance fee for the park is quite high at 500 baht for adults and 300 baht for children. The Thai price is 80 baht for adults and 40 baht for children. It is a little sneakily that they don't show the Thai price at the ticket office. In the end we spent over five hours there!
Samphran is on the main highway out of Bangkok on the way to Nakhon Pathom. It is very near the Rose Garden and Don Wai Floating Market. You could visit here after going to Damnoen Saduak in the morning. Or go to Nakhon Pathom in the morning and then stop here on the way back. You can either go here by yourself by bus or join tours from Bangkok. Visit our sister site at www.Bangkok-Daytrips.com for more excursion ideas.
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