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Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center

4.3
·658 reviews·Thmor Sor, Cambodia

A sanctuary for rescued wildlife, offering close encounters with elephants, monkeys, and diverse animals.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Afternoon

Animals are more active

CrowdMedium
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Join the Wildlife Alliance tour to meet Chhouk, the only elephant in Cambodia with a prosthesis

Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center

Best Time

Afternoon

Animals are more active

CrowdMedium
Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

A sanctuary for rescued wildlife, offering close encounters with elephants, monkeys, and diverse animals. Reddit

4.3
(658 reviews)

"A fantastic family outing with unforgettable wildlife encounters! Reddit"

Vertical photo
TIP

🚗 Tuk-Tuk for Convenience

Hiring a tuk-tuk is a popular and easy way to get to and from the center. :oncoming_taxi:

🥜 Bring Animal Snacks

Peanuts and mangoes are great for feeding the monkeys and deer! :peanuts:

Third hero image

Quick Facts

Rating

4.3 · 730 reviews

Type

Wildlife Park

👶 Good for kids

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Lucky the Elephant

Lucky the Elephant

Elephant enclosure

Meet and feed Lucky, the resident elephant, a unique opportunity for close interaction.

Reddit
Playful Monkeys

Playful Monkeys

Various open areas

Observe and interact with numerous friendly and cheeky monkeys, often eager for treats.

Reddit
Diverse Wildlife Encounters

Diverse Wildlife Encounters

Animal enclosures

See a variety of animals, including deer and other rescued wildlife, in a naturalistic setting.

Reddit
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Planning Your Visit

Getting There & Entry

Plan your transport to Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center from Phnom Penh. While buses are an option, many visitors opt for tuk-tuks or scooters for convenience. Entry is a modest $5 for foreigners, with additional costs for animal food and refreshments. Reddit

Animal Interaction & Conditions

While some areas might appear less maintained, the center focuses on rescuing and caring for injured animals. You can feed some animals like monkeys and deer, but feeding caged animals is restricted, except for Lucky the Elephant. Reddit

Best Times

When
Afternoon
Why
Animals are more active
Crowd
Medium
When
Weekdays
Why
Fewer crowds, more relaxed
Crowd
Low

Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

Visit the zoo and come play with our otters!
@texaswildlifepark
486.1K likes • 4.2M views

🚗 Tuk-Tuk for Convenience

Hiring a tuk-tuk is a popular and easy way to get to and from the center. Reddit :oncoming_taxi:

🥜 Bring Animal Snacks

Peanuts and mangoes are great for feeding the monkeys and deer! Reddit :peanuts:

បន្ទាប់ពីខ្វះភាពកក់ក្ដៅពីម្ដាយ ពេលនេះអូនលំផាត់ មានប៉ា សល់នឹងប៉ាសី ដែលនៅមើលថែ🤍🙏 Thank you everyone for love and care oun Lomphat🐘🫶and also thank you Lomphat for made Phnom Tamoa Zoo popular again 🎀🐘 Lomphat making everyone smile 😊#lomphat #lomphatelephant #cambodia #elephant #phnomtamaozoo #លំផាត់
@isme_micha.he_him
409.4K likes • 3.7M views
🇺🇸 In 2015, Anne visited the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center in Cambodia to create a TimeShrine dedicated to the tiger, the most trafficked predator. She wanted to recount the vital importance of these magnificent creatures. It was a tough challenge and as you can see became an incredible collaboration. Today, more tigers live in captivity than in the wild. For every one of the 4500 tigers st...
oneplanetonefuture
0 likes • 358 views

💧 Stay Hydrated

Vendors sell cool drinks and ice cream, but bringing your own water is wise. Reddit :droplet:

🚶‍♀️ Wear Comfortable Shoes

You'll be doing a lot of walking around the center. Reddit :athletic_shoe:

Vacation memory from December 2018: Meet Lucky of Phnom Penh, Cambodia I met Lucky the elephant at the behind-the-scenes tour of the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center, located about a 60-minute drive from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. She's a rescue who had been with the center for a couple of years, got along very well with her Mahout (handler), and enjoyed her morning walk so much that she allowed a f...
danilew_1
135 likes • 3.6K views

Tips

from all over the internet

🚗 Tuk-Tuk for Convenience

Hiring a tuk-tuk is a popular and easy way to get to and from the center. Reddit :oncoming_taxi:

🥜 Bring Animal Snacks

Peanuts and mangoes are great for feeding the monkeys and deer! Reddit :peanuts:

💧 Stay Hydrated

Vendors sell cool drinks and ice cream, but bringing your own water is wise. Reddit :droplet:

🚶‍♀️ Wear Comfortable Shoes

You'll be doing a lot of walking around the center. Reddit :athletic_shoe:

What Travellers Say

4.3
(658 reviews)

Reviews Summary

Visitors generally praise Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center for its affordable entry and the opportunity to see rescued animals up close, particularly elephants and monkeys. While some note that certain areas might appear less maintained, the overall sentiment is positive, highlighting the center's conservation efforts and its suitability as a family-friendly day trip. Reddit

"We love animals and interacting and had an awesome time here today. We spent about 3 hours walking mostly around the complex. Plenty of friendly and cheeky wild monkeys and vendors selling cool drinks and ice creams and food for the animals. You can’t feed the caged animals except for Lucky the Elephant it seems. But there were monkeys and deer who appreciated peanuts and mango and cane.
We had read that it was rundown and the museum was closed but we still loved seeing the animals being well fed and cared for.
We didn’t do a tour - just hired a tuk tuk and paid the USD $5 entry fee each. Spent another $10 on drinks and animal food."

Rachel B

"PTWRC is a fantastic family outing! We had a wonderful time, and seeing so many diverse wildlife animals up close was an unforgettable experience, especially for my daughter. Highly recommended for a fun and memorable day."

KPisey HENG

"Little to less animals in poor conditions. But they are helping injured animals, so it's okey"

Jan Saksa

What People Like

Affordable entry fee
Close animal encounters
Conservation focus

What People Dislike

Some areas appear rundown

Frequently Asked Questions

🚇 🗺️ Getting There

You can hire a tuk-tuk for a round trip, which is a popular and convenient option. Scooters are also a good choice if you're comfortable riding. Some travelers have inquired about bus options, but private transport is generally recommended for ease of access. Reddit

The journey typically takes about an hour from the city center, depending on traffic conditions. Reddit

The roads are generally nice until you get close to the zoo, where they can become loose gravel. Reddit

Yes, taxis are available and can be hired for the trip. Negotiate the fare beforehand. :oncoming_taxi:

If you arrange a round trip with your tuk-tuk or taxi driver, returning is straightforward. Otherwise, you may need to arrange transport in advance. :oncoming_taxi:

🎫 🎫 Tickets & Entry

The entry fee for foreigners is approximately $5 USD per person. Reddit

Information on local or child discounts is not widely available, but the foreigner price is considered affordable. 🎟️

No, tickets can typically be purchased upon arrival at the entrance. 🎟️

The center is generally open daily, but it's advisable to check for the most current hours before your visit. :clock1:

While you can bring your own water, vendors inside sell refreshments. Specific rules about outside food may apply. 🍽️

🎫 🧭 Onsite Experience

You can see a variety of rescued animals including elephants, monkeys, deer, and other wildlife. Reddit

You can feed some animals like monkeys and deer with approved food. Feeding caged animals is generally not permitted, except for Lucky the Elephant. Reddit :peanuts:

While some areas might appear less maintained, the center focuses on rescuing and caring for injured animals, and many appear healthy. Reddit

Most visitors spend around 3 hours exploring the center. Reddit

Yes, it's considered a fantastic family outing with memorable wildlife encounters for children. Reddit :familymanwomangirlboy:

📸 📸 Photography

The areas with the monkeys and deer offer great opportunities for candid shots. Interacting with Lucky the Elephant also makes for memorable photos. :camerawithflash:

Yes, photography is generally allowed throughout the center. Be mindful of any specific signage regarding flash photography near certain animals. :camerawithflash:

You can get quite close to some animals like monkeys and deer, especially when feeding them. For others, enclosures will dictate the distance. :camerawithflash:

A standard zoom lens is versatile for capturing various animals. If you want to get closer shots, a telephoto lens can be useful. :camerawithflash:

Drone usage is typically not permitted in wildlife sanctuaries to avoid disturbing the animals. :noentrysign:

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