I'm a little confused. Are these at the same location? Appreciate rants, raves and good to know info. Is the zoo close by other attractions that might make an easy combination.

Different things, different locations.

I'm not into Zoos so I can't comment from personal experience but visitors who have gone have said that the zoo is very good.

In contrast the Night Safari has bad reports and is opposed by many local people.

I have been to both. The zoo is not bad, but not world-class. The pandas are the main attraction. We also really enjoyed watching the monkeys there. It is on the road to Doi Suthep.

The Night Safari was a huge disappointment. Two 40 minute tram rides through artificially created environments, as well as a footpath around a small lake. The collection of wildlife was disappointing, and also sometimes difficult to see. It is outside the city - maybe a 30 minute drive from the center of Chiang Mai.

If you read the tread for Chiangi Mai as I did before going very few even mentioned either and when they did there were no rave reports. Save the few hours for other destinations unless you have 6-7 days there.

If you are an animal lover, skip both of them. Go to the elephant conservation center or the elephant nature park instead.

degas

Seems like it is a rather large place. I read it had a substantial number of birds and some pandas.

http://thailandforvisitors.com/north...zoo/index.html

I echo what Gloria, Stan & JohnH have to say. The Night Safari is supposed to be terrible and the Thais we talked to when we were in CM hate it. We did visit the zoo to see the pandas and it is nothingspecial. We really didn't like the unnatural environment in which the Pandas, by necessity, must be kept in (laboratory temperature & humidity), and they are mostly out of sight & sleeping -- at least in February when we were there. Like others, I strongly suggest you your time at the Elephant Conservation Center. Read KimJapan's posts on the program that she and her family enjoyed there for a few days.

Thanks for the feedback. Looks like the night safari is a pass for sure, but we MAY try to do the zoo, if we extend our time in CM. LW has a real sweet spot for pandas.

Degas - I have a soft spot for pandas too (well who doesn't??) and actually left CM zoo feeling more frustrated than anything - agree with previous post that the controled environment wass off-putting (but necessary I guess), and they slept the entire time we were there.

We had better views of them looking at their photos outside the entrance...

I loved seeing the pandas! I had to squeeze in only a brief visit on the way back from Doi Suthep, arriving less than an hour before the zoo's late afternoon closing time. They were very active, frisking with each other, munching bamboo and chewing on pieces of softwood. I would imagine that the time of your visit would be an important factor in how active the pandas are; many types of animals take a siesta in the heat of the day. I took lots of pictures of the pandas, one of which is here:
http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/View...amp;p=72254387

(Btw, I have read elsewhere that the zoo is planning to house the pandas in separate quarters in the future to encourage them to mate, as they think that their proximity has led the pair to relate to each others more as siblngs than mates!)