Chiang Mai (Northern Thailand) Tourist Guide


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Mae Sa Snake Farm

Text: Finley B. Luge
Images: Karin, Apirak

Travel just 20 minutes by car north of Chiang Mai and you will come to the Mae Sa Valley, an area filled with a wonderful array of activities and attractions. In addition to the beautiful nature highlights of the ten-tiered waterfalls and Queen Sikirt Botanical Gardens are the action-packed X-Centre, where you can enjoy bungy jumping, go-kart racing and paintballing amongst other adrenaline fuelled extreme sports, the charming Elephant Camp and a selection of animal shows. One such show is at the Mae Sa Snake farm, which has been in the business of putting on snake shows for over twenty years now.

Situated 3km along the Mae Rim to Samoeng Road, the farm not only displays over 300 snakes from all over the country, but is involved with in-depth studies and research regarding the breeding of snakes. Whether attending the morning or one of the two afternoon shows, time should be put aside to roam around the enclosures that contain snakes such as the green pit viper, gray cat-eyed snake, golden tree snake, banded krait, Siamese Russell viper and long-nosed whip snake, as well as iguanas, peacocks and crocodiles.

Towards the back of the compound can also be found chickens and rabbits, which one can only imagine are not there simply for public viewing….

"Can't smile whilst taking a picture" is perhaps not something you'd expect to hear at such a fun orientated show. However with one Asiatic rat snake in each hand, and another in his mouth, the witty, dead pan narrator was simply making a factual statement as to the "snake-man's" inability to smile whilst onlookers snapped away impressed with this feat of bravery. A pair of Siamese cobras are the first snakes to be tamed by the highly skilled snake handlers, who initially attempt to bite him, but later are so sedate he is able to plant kisses on their heads. With only three cases in twenty years of actual snake bites during performances, it is safe to say these guys know what they are doing. Although, as the narrator is at pains to repeatedly point out, bite victims have no more than an hour to get to hospital before dying, the poison from one bite strong enough to kill one elephant, 1,000 rabbits or 50,000 rats.

Quite a handful

A large 15 kilo, five-metre-long python, the biggest snake in Asia, is brought out of a bag after audience members say goodbye to one of the cobras by touching it for good luck. Posing for pictures is the main aim here, and the impressive beast wrapped around your shoulders certainly makes for a nice photo. Whilst sat on bleachers that surround a large performance ring, the audience can often be seen slightly panicked, especially when the so-called jumping snake is allowed to come within inches of the front row. However the snakes are always under careful control and overall the performance is highly entertaining; animal lovers and those who enjoy a good show will find a trip here a worthwhile experience. Show times: daily 11:30, 14:15 and 15:30. Entry: 200 baht, 100 baht per child. Tel: 053-860-719.