Betelnut Tours
Daytrips to the Phnom Tamao wildlife Rescue Center outside Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Until further notice this tour is only available for
groups of at least 5 people
Full day trip to the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center
Spend a day at this rescue center, where you will meet endangered & rescued animals upclose. This rescue center is considered one of the best in Asia. No small and dirty enclosures here. All animals are wel take care off and we can tell you all about them and their histories.
The Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center is home to over 1,200 animals and is the biggest rescue center in Cambodia. Here you can see an array of native rescued wildlife, including Gibbons, Sun Bears, Tigers, Elephants and many more.
We have been coming here for 14 years and we are intimately familiair with all the animals. Spend a day outside the city, try some delicious homecooked lunch and probably learn about some animals you never even knew existed.
Personal & Knowledgeable
We have extensive knowledge of the animals and their behaviour. We know when they are active and where they like to hide. We know which gibbons are cheeky hair pullers and which tigers are likely to spray on you.
Don't just learn the basic facts of the animals. We can tell you how they got here, how they are being cared for and what will happen to them.
Get up-close with the animals
Some gibbons just love backrubs, so give it to them. Pet deers, feed otters and probably be chased around by monkeys.
Unlike a zoo, you will be able to get extremely close to a lot of the animals, but in a responsible way. Animals are never handled or forced in any way, but most animals are happy to come close by themselves.
(Don't worry about getting up-close with the crocodile in the picture. Worry about it once you actually get to the park.)A delicious homecooked lunch
Our famous lunch has been praised numerous times. It's just really good! We prepare the food at home each time before the tour. There are a few different dishes for you to try, including both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. And having a coconut while lying in a hammock is one our favorite times of the day.
Leave the city for some fresh air
The rescue center is an hour away from Phnom Penh and is build at the edge of a protected forest. You will spend a day walking through the forest with animals at every turn, hearing birds and gibbons singing in the distance.
Five time winner of the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence since 2013
- Price
- $40 for adults
$35 for children under 12 - Times
- Pickup at 9:45am
Return around 5—5:30pm - Days
- Tuesdays, Thursdays
& Saturdays - Pickup Point
- Mad Monkey, Phnom Penh
See map
Some details
This tour is suitable for all ages, but some effort is required. You wil spend most of your time at the park on foot and you will be in the sun. The animals will make you dirty, the roads are bumpy and if it rains, you get wet. It this doesn't like sound like your idea of a good time, don't do it! However, if you want a special experience, can handle getting hot and dirty and want to meet some amazing people working with incredible animals, this this is the trip for you.
The tour takes almost a full day. We organize trips 3 days a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. We require at least 2 people to do a tour and we usually take at most 8 people. Single travellers can of course join a group already going and special arrangements can sometimes be made both with regards to the day or to the number of people, so don't hesitate to contact us if that is the case.
Pretty much everything you need throughout the day is included for you. This means transport to and from the park, entrance fee, a guided tour, lunch and water. You will also get a kroma (khmer scarf) at the beginning of the day that you can keep.
You should wear comfortable footwear. While the terrain isn't very difficult, you will be on your feet a lot. Sandals or slippers are fine. Sunscreen or a hat to protect you from the sun is recommended. Bring clothes that can get dirty. You can of course stay away from the animals to try and stay clean, but where's the fun in that?
Fun fact! The first time as a tourguide in training, Vathana wore high heels. Yes, really. You can make fun of her with that if you want. I know I do :) — Aram
Frequently Asked Questions
Need to know something else? Just contact us.
About us
This is us, hello! We are a Cambodian-Dutch couple.
Vathana has been a big part of these tours since the beginning and was the sole owner for a while. One faithful day in 2010, Aram joined the tour as a backpacker and his life has never been the same. He hardly remembers seeing animals on his first day, he was so distracted by the tourguide. And while she won't admit it, Vathana was also distracted that day and was bungling her speech.
Since the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center is the place where we met, it's very special to us. For our wedding, we wanted to invite Lucky the Elephant to Phnom Penh to be our bridesmaid, but that proved too difficult. So we did the next best thing!
Contact Us
#26, street 302, Phnom Penh
If you want to make a booking, just fill in the form or send us an email.
For any last minute bookings or questions, please call us instead, so you can be sure that you reached us in time.