The Chiang Mai Night Safari was envisioned by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He had a vision for starting up a nocturnal zoo, due to wanting to have a quality and popular tourist attraction, like that which was achieved by Singapore and also had become world-famous. Once the Prime Minister had this vision, he had brought it to the attention of Kosin Ketthong, the Governor of Chiang Mai at the time in order to find an appropriate place to start building. There were many places proposed, such as the forest areas of the Doi Saket District, but eventually, they settled upon an area at the foot of Doi Suthep, being the most ideal area which was located in the sub-district of Mae Hia, Chiang Mai. It was also in the Doi Suthep-Pui National Park area, having a terrain that was better than Singapore.