Built on a sprawling 28 hectares (approximately 69 acres) area of land, and set in a rainforest environment, the award-winning Singapore Zoo houses nearly 4200 animals of 300 species, of which 34% are endangered. It is a place of delight for children and adults alike.
Now, in a place as huge and extensive as the Singapore Zoo, you most certainly need a pair of comfortable footgear, a small backpack, and a camera fitted on a selfie stick —and you are ready and raring to go!
You are greeted by large and intimidating cut-outs of the habitants at the entrance. It is a beautiful green space — a heavily forested area where animals are left to live in conditions that resemble their natural habitat.
As you keep walking on the wooden deck ahead, you are interrupted by curious sights, sounds, and calls. One of the first to make an appearance on the tour is a huge crocodile lazily moving through the waters that run below the wooden walkway. Lifesize exhibits of extinct species interrupt your walk.
From the small-clawed otter, the rare babirusa, the majestic white tiger, the pygmy hippo, the Burmese roofed turtle, to the komodo dragon, the Sumatran orangutan, ornate spiny-tailed lizard, the blue-tongued skink, slithering snakes, the cheetah, African elephants, African dogs, red river hogs, the crested macaque, giraffes, zebras, monkeys, birds, insects, and lots more to grab attention. The butterfly aviary is a unique one to check out here.
In places, the zoo is divided into themed zones that are inspired by Ethiopia’s dry savanna with its biodiversity showcasing animals like the South African ground squirrel, the rock hyrax, and more. The Rep Topia is home to some of the never-seen-before species of reptiles and amphibians.
The animals are under the protection and maintenance of wildlife professionals, and efforts are on to conserve the endangered ones. Students are also often spotted making educational excursions on the premises under the guidance of their teachers and mentors.
Know the Highlights
Among many, the top draws of the zoo are —
Jungle Breakfast With Wildlife:Â Visiting a zoo would mean leaving home on an empty stomach in excitement and hurrying to be the first to arrive.
You have the privilege to buy mouth-watering foods from the eatery outlets here as you fill your tummy and munch on the move.
Walking Tour In The Wild: There’s no better way to learn than to pick animal trivia facts from the animal keepers on your walking tour through the wild. You get to watch their habits and movements from closer quarters, and if you are a shutterbug, you simply go click! click! click!
Feed The Animals: This is one wow moment that even children look forward to. You can buy stuff like peanuts and fruits for them from the shops nearby and book a feeding session for yourself. There’s a sense of gratification in feeding these innocent beasts with your own hands. You can choose your pick from elephants, giraffes, orangutans, and the white rhinoceros.
RepTopia:Â You will be amazed to discover a stunning collection of rare and never-heard-before reptiles and amphibians inside the RepTopia. They organize interactive sessions that help you to retain interesting details about the secret lives of these reptiles, their habits, et al. A hair-raising experience, indeed!
Waterpark For Children:Â Younger kids often get tired of walking long distances and insist on doing something more dynamic and playful. The zoo has set up water parks for kids to take a splash in. There are different types of water sports to keep them company.
Animal Shows: The Splash Safari Show and the Elephant Show are fun for kids and adults alike. It’s great to immerse in the fun of being water-splashed by sea lions in the Splash Safari show, and diving deep into an elephant’s lifestyle (also feeding it) in the Elephant Show. You learn just how intelligent, friendly, generous, and innocent this animal is.
The Frozen Tundra: This is one exciting segment of the tour. You witness the first polar bears of the tropics at play amidst blocks of ice and water. It’s amusing to watch the bears named Inuka, Pom, Poko, and wolverines called Boris and Ivana spend fun moments in each other’s company.
Africa Tour:Â They have replicated a small jungle portion of the second largest continent here which is home to the Cheetah, the African elephant, the African dog, and many others. They tell you everything from their lifestyle, eating habits, how they spend their time, mating seasons, and a lot more.
In the end, you come out more informed and enlightened from the entire tour.
Info on Timings & Tickets
The Park operates between 8:30 am and 6:00 pm. Booking is online and the earlier slots you book, the better. The Standard ticket prices are — Adults – $48; Children — $33 (aged 3 to 12 years); and Seniors — $20.
Pass holders enjoy attractive discounts and benefits. There is also a provision for multi-park tickets that are valid for seven days from your first visit. It’s a one-time entry for each park.
How To Reach, Address & Phone
The address is 80 Mandai Lake Rd, Singapore 729826. For queries or feedback, you can call +65 6269 3411 or write to enquiry@mandai.com. Located on Mandai Lake Road, the Singapore Zoo is not too difficult to reach from any part of the city.
If you are taking the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit), you may take it to Khatib (NS14) — connecting shuttle is the Mandai Shuttle; Choa Chu Kang (NS4) – shuttle 927; Ang Mo Kio (NS16) – shuttle 138; or Springleaf (TE4) – shuttle 138.
Then you can take a connecting shuttle that will drop you right in front of the zoo. You get bus service every 10 minutes. If you are coming by your private vehicle, you may take either the Central Expressway or the Pan Island Expressway to reach in 30 minutes from the city. Metered taxi and hired car services are also available in different parts of the city to reach the Park.
