Singapore Zoo
Singapore Zoo is located north of the city center (Mandai Lake Road, 80; tel: 6269-34-11; www.zoo. com.sg; open: daily 8.30am-6pm; admission fee); its vast 28 hectares of land contain more than 2,500 animals of 315 species, of which 29% are rare.
Video: Singapore Zoo
Background
The conceptual difference between the Singapore Zoo and other zoos is that the animals at the Singapore Zoo are in open enclosures and do not feel like they are in captivity. The barriers here are “natural”: ditches, cascading waterfalls, thickets; and only for those animals and birds that are able to overcome them, several transparent enclosures are created. Among the “lucky” animals that walk around the grounds completely free are langur monkeys, lemurs and marmosets.
.Don’t miss the animal shows – they are held several times a day at different ends of the zoo. Most are in the Shaw Foundation Amphitheater: sea lions, reptiles and primates “perform” here. The Asian elephant show takes place in the elephant enclosure. Rainforest Kidzworld has a daily interactive show for children to participate in. Keep in mind that many animals, from lions and jaguars to monkeys and Komodo dragons, are fed according to a schedule (posted at the entrance to the zoo) – and feeding sometimes turns into an impromptu show. Even the tigers can dive into the pool when the “feeding crew” shows up.
At the zoo, you can eat next to the animals yourself. If you want to participate in the “Breakfast in the Jungle” attraction (daily 9.00-10.30; paid) among orangutans (there are more of them here than in the rest of the world’s zoos) and other wild animals, make a reservation in advance at the “Jungle Flavours” restaurant. If you want to feed a rare baboon-gamadril, buy a personalized tour “Wild Discoverer Tour” (Wild Discoverer Tour; daily 11.00, 14.00 and 16.00; for a fee): you will go into the forest thicket in a special wagon, accompanied by an experienced guide.
.If you don’t like crowds, go to the zoo early in the morning or on weekdays. Those wishing to combine a visit to the zoo and the Night Safari Park are advised to arrive in the afternoon, from 14.00 to 15.00 – the zoo closes at 18.00 – and have dinner at the Night Safari Park before the tour starts, i.e. before 19.30. The Zoo and the Night Safari Park are consistent tourist draws, and are two of Singapore’s most popular attractions.
.Night Safari
Singapore Night Safari Park (Night Safari; Mandai Lake Road, 80; tel: 6269-34-11; www.nightsafari.com.sg; open: daily 7.30-24.00pm; admission fee) is the world’s first night zoo and one of the island’s most popular attractions. Covering 40 hectares, this park offers a truly unique experience. As dusk falls (around 7.30pm), several carriages, accompanied by cheerful English-speaking locals, set off on a circular route: the cobbled road passes through eight geographical zones. Passengers disembark from time to time to get a closer look at the animals in open enclosures and follow one of three walking routes (“Fishing Cat”, “Leopard” and “Forest Giants”).
.The night safari park is located in a dense forest; it is only lightly lit. Representatives of about 115 species of animals from Asia, Africa and South America can be found in the forest thicket. More than 90% of them are nocturnal, so you have a chance to see how they behave in the absence of daytime heat and sunlight.
Perhaps the funniest of the area’s inhabitants are the fisher cats. These animals, a little larger than the average house cat, dive for trout in a small body of water just a few inches from the footbridge. The light directed here doesn’t frighten the nocturnal hunters – they don’t seem to notice anyone around them. People are separated from them by natural fences: ditches, vegetation, almost invisible wire; the lighting system mimics moonlight. Photography is allowed, but no flash. Don’t miss the interactive show Creatures of the Night (daily 7:30, 8:30 and 9:30 p.m.), which features 19 species of animals, including a puma, leopard cat and spotted hyena..
