Visitors love hitting zoos for many reasons. While some individuals view it as an opportunity to bond with their friends or family members, others come to a zoo for educational purposes. Regardless of the reason for visiting a zoo, one can expect to come across various kinds of animals while including a visit to the zoo in the itinerary.
If you plan to visit a traditional zoo, you can only see active animals that are active during the daytime. Spotting a nocturnal animal in a traditional zoo is a faint or remote possibility, even if it has such animals. If you wish to see nocturnal animals in a zoo, the Singapore zoo night safari won’t disappoint you.
The best part of Singapore zoo activities is that you can visit a zoo with nocturnal animals as well as a river-themed wildlife park back to back. If you are wondering what to expect in both places, the guide below will help you through.
Singapore Zoo River Safari
Singapore’s River Safari, also known as River Wonders Singapore, promises a new kind of adventure altogether for visitors. Apart from separate animal zones, it also involves an exciting reservoir cruise and a riverboat ride that will keep you occupied throughout your visit.
The River Safari in Singapore has something special for animal lovers. Here, you can spot animals, even some threatened species. Overall, it has more than 6,000 animals lodged in 11 distinct zones. Alongside exploring these zones, you can also enjoy an amazing show.
From the standpoint of animal lovers, the place boasts a wide variety of animals. These include alligators, electric eels, pelicans, capybaras, manatees, jaguars, and Caribbean flamingos. While you can spot all these animals on the River Safari, don’t miss out on giant pandas. They constitute the star attraction of Singapore Zoo Water Park.
Each zone at River Safari Singapore is special for a reason. Overall, there are 11 zones plus a special show as given below.
Giant Panda Forest
This is one of the most anticipated zones of River Safari Singapore. In line with the name, it is the habitat of large-size pandas. The playful nature of fluffy Kai Kai and Red Pandas will grab your attention at first sight. Watching them eat bamboo is a sight that fills the heart of every wild animal lover with delight.
Wild Amazonia
Wild Amazonia is the world that presents the spectacle of the animals that roam in the Amazon. These include the giant river otters, arapaimas, the sea cows, and the manatees. There is more to Amazonia than spotting these animals, and it is also a zone where you can catch different monkey species. The other animals that you can see here include capybaras, coatimundis, Brazilian tapir, scarlet ibis, and Caribbean flamingos.
Amazon Flooded Forest
Here, you can catch sight of knife fish, Red Oscars, Altum angelfish, and blue discus fishes.
Mekong River
Mekong River is the home to Mekong Giant Catfish, a large-sized freshwater fish that belongs to endangered species.
Mary River
Exploring Mary River is great fun as it lets visitors see some unique aquatic animals. These include mudskippers, Australian Lungfishes, horseshoe crab, and chocolate chip sea stars.
Nile River
Nile River is the one-stop destination for goliath tiger fishes.
Mississippi River
Here, you will see common snapping turtles, alligator snapping turtles, and alligator gars.
Yangtze River
Yangtze River is the home to fishes that have long snouts and bodies with sharp edges. These fishes are called sturgeon fishes. Apart from these fishes, here you can also catch sight of Yangtze alligators, which have a unique body structure that resembles rocks.
Congo River
This river is the ultimate destination for spotting African dwarf crocodiles and colorful fishes that belong to a specific species called cichlid.
Ganges River
Ganges River houses clown knife fishes and the big-mouth Indian golden mahseers.
River Gems
Have you desired to witness inflating fahaka pufferfishes? You can see it at River Gems.
Once Upon a River
This is an animal presentation show that continues for 20 minutes. It showcases skillful displays by hedgehogs, ball pythons, pelicans, and capybaras.
Singapore Zoo Night Safari
Image Credit: https://traveltriangle.com/
Singapore Zoo Night Safari is a world of dim-light habitats that house nocturnal animals. What makes it unique is its combination of seven distinct habitats. The variety of animals that you can spot here in different habitats will leave you spoilt for choice. In Singapore’s Zoo Night Safari, you will be able to see animals that live in their natural habitats across the globe, from the Southeast Asian rainforest to the Himalayan Foothills.
When going on a night safari, the first thing to do is to take a guided tram ride that lasts for nearly 40 minutes. The best part about it is that you can also view some animals while riding through the park. Your eyes will take a while to adjust to the darkness of the zoo, but once you are comfortable and cozy, you will be greeted by close to 900 animals from over 100 species in this amazing nocturnal wildlife park. More than 41 percent of these species are endangered, including those indigenous to the region, such as the threatened Asian elephant, Malayan Tiger, and Malayan Tapir.
Venturing through the Jungle
During the night safari, while you explore the jungle on wheels, you can also see bats just a few inches away. Some of them may fly over your head. However, walking trails let you witness even more animals that are not visible from the tram. The Night Singapore offers four walking trails, including the Leopard Trail, the Fishing Cat Trail, the East Lodge Trail, and the Wallaby Trail.
Leopard Trail
Leopard Trail gives you an exotic glimpse of the life and behavior of nocturnal animals and lets you see the nightly routines of some of the world’s most popular spotted cats. These include clouded leopards, Sri Lankan leopards, civets, golden cats, and lions. The path isn’t just filled with fiery cats; find other wild animals as you take a further stroll along the path.
Fishing Cat Trail
Home to some of the world’s furriest predators, Fishing Cat Trail features creatures like striped hyenas and fishing cats that are extremely alert and attentive to their surroundings. They focus and calculate their every move strategically so they can grab their prey in the first bite. So, make sure you don’t miss a chance while watching them and are in awe of their incredible abilities.
East Lodge Trail
This is a path that combines both the wild trails of Asia and Africa. On the East Lodge Trail, creatures from the tropics and grasslands live in harmony. Living here are the Malayan Tigers, cats, sloth bears, and spotted hyenas, while other distinct creatures include babirusas, anoas, and bongos.
Wallaby Trail
The Wallaby Trail gives you a rare opportunity to witness wallabies in action. Sometimes you may even catch them jumping with their little ones in their pouch. Not only that but there will be more in this zone. The trail highlights some of the major creatures from Australia, New Guinea, and New Zealand before you meet some natural charmers like barn owls, sugar gliders, possums, and the white-lipped python.
Shows and events
When you are done seeing all the nocturnal animals, do not forget to check out the indulge in two worthwhile shows of the night. This event takes place multiple times and lasts for seven minutes per show.
Thumbuakar Performance
The Thumbuakar Performance is a thrilling outdoor show that will undoubtedly capture your attention. The is presented at the entrance of the zoo, serving as a welcome performance to visitors. Witness the extremely talented pyro warriors boasting their talents as they demonstrate different amazing fire-twirling talents and fire-eating acts! Watch how their movements perfectly sync with the rhythm, adding more intensity to the show.
Show Duration: 7 minutes
Show timings: 6:45 PM/ 8:00 PM / 9:00 PM / 10:00 PM
Note that the 10 p.m. show is only available on Fridays, Saturdays, and public holidays.
Creatures of the Night
Creatures of the Night is another spectacle of the Singapore Zoo that you must add to your itinerary. It’s a fun and informative show that highlights some talented animals. Get amazed by the civets, owls, and fennec foxes as these amusing creatures entertain visitors with their adorable antics and charms.
Location: Amphitheatre
Show Duration: 25 minutes
Show timings: 7:15 PM / 8:30 PM/ 9:30 PM / 10:30 PM
Please note that the 10:30 p.m. show is only available on Fridays, Saturdays, and public holidays.
How to get there
Via car: the attraction location is at a distance of 13.3 km from the Singapore city center. You can reach your destination within 30 minutes by car.
By bus: the location is approximately 140 meters from the Singapore Zoo bus station and takes only two minutes to reach.
Learn more before purchasing Singapore Night Safari tickets.
- Always stick to the schedule.
- Don’t forget to carry your valid ID at all times.
- Do not use strong-scented perfumes as animals are sensitive to smell.
- All foreign nationals are required to provide their passport and visa details at the time of arrival.
- Visitors are strictly prohibited from feeding animals without the permission of the staff.
- Wheelchairs and child strollers are rentable at the location.
- Singapore Night Safari Tickets do not have a refund policy.
Best time to visit
Choose the morning for the River Safari to avoid crowds and take advantage of the cooler weather. You should arrive by 7:15 pm if you want to take advantage of the tram rides and animal presentations at the Night Safari.
The experience is completely different after dark. Weekdays are typically less crowded than weekends at both locations.
Conclusion
The Zoo River Safari and the Zoo Night Safari in Singapore are special for different reasons. While the former enables you to catch sight of common as well as rare species of aquatic animals, including fishes and alligators, the latter presents the unique spectacle of nocturnal animals in their dim-lit habitats. The Singapore Night Safari also allows you to enjoy a Singapore hiking experience. Take a guided tour of both these places to make your Singapore visit special and memorable.
FAQs
1.What are the opening times of the River Safari and Night Safari?
River Safari: every day. Definite timings are ideal to keep an eye on the authority site nearer to your visit date.
Night Safari: opens every day at 7:15 pm and closes at midnight. Tram rides depart at predetermined times.
2. How much do the River Safari and Night Safari cost to enter?
Ticket costs differ depending upon guest class (grown-up, youngster, senior) and residency status (Singaporean inhabitant, non-occupant).
The two areas offer packaged tickets and limits. Checking their authority sites for the most recent pricing is prudent.
3. How to get to the River Safari and Night Safari?
You can arrive at the two areas via vehicle or public transport. The Singapore Zoo has its own bus stop right next to the Night Safari.
4. What are the various animal zones at the River Safari?
The 11 zones of the River Safari showcase various river ecosystems from around the world. A few famous zones incorporate the Goliath Panda Timberland, Wild Amazonia, Mekong Waterway, Nile Stream, and Mississippi Stream.
5. What shows are there at the River Safari?
The “Once Upon a River” presentation, which features animal displays, is one popular show. It’s prescribed to check the authority site for the show plan.
6. How would I investigate the Night Safari?
The Night Safari offers a cable car ride through assigned trails, permitting guests to recognize nighttime creatures in their reproduced natural surroundings. Strolling trails are likewise accessible for people who need a more intensive glance at explicit creatures.
7. What are the different strolling trails at the Night Safari?
The four walking trails at the Night Safari are East Lodge Trail, Wallaby Trail, Fishing Cat Trail, and Leopard Trail. Each trail offers special experiences with nighttime creatures from different districts.
8. What shows are there at the Night Safari?
There are two shows at the Night Safari: ” Thumbuakar Execution” – a fire-moving show, and “Animals of the Evening” – a show including prepared creatures. Show timings are likely to change, so checking the authority site for the most recent schedule is ideal.
9. What would it be advisable for me to wear to the River Safari and Night Safari?
Open to apparel and shoes are great for the two areas. Since the Night Safari includes some strolling, it’s ideal to wear shut-toe shoes.
10. Can I bring food and beverages into the River Safari and Night Safari?
The two areas have eateries and food slows down accessible. The best way to learn more about what you can bring in is to check their websites.
11. What are some things to keep in mind when going to the River Safari and the Night Safari?
Animals may be agitated by strong fragrances and perfumes. They should not be used.
Animal feeding is strictly forbidden.
The two areas offer buggy and wheelchair rentals for the individuals who need them.