Singapore Zoo

Singapore Zoo
80 Mandai Lake Road

http://www.zoo.com.sg/


Opening Hours:
Daily 8.30am - 6pm

Admission Fees (In SGD $):
Adult: $20
Child (3 - 12 Years Old): $13

Estimated Visiting Duration:
4 - 8 Hours

List Of Star Attractions (Must See):
White Tiger
Hamadryas Baboon & Great Rift Valley Of Ethiopia
Free Ranging Peacocks
Asian Elephant & Elephants At Work And Play (11.30am and 3.30pm)
Rainforest Fights Back (12.30pm and 2.30pm)
Splash Safari (10.30am and 5pm)
Elephant Ride (1.15pm and 4.30pm, $8 per person)
Free Ranging Orang Utan Island (11am, 3.30pm and 4.30pm)
Giant Tortoise Feeding (1.15pm)
Kangaroo Feeding (11am and 4pm)
Ah Meng Memorial & Garden With A View
Chimpanzee
Mandrill
Pony Ride ($6 per child)
Horse Carriage Ride ($6 per person)
Goat Contact (11am and 3.30pm)
Giant Rabbit Contact (1.30pm)
Animal Friends Show (11am and 4pm)
African Penguin
Sun Bear
White Rhinoceros
Zebra
Giraffe
Lion
Jaguar
Leopard
Cheetah

List Of Main Attractions (Good To See):
Cotton-Top Tamarin
Proboscis Monkey
Treetops Trail
Siamang
False Ghavial & Bornean Marsh
Otter
Tapir
Babirusa
Gibbon
Pygmy Hippo
Banded Mongoose
Nubian Ibex
African Hunting Dog
Emu
Wallaby
Cassowary
Primate Kingdom
Douc Langur
Spider Monkey
Patas Monkey
Crested Macaque
Colobus Monkey
Capuchin Monkey
Marine Mammals
Manatee
Reptile Garden
Snake House
Komodo Dragon
Critters Longhouse
Estuarine Crocodile & Sungei Buaya
Flying Fox
Ring-Tailed Lemur
Nyala
Eland
Warthog
Meerkat

List Of Other Attractions (For A Complete Experience):
Rainforest Courtyard & Rainforest Walk
Picnic Area
Tiger Trek
Forest Lodge
Hornbill
Flamingo
Garden Pavilion
Australian Outback
Pavilion By The Lake
Arapaima
SPH Foundation Conservation Centre
Orchid Garden
Tropical Crops Plantation
Fragile Forest
Rainforest Kidz World
Wild Africa
Cat Country
Naked Mole Rat
Shaw Foundation Amphitheatre
Singapore Zoo Exterior & Surroundings


Up Close With The Animals


(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 9
Visited: Jul-2012


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Besides wildlife conservation and public education, the Singapore Zoo also knows how to entertain with a good show.

At the entrance of the Singapore Zoo, actors dressed as wildlife roam around the Ticket Counters. Just inside, the Rainforest Courtyard, Rainforest Walk and Treetops Trail allow visitors to get up close, and even take photos with Cotton-Top Tamarins, Siamangs, Proboscis Monkeys, Hornbills and Otters.

The area before the Forest Lodge has the enclosures of Tapirs, Babrusas, Pygmy Hippos and Gibbons. The main attractions here would be the Flamingos and the White Tigers enclosure. There is also a Picnic Area and Tiger Trek, which doesn't add any value, and can be skipped on your visit.

The rest of the Singapore Zoo is organised into theme areas. In the Great Rift Valley Of Ethiopia, the area is built to resemble the actual surroundings of this African nation, with the main highlight being the Hamadryas Baboons.There are also Banded Mongoose, Nubian Ibexes and African Hunting Dogs.

The highlight of the Australian Outback at the Singapore Zoo would be feeding the Kangaroos (11am and 4pm). The Australian species of Emu, Cassowary and Wallaby also have their enclosures here.

Bounded by the Garden Pavilion and the scenic Pavilion By The Lake, the Primate Kingdom features Douc Langurs, Arapaimas, Crested Macaques, Colobus Monkeys, Patas Monkeys and Capuchin Monkeys.

The Elephants Of Asia exhibit houses Asian Elephants, and hosts one of the Singapore Zoo main attractions, the Elephants At Work & Play Show (11.30am and 3.30pm). I liked the demonstration, and if you sit near the front, be prepared to get wet. Be sure to catch it!

The Shaw Foundation Amphitheatre at the Singapore Zoo hosts 2 shows, the Rainforest Fights Back Show (12.30pm and 2.30pm), and the Splash Safari Show (10.30am and 5pm). Both of these are long-running main attractions.

Just beside the Shaw Foundation Amphitheatre, is the Marine Mammal enclosure, with Manatees and African Penguins. The Elephant Bath (9.15am) and Elephant Ride (1.15pm and 4.30pm, $8 per person) are also here. The Tram Station here has free ranging Peacocks.

The free ranging Orang Utan Boardwalk is another main highlight of the Singapore Zoo, and you can also have your photo taken with the Orang Utans here (11am, 3.30pm and 4.30pm). Beyond that is the Sun Bear enclosure, and the Bornean Marsh with Ghavials.

The critters and reptile area of the Singapore Zoo houses the Critters Longhouse, Reptile Garden, Snake House, Sungei Buaya with Estuarine Crocodiles, Komodo Dragons and Giant Tortoises. I thought the Giant Tortoises were quite cute, especially during feeding times (1.15pm)... After eating, they fell asleep in their feeding trough.

The Garden With A View Pavilion is exactly what its name implies... a picturesque landscape, perfect for phototaking. The Ah Meng Memorial, a tribute to the Singapore Zoo most famous personality, is also here. Beyond this is the Chimpanzee and Mandrill enclosures, and the SPH Foundation Conservation Centre.

Rainforest Kidz World has many play areas for kids, including a Wild Animal Carousel, Wet Play area, Rainforest Challenge area and a restored Kampung House. The main attractions here however, would be the Pony Rides ($6 per child), Horse Carriage Rides ($6 per person), Goat Contact (11am and 3.30pm), Giant Rabbit Contact (1.30pm), and Animal Friends Show (11am and 4pm).

The Fragile Forest is a large netted area, which houses Ring-Tailed Lemurs, Flying Foxes, Butterfiles and other creatures. However, I felt the Orchid Garden and Tropical Crops Plantation beside it were quite weak... There are other attractions in Singapore which expand on it, and the Singapore Zoo doesn't need to include these exhibits.

The Wild Africa and Cat Country enclosures span a stretch of the Singapore Zoo, featuring enclosures of Nyalas, Cheetahs, Leopards, Jaguars, Warthogs, Meerkats, Lions, Naked Mole Rats, Giraffes, Zebras, White Rhinoceros and Elands.

There are just so many things to see and do at the Singapore Zoo, it can be a little overwhelming to try to do it all. Furthermore, trying to catch all the different shows and / or feeding times can be a challenge, as the timings are nearly back-to-back. Thumbs up to the staff of the Singapore Zoo, who still carry on shows despite rain, albeit with minor changes. Most other places may cancel shows outright due to bad weather.

If you're planning a visit to the Singapore Zoo, do note that admission fees cost $20, and allocate between 4 to 8 hours for viewing. Also, wear a good pair of shoes for walking, and drink plenty of water! Plan your trip in advance if you wish to catch any of the shows or feeding times.


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