Singapore Zoo
80 Mandai Lake Road (subway stations Choa Chu Kang / Ang Mo Kio)
How to get there by Singapore MRT. Singapore interactive metro guide.
Singapore Zoo is rightly renowned as one of the largest, most beautiful and most progressive zoos in the entire world. It is often ranked among the city's most visited attractions: over a million and a half visitors come here every year.
The concept of the so called open zoo, the main principle of which is that the animals are kept in conditions as close to natural as possible, has been implemented in Singapore's park. There are none of the habitual cages and railings here: animals and birds live in open enclosures that are separated from each other with natural barriers, invisible to the naked eye: deep ditches, masked with dry twigs and green bushes. This allows the visitors to observe the natural behavior of each animal in close proximity to them and, more importantly, in complete safety, both in terms of the visitors and the animals themselves.
Singapore Zoo occupies an area of 26 hectares and is a home to more than 2800 animals from 300 different species: mammals, birds, reptiles and fish. A third of them are endangered and listed in the so called "Red Book". White tigers and pygmy hippos, tiny mouse deer and lemurs, as well as hamadryas baboons and orangutans all live here peacefully. To make their life comfortable, the zoo recreates the different ecosystems of the planet, tailored for each particular species.
The largest zone is known as the Fragile Forest. It recreates a unique jungle ecosystem, which is inhabited by hundreds of exotic animals: flying foxes, didactylous sloths, ring-tailed lemurs, fruit bats, in addition to fancifully colored birds and butterflies. The zone "Wild Africa" is a real savannah, where lions, zebras, white rhinos, giraffes and meerkats all live together. This part of the park neighbors the Great Rift Valley of Ethiopia, where you can find the amusing hamadryas, striped mongooses and mountain goats. Meanwhile on the Australian Outback’s territory, kangaroos (the feeding of which is permitted) and emus roam imposingly, as water pythons and bearded lizards lurk menacingly nearby. Other expositions here include Island of Gibbons, the Kingdom of Primates and the Garden of Reptiles.
Singapore Zoo’s most special feature is the opportunity not only to see habits of local animals and birds, but also to learn a multitude of interesting information about them thanks to the interactive displays that are installed near to each enclosure. It is also possible to take part in the feeding of the animals: a timetable is indicated on the map that is handed out after purchasing a ticket. This also contains the schedule for the interesting animal shows, which are carried out daily and gather crowds of spectators. In addition to these, Singapore Zoo is the only place on the earth that provides the opportunity to have breakfast in its jungle, of course in the company of some good-natured orangutans (Jungle Breakfast With Wildlife).
Guests can either walk or ride a small tram through the zoo. However, the most convenient way is to combine both options. There is also an opportunity to rent a boat and go on a pleasure trip over the picturesque reservoir that is located on park’s territory.
