Singapore Zoological Gardens & Night Safari, Singapore

The Singapore Zoo and especially the Night Safari has been recommended to me by several people. Unfortunately, I’ve never been there. Why not go there? One person recommended that visitors who go to the Night Safari on weekends and public holidays should go early to avoid disappointment from being oversold.

One guide book wrote that Night Safari was a truly electric experience. We took a tram tour around and I was not very excited. Most of the animals did not move and paid no attention to the tram. I think a day safari is better !. Having said that, it could have been better if I took a guided walking tour. The good thing is the animal show is very enjoyable especially for kids.

We took a taxi from China Town to Night Safari and the fare was about $14 . It was a bit late at night and because there was not any MRT Station next to the Night Safari so we thought it's better to take a taxi. When we left the Night Safari it was about 11PM and there was a long queue at the taxi stand near the entrance, but because there were too many taxis there so it didn't take us long to get into a taxi. On the way back to China Town the taxi driver asked if we wanted him to take the Express Way route. We said yes and it was about 15 minutes faster to return to China Town but we had to pay more - about $16.

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If you have a bit more time, go to the Zoological Gardens. I have been to a lot of Zoo's and this one is one of the best. Actually I did not go to the night Safari but I knew it is very good.
The best you can do is to buy a combi ticket for both. At the moment (2006) it will cost 28 S$ and do not have to do this on one day, you wil have a month time. The night Safari is a differnt area, so you will see a lot more than on a day trip.
The Zoo is a little outsite of town, it will take aproax. 45 min.. You have to take the chube to and a bus. You will get the information at every Touristinformation.
Go an see some animals.

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it was because I had my toddler with me, that I ventured into the zoo. We enjoyed the vegetation as much as the animals.
The best thing was when the lion woke up and began roaring for at least 5 minutes. Needless to say a little person was rather scared though enjoyed copying the lion afterwards.

The Night Safari took about 7 years to plan and construct and was officially opened on 26 May 1994 by Prime Minister Mr.Goh Chok Tong.

The Night Safari is the world's first wildlife park built for visits at night, it is not illuminated in the night or a modern version of nocturnal houses like other zoos in the world.

The Singapore Zoo is named one of the best Zoo in the world.It is an opened concept where the animals are allowed to move around (but of course in a safetly area).
Just beside the Zoo is the Night Safari and you can see animals who are active only after nightfalls.

Opening Hours: ZOO
8.30am - 6pm daily

Opening Hours: NIGHT SAFARI
7.30pm - 12midnight

We took the MRT, then a bus out to the zoo. Carry exact coins for the bus! We were about to have to pay an extra couple dollars because we (and the driver) didn't have change. Luckily, a woman running to catch the ride hopped on & paid my husband's fare.

The bus ride felt like the long way around, but eventually we made it in time to have a bite to eat (good counter food - satay, noodles) and see the last show of the night. Basically, the keepers show off a bunch of nocturnal animals - many native to tropical areas - by feeding them and having them do little tricks. If you sit anywhere near the rope strung across the seats, be prepared to have a large badger-like creature climbing by your head. I couldn't believe my eyes - in our sue-happy country, the zoo would have stopped that practice after the first day. But it was very cool to see!

After the show, everyone takes a tram out to the nocturnal animal pens. You are allowed to explore on your own (through guided trails) and make your way back to the tram station by a certain time. The bat cage is the most astonishing thing I've experienced with animals. At first, we couldn't see any and were pretty bummed. But as my husband said, "I wonder where they all are?" and I turned to look at him, I noticed one hanging within inches of his head. Wow. Suddenly our eyes were accustomed to the darkness and we noticed them all over the place, hanging from branches and stretching their wings.

The only disappointing part is that since we arrived late, we didn't have time to look through the souvenir shops - and they were all closed up when we were leaving. We're so used to the Disneyland mentality of keeping the stores open an hour after the park closes...!

I think the buses stopped their routes by the time we left, but there were a few taxis waiting.