My wife and I spent only three days in Singapore last year to kick start a three week holiday in the region and we managed to squeeze in a trip to the Night Safari. It’s a great place and a unique experience not to be missed if you are on the tourist trail in the area.
In basic terms it’s a zoo. A good one though where the animals have quite a large area to live in compared to other zoo’s I’ve been to. But the difference is that you are meant to visit after dark to get the most out of the experience – hence the name! I think from memory the Night Safari opens at around 7.30 pm
Getting there is a breeze by any form of transport. We travelled there by MRT (Singapore’s underground system) and taxi as we were staying in the heart of Singapore
city. Cheap as can be and no fuss at all. The journey back to my hotel was travelled by taxi, in which we had a very interesting conversation with one of the locals. Anyway that’s by the by.
We got there at about 9pm and there was no queue at all, I guess we missed the rush when the gate opened. So it was straight in, and guided by our complementary map we headed straight to the restaurant!! Come all this way and all we wanted to do was eat! Anyway, spoilt for choice of the usual fast food stuff, local specialties or freshly cooked bbq food, we quickly scoffed some satay and made our way for the park tram station.
The park is split into a number of different habitats catering for all of the different animals that live there. From equatorial Africa to the Himalayan foothills you are really are spoilt for choice as to which habitat to visit first. This of course is all made easier by the tram tours which guide you round the park. Close to the park entrance is the first of these tram stations. Simply jump on board and enjoy the views and the running commentary as you glide from one habitat to another, catching glimpses of white rhinos, tigers, impalas, etc….
The commentary on the trams is superb. Very informative if a little whacky and over excited, but it all adds to the flavour of the occasion and sense of closeness to the animals. At times it is almost as if you can reach out and touch the animals, that’s how close the tram gets to the action. But rest assured, I’m sure it’s all very safe!
You can hop off the tram at any of the stops and decide to walk around the park on one of the many trails that take you winding through the different habitats. Alternatively like us you might simply fancy a break and a nice cuppa at one of the many convenience stops. A word of warning though – to add to the sense of safari, the loos are open to nature! Obviously sealed off from prying eyes, but open to the night sky – very serene!
After our cuppa we ventured on foot along one of the paths. Here you do really get close to the action, with all habitats and animals clearly identified with information plaques located near viewing points. At one point we came to the tiger enclosure and right on the other side of what seemed like an ordinary piece of glass was a huge Malayan Tiger! You wouldn’t get this close in the Serengeti!
Upon turning another corner we walked into a scene from a picture postcard. The trees cleared and a peaceful lake appeared. In the foreground two giraffes crossed our view, backed with a gorgeous red-orange glow from a beautiful sunset .I could have sat there all night!
Anyway, back to reality, on a practical level, it costs about twenty Singapore Dollars to enter the park and including tram rides ($5 for tram is optional), which equates to about £7 give or take a couple of pence. Extremely good value I think. Usual concessions apply if you are entitled. Staff are very friendly and the park is very clean and tidy and easy to get around. There is a souvenir shop on site as with most parks, so take some pocket money if you are planning to get a memento of your visit.
Getting there and returning home is not a problem as taxis are frequent and cheap, as is the very efficient public transport system.
Don’t bother taking a camera unless you can take shots at night without a flash, because as we found out to our cost, you will get told off if you take a photo with the flash on! IT dazzles the animals the same as it would dazzle us!
Go and have fun if you happen to be in Singapore – it’s a gem!
Visit http://www.nightsafari.com.sg/ for more info.
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I have made two trips to Singapore and have visited the Night Safari on both occasions - it's absolutely fantastic, and no doubt, if I go to Singapore again, it will be on the agenda again. Good op. Niki :)
Critchyboy 19.09.2003 12:18
Sounds like a great place to visit if I ever get over that way of the world! C :)
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