Singapore, Mandai - Singapore Zoo and River Safari

Singapore is a small city state. This means getting from one place to another takes a relatively short time. My home is just a 10-minute drive to the Singapore Zoo, River Safari and Night Safari.

Unlike most conventional zoos and wildlife parks, the Singapore Zoo, River Safari and Night Safari are purpose designed to ensure that the animals housed here are allowed to live in environments as close to their natural habitats as possible. These parks are cleverly designed such that the boundaries between the animals and visitors are delineated atheistically; thus, doing away with the needs for physical cages and iron bars.

As an animal lover and being one who stays so close to these parks, I am needless to say, a frequent visitor. If you are a tourist, getting to the 3 parks is relatively simple. There are public transports which run from several different locations within Singapore. You may refer to the respective websites of these parks for up-to-date information at the time of your intended visit. All 3 parks are located just next to each other. Thus, you can pack in a full day of programme to visit all 3 parks with just a single trip.

And to show you how visitor-friendly the Singapore Zoo and River Safari are, here are some pictures taken during my recent visits to these 2 parks in the month of September 2016. All photos are taken with my iPhone 6S Plus. Thus, you do not really need to have a DSLR camera with telephoto lens to take those upclose and personal photos of the animals!

Do note that the parks have a lot more animals than those in the photographs shown in this article. These include critically endangered species such as the Asian Elephants, Southern White Rhinoceros,  Giant Panda, Orangutan and Proboscis Monkeys.The parks have been doing a great job breeding these species; playing a major role in the world wide conservation efforts of endangered wildlife.

The critically endangered Cotton Top Tamarins from South America, Singapore Zoo, Singapore (2016)

Asian Small-clawed Otters, Singapore Zoo, Singapore (2016)

Asian Small-clawed Otters, Singapore Zoo, Singapore (2016)

This pair of mating Asian Water Monitor Lizards are not "residents' of the zoo. They are wild specimens who happened to make the zoo their permanent home, Singapore Zoo, Singapore (2016)

Giant Aldabra Tortoise of the Aldabra Atoll of the Seychelles, Singapore Zoo, Singapore (2016)

African Dwarf Crocodile (a.k.a. Pygmy Crocodile), Singapore Zoo, Singapore (2016)

Iguana, Singapore Zoo, Singapore (2016)

Tortoise in a "naturalised" environment, Singapore Zoo, Singapore (2016)

Yellow-footed Tortoise, Singapore Zoo, Singapore (2016)

Indian Star Tortoise, Singapore Zoo, Singapore (2016)

Burmese Star Tortoise, Singapore Zoo, Singapore (2016)

Radiated Tortoise, Singapore Zoo, Singapore (2016)

Over at the River Safari, giant aquariums are hallmarks of this park. These aquariums allow visitors to view the animals and fishes living in carefully curated environments that are designed to be as similar as possible to their natural habitats but within the confines of a zoological park. 

Pearl Gourami, River Safari, Singapore (2016)

Tortoise swimming in a large aquarium, River Safari, Singapore (2016)

Giant Panda, this male is one of a pair of breeding Giant Pandas at the park, River Safari, Singapore (2016) 

The critically endangered Giant Mekong Catfish, River Safari, Singapore (2016)

The critically endangered Giant Mekong Catfish, River Safari, Singapore (2016)

The Upper Seletar Reservoir is a fresh water catchment reservoir that neighbours the Singapore Zoo, River Safari and Night Safari, Singapore (2016)

And of course, food for the visitors is never far away. Conveniently and strategically located within the parks are small eateries for one to have a break with a cup of coffee or a can of soft drink and small snacks including local food and tidbits. Fast food joint, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), has small outlets both within the Singapore Zoo as well as at the cluster of eateries outside the 3 parks; near the ticketing counters.

Panda-themed Bun, River Safari, Singapore (2016)

Rainbow-coloured cake, Singapore Zoo, Singapore (2016)

Delicious fruit tart, Singapore Zoo, Singapore (2016)

The Singapore Zoo, River Safari and Night Safari are family-friendly and provide an educational excursion for all visitors. Entrance fees are reasonably priced. Do keep a lookout for seasonal discounts on ticket prices! Refer to the parks' respective websites for the latest tickets pricing  information. :-)