The Night Safari is the world's first wildlife park built to be viewed at night. It is not an ordinary zoo simply illuminated by night or a modern version of nocturnal houses found in many zoos.
Set in 40 hectares of dense secondary forest, the Night Safari offers guests the unique experience of exploring wildlife in a tropical jungle at night. Through the use of subtle lighting technique, guests are able to view over 1000 nocturnal animals of 100 species in vast naturalistic habitats. [Top]

The birth of the Night Safari is a result of a combination of factors. The overwhelming response to night tours conducted at the Zoo in the late 1980s indicated a demand for wholesome night entertainment. Displaying tropical animals at night seemed ideal since 90% of them are nocturnal and therefore most active after dusk. Singapore's predictable sunset at around 7.30pm and cool nights with little rainfall mean fewer operational problems for an outdoor night attraction. [Top]

The Night Safari took four years to plan and three to construct. It was officially opened on May 26 1994 by Prime Minister, Mr Goh Chok Tong. [Top]

GENERAL INFORMATION

Opening Hours : 7.30pm to midnight (daily). Food outlets and the gift shop open at 6.30pm. Savour gourmet burgers freshly made for you at Bongo Bongo Burger Bar.Ticket sales end at 11pm. [Top]

Tram Rid : Takes approximately 45 miutes to complete a full ride. With live commentary and one stopover at East Lodge. Last tram leaves Tram Station 1 Entrance Plaza at 11.15pm. [Top]

Walking Trails : Three walking trails viz. Fishing Cat, Leopard and Forest Giants Trails. Each trail takes about 15 minutes to complete.

Creatures Of The Night Show : Schedule : Daily at 8.00pm and 9.00pm. Venue : Entrance Plaza [Top]

Transport Services : Take the MRT to Ang Mo Kio or Choa Chu Kang Station and transfer bus services 138 and 927 respectively to Night Safari (Take the same services for a return journey). Alternatively, take bus service 171 from the city and transfer bus 927 at Mandai Road to Night Safari. ( Take the same service for a return journey). [Top]

HISTORY

WORLD'S FIRST NIGHT SAFARI PARK OPENS IN SINGAPORE

The world's first Night Safari park for viewing nocturnal wild animals opened in Singapore on May 3, 1994 [Top]

Just half an hour's drive from the city entre, the 40-hectare park alongside Sinagpore Zoological Gardens cost more than S$60 million. [Top]

Some 1,000 nocturnal creatures, from fierce predators to timid forest dwellers, are seen in spacious natural habitats under subtle moonglow lighting [Top]

Traveling by tran through dense rainforest, visitors discover the fascinating secrets of the jungle after dusk. [Top]

The park, set in one of Singapore's last expansive stands of tropical jungle,s is developed and operated by Singapore Zoological Gardens. [Top]

The naturally hilly terrain has been left largely undistured, and areas which had to be cleared have been re-planted with hundreds of tress. [Top]

A talented specialist team helped build this unique attraction; among them, zoological consultant, Mr Lyn de Alwis, who helped in the planning of Night Safari together with the zoo staff. [Top]

The animals on display are the majestic seladang or gaur, the Indian rhinoceros, bharal or blue sheep, ghavial or fish-eating crocodile, the African serval and the highly attractive bongo. [Top]

Controlled breeding at the park is increasing stocks of endangered species and many of the young will be on show when the park opens. [Top]

The lighting, a critical part of the spectacle, is designed by lighting consultant Simon Cordor, to show the animals clearly without disturbing their nightly routines. [Top]

A tram ride, with guided commentary, follows two loop roads passing by a large reservoir and weaving through selected habitats. [Top]

The scenery changes with stunning theatrical effect from the Himalayan foothills to the jungles of South-east Asia and Africa. The animals are grouped into their native "regions". [Top]

In the shadowy half-light, cratures great and small take part in an enthralling sylvan pantomime of hunting and playing, their cries and calls filling the night air. [Top]

Rhinos, elephants, giraffes and other jungle giants vie for attention with smaller species such as the appealing mousedeer, show loris and a host of snakes and birds. [Top]

The 45-minute tram ride convers 3.2 kms. These are stops along the way to admire magnificent panoramic views of the reservoir, tree-studded hillslopes and grassy plains. [Top]

Winding 2.8km through the jungle, walkways allow visitors to get closer to animals not easily seen from the tram, such as smaller cat families and primate like the loris. [Top]

An average visit, including both awessome and fascinating", Dr Ong Swee Law, the late Executive Chairman of Singapore Zoological Gardens, said. [Top]

"Few people realise that about 90 percent of tropical animals are in fact nocturnal. In their natural environment, they behave differently than they would in a zoo. [Top]

"Night Safari gives visitors a unique opportunity to study this twilight world, with all its changing drama and emotions, in complete safety and comfort." [Top]

"The animals have plenty of freedom of movement and expression without being a danger to anyone. We believe Singapore residents and foreign visitors alike, will find this a truly memorable experience". [Top]

Dr One added that Singapore's pleasant, tropical evenings, almost equal hours of daylight and darkness and an experienced staff have made the Night Safari feasible. [Top]

INTEREST

Finding Your Way Around

Spread over a generous 40 hectares of secondary jungle (that's roughly one and a half times the size of the Zoo) with the Upper Seletar Reservoir as a beautiful backdrop on 3 sides, the Night Safari is divided into 2 almost equal havles - the East Loop and the West Loop. [Top]

From the warmly-lit Entrance Plaza, arm yourself with a taste for the unexpected as you proceed on foot on the well-lit walking trails. Or you may decide to take the scenic route on a leisurely tram ride instead. [Top]

Whichever you choose, you'll encounter: recrations of exotic Himalayan foothills, an island-dotted lake of a Nepalese River Valley, Savanna grasslands of Equatorial Africa and thedense jungles of Indo-Malaya. [Top]

Walking Trails And Tram Rides

Under the magic of subtle lighting, highly advanced and specially created for the Night Safari, get to know our many wildlife residents at close quarters via interesting well-it walking trails, each an easy 0.5km long. Take in the smells and mysterious ambience of night time, as you make new discoveries at every turn. All footpaths at the Night Safari are well-lit and gently undulating, so you'll be able to see the animals without disturbing them, and there won't be any sudden surprise like steps to contend with. The tram ride, weaving through selected East and West Loop routes, lets you view the animals from the comfort of your carriage. [Top]

Meet The Animals

The Night Safari is home to more than 1,200 animals of over 110 exotic, many of whom are making their debut in Singapore. Like the Cape buffalo, African bongo, blue sheep, striped hyaena, golden jackal, and the rare and magnificent greater one-horned rhinoceros, to name a few of our distinguished residents. Whe hope they'll be here to stay as many are dangerously close to extinction. Naturally, the Night Safari also serves as an important conservation centre for the breeding of rare and endangered species, especially from this region. What makes the Night Safari experience different from any zoo is that for the first time, you'll see the animals engaging in their active night lives - prowling, hunting feeding, and playing [Top]

Dine by Moonlight

A good Safari adventure always whips up a hearty appetite! At the Night Safari, all trails bring you back to the Entrance Plaza where a spread of good food awaits you. At the Entrance Restaurant, you'll be rewarded not only with the most sumptuous food, but also spectacular views that will take your breath away. At the East Lodge, half way round the East Loop, refresh yourself with a long cool drink and sandwiches as you watch the elegant silhouettes of Cape giraffes ambling gracefully on the other side of the reservoir. If you fancy something convenient. our fast food outlet won't disappoint. After a good meal, take an evening stroll through our shops. For the intrepid souvenir hunter, you'll find your time here well-spent! [Top]

How to get here....

Car A quick 30-minute drive from the City, take the Pan Island Expressway (PIE), turn off at the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) and follow the signs to the Zoo. [Top]

Bus From the City, take Trans Island Bus Service bus 171 to Mandai Road. Then cross the street and take SBS bus 138. From Woodland Bus Interchange take Trans Island Bus Service (TIBS) bus 926 (Sundays & Public holidays).

Mass Rapid Transit Alight at ANG MO KIO Station (N9) and take SBS bus 138 or alight at CHOA CHU KANG Station (N21) and take TIBS 927. [Top]

Operating Hours 7.30pm to Midnight. Ticket sales close at 11.00pm the Entrance Plaza, restaurant and fast food outlet open from 6.30pm. [Top]

Creatures of the Night Show 5.00pm and 9.00pm A lively 15 minute presentation featuring the natural behaviours of our nocturnal animals. [Top]

Getting Here

By bus

From the city, take service 171 to Mandai Road, then alight at the first bus stop and transfer to service 927. Whole trip takes about 1hr 15min to 1hr 30min. [Top]

By MRT

From Ang Mo Kio MRT, take bus service 138.
From Chua Chu Kang MRT, take bus service 927.
Both bus trips take approximately 30-40 minutes. [Top]

Address: 80 Mandai Lake Road
Singapore 729826

By Bus Hub Service

This is the latest direct bus between Orchard Road and Night Safari. For a single trip fee of $4, visitors can pop by any of the following hotels at various pick-up timing for a convenient and comfortable ride to the Night Safari. [Top]

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Reach City in 25 minutes!

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Useful Links

• Singapore Night Safari Official Website