Singapore River Safari

Part of the various Singapore zoo experiences (alongside the Zoo, Night Safari & Jurong Bird Park ), this isn't actually a Safari on a River, although there are two very short boat rides you can take for extra cost. Instead, it's an on-foot zoo, but with animals selected in line with the various great rivers of the world (Amazon, Ganges, Nile, Yangtze etc).

It was a pretty enjoyable day, though at SG$28 (£14) for one adult, not cheap by Singapore standards (though actually a bit of a bargain if you're from UK!) I covered the entire experience, with both rides, rests, and a sprained ankle in 3 hours. So as you can probably tell, it's not that huge or comprehensive! But, the highlights for me were the Red and Great Pandas, the Squirrel Monkeys, and the wonderful Otters. I was also looking forward to the Manatees, which are in an impressive large aquarium at the end, but they were feeding when I arrived, and not very social! But there are decent, and nicely kept, displays of bizarre river fish and other creatures to look at. 

Piranha

The two boat rides are: the Amazon River Quest - which is quite Jurassic Park! Basically it's a Disney-style, automated ride, with animals to see as part of the entertainment. Actually it is quite good fun and lasts only about 10 minutes. But the huge problem is that the automated 'boat' goes past the animal spaces at super-speed, so by the time you've located the Jaguar or Capybara in the undergrowth, the boat has already been moved on. No photos or animal viewing on this, unless you're extremely fast! But to be honest, for only $5, and since I've never been on another boat-ride which 'crashes down hills' before, it was quite enjoyable!

The other ride is the regular River Safari Cruise, which is on a much larger, proper boat. And it is again a very short 15 minute trip, but this time on one of Singapore's reservoirs. The reservoir is big, but the boat ride just takes you on a tiny fraction of the shore, where you can see Giraffes, Elephants and other creatures in semi-open enclosures, if you are lucky. It is a really nice idea to view animals this way, actually.

Logistics: There are several ways to get there, I took the 138 circuit bus from Ang Mo Kio MRT station - which takes 30 mins to the River Safari. You can save 10-15% if you pre-book your venue ticket online - but it won't give you a discount on the boat rides, which remain SG$5 each even if you book them at the same time. Also you need a smartphone, printer or a good camera to photograph your e-ticket, as they need the bar code to get you in. Also disable your pop-up blocker before you start booking the tickets (they don't tell you this until you're already 80% through the process!)

The young staff (as with the Bird Park) were very sweet and helpful. And a large part of this experience has covered walkway, so I imagine it's OK in rain. There are less places to sit en-route than at the Bird Park, but plenty of toilet stops and a few cafes / stands to buy food or ice creams. Would still advise carrying your own water and snacks, however.

Anyway, here are some animal pix from today, maybe they'll encourage you to visit! (You can click on them for a larger slide-show) :)

 For more River Safari details go to: http://www.riversafari.com.sg/