Navigating the Singapore Zoo During the Holidays in Singapore

Our visit to the Singapore Zoo in the last week of December offered a good experience overall, despite the challenges that come with visiting a popular attraction during the peak holiday season. Learning from our previous experience, we wisely booked the tickets ahead of time, a crucial step considering it can take nearly an hour just to get tickets during this busy period. Even with pre-booked tickets, navigating the crowds requires patience, and we unfortunately couldn't take the Amazon boat ride as the queue just to book a time slot was already stretching beyond an hour – a minor disappointment but a testament to the park's popularity.




Despite the crowds, the actual zoo is very good, and this was our second time visiting, a testament to its enduring appeal. The zoo, originally built at a cost of S$9 million granted by the government of Singapore, opened on June 27, 1973. It is expertly operated by Wildlife Reserves Singapore, an organization that also manages the neighboring and equally popular Night Safari and the Jurong BirdPark, showcasing their expertise in wildlife management and conservation.




The Singapore Zoo is renowned for its "open concept" design, which aims to provide animals with spacious and naturalistic habitats, often using moats, landscaping, and glass enclosures rather than traditional bars. This approach gives the animals a sense of freedom and offers visitors unobstructed views. The zoo is home to about 315 species of animal, an impressive collection that allows for diverse encounters. Notably, some 16% of these species are considered threatened, highlighting the zoo's role in conservation efforts. Throughout the park, the animals truly seem to be given their space and are well fed and taken care of, a visible sign of the zoo's commitment to animal welfare. The variety of animals on display, from primates and big cats to reptiles and birds, is really worth seeing, offering a journey through different ecosystems and continents.




A visit to the Singapore Zoo is not complete without catching some of their excellent shows. We made sure to see a couple. The "Rainforest Fights Back" show, housed in the Shaw Amphitheatre, the main amphitheatre within the zoo, was both entertaining and educational. This performance cleverly integrates actors and performers alongside the animals. The narrative follows a villainous poacher attempting to destroy a section of tropical rainforest for development, who is ultimately foiled by the cooperative efforts of the native people and the animals of the rainforest, including charismatic orangutans, playful lemurs, colorful pea-fowls, agile otters, and vibrant cockatiels. The show delivers a powerful message about conservation through an engaging story and impressive animal appearances.



Another worthwhile show was the "Elephants at Work and Play". This demonstration showcases the intelligence and capabilities of elephants while highlighting their historical use as beasts of burden in Southeast Asian countries. The skilled animal caretakers, referred to as mahouts, demonstrate how they instruct the elephants to perform tasks such as transporting logs or kneeling down so that the mahouts can be mounted. The show is presented in a way that feels both educational, illustrating the historical working relationship between humans and elephants, and respectful of these magnificent animals.



For a different kind of animal interaction, the "Animal Friends" show, located in the Kidzworld amphitheater within the zoo's children's section, features mostly domesticated animals such as dogs and parrots performing tricks. This show is lighthearted and fun, particularly appealing to younger visitors, offering a chance to see familiar animals showcasing their learned behaviors in an entertaining format.



Beyond the daytime zoo experience, the adjacent Night Safari is also a major draw. Seeing animals so up close without any cages is a very exhilarating experience, offering a unique perspective on nocturnal wildlife. As with the daytime zoo, the open concept design, utilizing moats and clever lighting, allows for incredible proximity to the animals as you traverse the park in trams or on walking trails. However, during the holiday season, the popularity of the Night Safari meant the queue was exceptionally long, taking us almost 2 hours waiting in line just to enter, a significant time investment but ultimately worth it for the unique experience.



Getting to the Singapore Zoo requires a bit of travel planning. While connectivity to the zoo is good and public transport can be used, it's important to be aware that the zoo is very far from the main city area. The journey took us almost 45 minutes to get there, so allocating sufficient travel time is essential. Despite the crowds and the travel distance, we had an overall fun day at the zoo and were reminded of why it's considered one of the world's best. The excellent animal care, diverse collection, engaging shows, and the unique experience of the Night Safari make it a place we will definitely come back again next time we are in Singapore.