Singapore Zoo

Singapore Zoo opened in 1973 with a then-radical idea, the open-concept zoo, and half a century later it is still one of the best zoos anywhere. Instead of cages, most animals live behind hidden moats, glass and planted barriers, in a rainforest setting on a peninsula in the Upper Seletar Reservoir, so the paths feel like walks through a park. The star residents are the orangutans: the zoo has one of the largest captive colonies in the world, and several live in a free-ranging area where they climb in the trees above visitors' heads. Elsewhere the routes take you past white tigers, Malayan tigers, Asian elephants, proboscis monkeys, giraffes and zebras, and the walk-through Fragile Forest, a biodome where lemurs, sloths, mousedeer and butterflies move around you. Kids head for KidzWorld, with its splash play area, pony rides and petting zones, and for the animal presentations in the amphitheatre, which run several times a day. Feeding sessions are another draw; at certain times you can feed the giraffes and other animals for a small fee. Breakfast in the Wild, a buffet with the orangutans, is the famous add-on for families. The zoo opens at 8:30am, and mornings are best, when the animals are most active and the heat is lowest. It is a long, warm walk, so plan breaks, use the trams if you need them, and leave room in the evening for the Night Safari next door.

The zoo is now part of the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, which links five parks on one forested site: Singapore Zoo, the Night Safari, River Wonders (the river-themed park with giant pandas and manatees), Bird Paradise (the bird park that replaced Jurong Bird Park in 2023), and Rainforest Wild Adventure, the newest, adventure-based park whose second zone opened in May 2026. The reserve has a shared entrance plaza and a new Mandai Khatib bus link, and multi-park tickets save a good deal if you plan to see more than one. In practice, most visitors pair the Zoo with the Night Safari on the same day and add one more park on another day.

Plan your route around the schedule. Pick up a map or check the app on arrival for feeding times and shows, then head first to the orangutans and the Fragile Forest while it is cool. Mid-morning is good for the elephants and the big cats; save KidzWorld's water play for the hottest hours if you have children (pack swimwear and a towel). Exhibits are occasionally closed for upgrades, and in late 2026 the African Penguin exhibit is closed until the end of November and the naked mole rat exhibit until mid-November, so check the notices if those are your children's favourites. Food courts and cafes are spread through the park; drink plenty of water and use the shade.

The zoo is about thirty to forty minutes from downtown by taxi, or take the MRT to Khatib and the Mandai Khatib bus. Ride-hailing is easy in the morning; arrange your return in advance. If you only have one Mandai day, do the Zoo from opening to mid-afternoon, rest, have an early dinner at the entrance, then take a Night Safari slot. It is a long day, but it is the most efficient way to see the best of both parks, and the combination ticket keeps the cost down.