Download My Custom Map Here:

Singapore Zoo Custom Map and Itinerary Download

This is a blog version of my video guide on Singapore Zoo published on YouTube

If you want to plan the most exciting day and make your money’s worth at the Singapore Zoo, you’re in the right place.

I have designed a step by step itinerary to help you experience the BEST of the zoo.

Don’t miss out on the 5% off when you use code DASHINGHEIGHTS when booking on KLOOK!

Let’s begin!

Advertisements

BEFORE Coming Here…

Theres a SUPER easily avoidable mistake that people make when planning to come to the zoo.

At the zoo, you wont be able to find any ticketing counters.

Tickets can only be bought ONLINE

There are public devices you can use to buy online on the spot, or just use your own mobile phones.

But the bigger issue is some of the add-on experiences you might not want to miss has LIMITED availability.

So you may end up missing out on epic feeding sessions or even ruin your whole day if the zoo is fully booked.

To avoid making this mistake, before you start your epic zoo day:

Go to the zoo website
1. https://www.mandai.com/en/ticketing/admission-and-rides/parks-selection.html
Buy an entry ticket for the zoo
- Get 5% off when you buy from KLOOK with my code DASHINGHEIGHTSKLOOK
- BUT you’ll have to do step #3 separately…
AND the add-ons you want to experience
- The animal feeding experiences are especially popular and are the first ones to sell out

The earlier you can buy them, the higher chance of them being available

Getting Here

Can’t have a great day at the zoo if you can’t get to the zoo!

I prefer to start the day early and FRESH.

So personally I recommend taking the taxi to get here

The zoo is quite far out of the city, so public transit options are not as convenient.

You’ll have to take the train and a connecting bus

More info on Mandai website

The ONE Route

Imagine going to an ALL you can eat buffet. You’d want to eat as much of the good stuff as possible. A visit to the zoo is like a buffet -but please don’t eat the animals!!

I meant there are so many animals to see, but you’re only there for a day. Which animal should you see first??

To guarantee the best animal sightings, i’ve planned this itinerary to coincide with many of the zookeeper talks and feeding sessions.

If you visit them at any other time, you might be disappointed to find that the animal is resting or hiding somewhere else

i’ll also show you the best of each attraction and rank them out of 5 stars, to have a gauge for comparison.

Advertisements

08:30 – Reach the Zoo

The least crowded period in the zoo is right after opening and before closing.

You’ll get to enjoy the zoo experience more peacefully.

so you want to arrive as early as the zoo opens

Treetop Trail – 3.5/5

On entering, look out for the treetop trail boardwalks on your left.

You’ll spot the siamang in the trees!

The siamang is an endangered gibbon. Im really confused why they put him here. Look who’s below:

If one day they stop seeing him, the crocs (False Gharial) might know where he went

Asian Small-Clawed Otter 3/5

Right outside the treetop trail, don’t miss the super adorable asian small-clawed otters!

Gibbon Island – 4/5

Next, follow the sheltered walkway and keep your eyes peeled at the tree line on your left.

You’ll spot some gibbons HANGING out.

Catch the:

Buff-cheeked gibbon
Columbian spider monkey
Pelicans
Red ruffed lemur

Orangutan Island – 5/5

Continuing forward,

Keep moving forward You’ll reach the CENTER of the zoo, the Ah Meng Restaurant.If you thought Ah Meng is the owner or the chef of the restaurant, you’re WRONG.

AhMeng actually is one of Zoo’s late ORANGUTAN!

She was super friendly to visitors, gaining her a celebrity status. When she passed in 2008, 4000 people turned up to her funeral…

One of her grandchildren: Ishta, carries on her legacy!

I love this setup because the orangutans looks so FREE. It’s like as if they’re living their daily life. the orangutans outside are from Borneo.

Theres a small hut just beside, where you can find the Sumatran orangutans

I love looking into their eyes. It feels so familiar

Advertisements

10:30 Amphitheatre Splash Safari – 4.5/5

Follow the sheltered walkways to get to the amphitheatre.

Get here abit earlier to get the best seats

As the name suggests, it’s a SPLASH safari

For the best view while keeping dry, take the middle row, 5th row onwards

The Splash safari stars Pedro, the Sea Lion, who’ll intrigue you with his antics.

Personally I find it very entertaining. The host was a great showman and pedro is so genuinely adorable

11:00 Primate kingdom – 4/5

Now we are going to visit our distant relatives…

With the stage behind you, exit via the LEFT big gate, and head straight into primate kingdom

You will be JUST in time for the upcoming keeper talk at 11:00

The zookeeper will bring you around to meet the residents

You’ll find the:

Saki Monkey
De Brazza’s Monkey
Black Howler
Black And White Ruffed Lemur
BlackAndWhiteColobus
Douc Langur

The Douc Langur is my favorite here.

He looks like he’s wearing a colorful suit!

Great Rift Valley of Ethiopia – 4.5/5

We’ll now be visiting a little piece of Africa

From the Douc Langur area, find this little pathway

It’ll bring you to the Great Rift Valley of Ethiopia, home to the Hamadryas Baboon.

There are also cultural exhibits showcasing livelihood of the native people, coffee, and archaeology

The baboons are very active and were a joy to watch!

11:30 Elephants of Asia Presentation & Feeding Session – 4/5

Now go back to the douc langur area, and head to the boardwalks to the Elephants of Asia for the 11:30 elephant presentation AND 11:45 elephant feeding.

I will share with you a secret to get to feed the elephants for free!!

During the presentation, you’ll learn about the elephants and their care routine.

There will also be Elephant pop quiz by the keeper.

Any audience who gets the answer correctly will get to come forward to feed the elephant.

So equip yourself with these knowledge:

How long are elephants pregnant for?
- 18-22 months
Why do elephants fan their ears?
- To cool down their temperature
Why do the elephants in Singapore Zoo have no tusk?
- Because they are all ASIAN FEMALE elephants

You’re welcome!

The feeding session is right after the elephant presentation. I feel that it’s quite worthwhile to join in because it feels magical to interact with such a gentle intelligent giant.

Lunch Break

Now we will head back to Ahmeng restaurant for a short lunch break

The food here is decent, and the indoor eating area is LUXURIOUSLY air-conditioned

Wild Africa

Now I don’t want to rush you, but we’ll need to get going to the BEST part of the zoo: WILD AFRICA

Advertisements

13:15 White Rhino Feeding Session

Let’s start with the White Rhineceros feeding session

The feeding area is very close by to the public area, so you don’t really have to pay to have a good view of the feeding session.

13:25 African Lion Keeper Talk

Next, we go further in to catch the zookeeper’s talk with the African Lion

13:30 Meerkat Keeper Talk

Beside the Lion exhibit, find the adorable Meerkats!

Also attend with the zookeper’s talk.

13:35 Cheetah Keeper talk

Next, catch the FASTEST land animal: the Cheetah, with the zookeeper’s talk

13:40 African Painted Dog Keeper talk

and the social & amicable African Painted Dogs, also another zookeeper’s talk

13:50 Giraffe

Then we are going to JOIN the feeding session with the Giraffe.

I highly recommend this because the giraffe feeding is in an EXCLUSIVE area.

You’ll be able to interact with the tall giraffe in person on the feeding platform.

The way they feed with their tongue is so mesmerising.

The giraffe feeding session is the crowd’s favorite so make sure to buy the add-on this in advance.

Look at core memories being created

Red River Hog & Leopard

We’re not even done with Wild Africa yet!!

Theres also the Red River Hog and the Leopard

14:15 Zebra Feeding Session

And lastly, catch the Zebra feeding session.

It’s also very visible to just watch the ongoing session rather than joining in.

14:40 Tiger Trek Keeper Talk – 5/5

NEXT, we’re gonna have a ROARING time.

We’ll head back towards the direction of AhMeng’s restaurant to catch the TIGERS.

In my first visit to the zoo I was very excited to see the white tiger. However, I was sorely disappointed when the white tiger wasn’t even on exhibit. I learned that the Tigers are on rotation. The White Tigers work on Tue,Thu,Fri,Sun while the Orange Malayan Tigers work on Mon,Wed,Sat. It was double disappointment for me because the tigers were lazing around at the FAR end of the exhibit.

To avoid getting yourself disappointed, pick the right day to visit the zoo, AND make sure you visit at the 14:40 zookeeper talk.

I went on another day, and finally caught the white bengal tiger!

June 2024 UPDATE: The white tiger has moved to Night Safari…

Advertisements

Pygmy Hippo – 3/5

Next, we catch the giant river puppy.

Just outside the tiger exhibit, you’ll see a water tank.

Walk inside and you’ll find the pygmy hippo.

It’s very adorable and there are cooling fans around.

Reptopia – 4.5/5

Our next stop is the Reptile’s Paradise: the Reptopia.

We will be passing by the Wild Africa area again.

Look out for this Reptopia sign and follow the arrows.

You’ll be treated to a huge buffet of snakes, lizards, frogs, and more.

For the amount of reptiles you can see in just ONE place, the Reptopia is a must visit

Fragile Forest – 5/5

Next we’re going to a very special place in the zoo- where you’re going INTO the animals’ enclosure.

Get out of the Reptopia the SAME way you came in. Back to where the Reptopia sign was, take a left.

Theres a section called the Butterfly Dome where you can make your Disney dreams come true.

Further within, you’ll enter the Dome where you truly get to be one with nature.

I truly enjoyed meeting the bats, the friendly photogenic Lemur, shy elusive Mousedeer, lazy two toed Sloth, Saki Monkey, and the beautiful birds.

The enclosure itself is also very beautifully made

Emperor Tamarin

Don’t miss out on these whiskered mini monkeys. Just outside of the Fragile Forest, theres a glass wall exhibit housing the Emperor Tamarin.

Advertisements

16:15 Celebes Crested Macaque Keeper Talk – 4/5

Next, we’re gonna see friends of the SELFIE monkey!

Further straight, you’ll find another sheltered glass exhibit housing the Celebes Crested Macaque.

The Apes are fun to watch and they look unique.

16:35 Chimpanzee Keeper Talk – 3.5/5

Next we’re visiting the movie stars from the Planet of the Apes: The Chimpanzees

Exit to the left from the celebes crested ape, and you’ll find the chimpanzee island.

I quite like their island, but they’re not very active.

Outdoor Reptile Area (Skippable) – 3/5

Next, we’re walking back towards the entrance.

Along the way, we’ll be catching up with the rest of the reptiles.

Continue straight and take a LEFT to visit the outdoor reptile areas.

The stars of the show here is the big croc, the komodo dragons, and the 100 years old tortoises.

Proboscis Monkey (Skippable) – 3.5/5

Now we’re going to see the squidward monkeys.

Head to the Proboscis monkey exhibit NEARBY the entrance.

Now you’ll know why I called them SQUIDWARD monkeys.

This monkey is quite unique!

Intentional Exclusions

There are a few things i intentionally missed out

Advertisements

Amphitheatre Rainforest Strikes Back – 3.5/5

Theres an animal presentation at the amphitheatre where you can catch many rainforest animals in 1 sitting: Rainforest Strikes Back.

It’s a 3.5/5, but i feel it’s skippable compared to what I planned for the rest of the day.

Anyway I think you will need the lunch break.

If you still want to go, instead of going for lunch after the elephants, catch their 12:00 show and have a shorter lunch.

Australasia – 2/5

I also skipped the whole of Australasia because it’s out of the way and i find that there are not that many animals there.

The land kangaroos are not very active and the tree kangaroos are very shy.

I didn’t really enjoy Australasia.

African Penguin – 2/5

The exhibit was too small to enjoy. I feel half bad for the penguins cramped inside. I also find it hard to peer through the glass to see the penguins.