The Night Safari at Mandai

A nocturnal zoo in the forest north of the city, where leopards, tapirs and fishing cats move through dimly lit enclosures and a tram glides past in the dark.

Area

Green Singapore

Start from

Central Singapore

Distance

about 20 km north of the city

Time needed

one evening

Best season

All year; it runs in light rain, but storms can pause the tram

Difficulty

Easy

Transport

Mandai shuttle bus from Khatib MRT, public bus, or taxi

Tickets & rules

Entry ticket; booking ahead is recommended

Why go

The Night Safari is one of those things that sounds touristy and turns out to be genuinely magical. When it opens in the early evening, the forest is cooling, the cicadas are loud, and the animals, most of which are nocturnal, are just waking up. The lighting is soft, like moonlight, so you see the animals as shadows and gleaming eyes rather than under harsh spotlights.

You start with the tram, which takes about 40 minutes to wind through the different zones of the park, past herds of deer, rhinos, elephants, hyenas and lions. Then you get off and walk the trails, which are where the real fun is: the fishing cat trail, the leopard trail and the walk-through aviaries with flying squirrels and bats.

I loved standing in the dark at the edge of an enclosure, waiting, until a tapir wandered out of the bushes or a pangolin moved slowly across the leaves. Children are enchanted, and adults are, quietly, too.

The story

The Night Safari opened in 1994 and is often described as the world's first nocturnal zoo. The idea was simple: since most tropical mammals are active at night, why not show them when they are actually awake? It was built next to the Singapore Zoo in a patch of secondary forest on the edge of the Upper Seletar Reservoir.

The park is now part of the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, which also includes the Singapore Zoo, the River Wonders park and the Bird Paradise. The Singapore Zoo is famous for its 'open' design, with moats and natural barriers instead of cages, and the same idea was used at the Night Safari.

Many of the animals here are from Southeast Asia and are threatened in the wild: Malayan tapirs, Sunda pangolins, binturongs and clouded leopards among them. The parks run breeding and conservation programmes, and the guides on the tram often talk about poaching and habitat loss in the region.

The evening show, 'Creatures of the Night', features animals such as otters and owls and has become a classic. It is charming and brief, a good way to start before heading out on the dark trails.

Getting there

The Mandai Khatib shuttle runs from Khatib MRT station on the North-South line to the wildlife parks for a small fee. Public buses also go there, and a taxi from the city takes about 30 minutes.

Leaving late at night, taxis and ride-hailing cars can be in high demand; the last shuttles leave around closing time.

A suggested plan

1. 6:30 pmArrive at the Mandai entrance and have dinner at the food outlets near the gate.
2. 7:15 pmThe Night Safari opens; head straight to the tram queue before it builds up.
3. 8:00 pmWatch the 'Creatures of the Night' show; check current times.
4. 8:30 pmWalk the trails: fishing cat, leopard and the East Lodge trail.
5. 10:30 pmReturn by shuttle or taxi to the city.

Where to stay

There is a resort in the Mandai area, but most visitors come from the city. A base in the north is quieter, though the city centre is only half an hour away.

Good to know

• Book tickets online; evenings sell out on weekends and holidays.
• Flash photography is strictly forbidden; it disturbs the animals. Take the night as an experience rather than a photo session.
• Wear closed shoes for the trails and bring mosquito repellent.
• Combine with the Singapore Zoo or the River Wonders park during the day for a full Mandai day.