Description: We only had one night to spend in Singapore and if you've spent any time researching the place, you know there is a lot to do. We hit on some wonderfully clear, warm weather and we had heard great things about the Night Safari so this was our winning destination. We were in Singapore on a Saturday night. Combine that with the good weather and it's a recipe for a really crowded experience.
To get to the Night Safari without a car, you can take a cab though these can get pricy in Singapore and the Night Safari is a little ways out of town. Or you can brave the masses and take the bus. Information about which bus to take is available at most hotels and all over town. This is one of the premiere destinations in the city. Going to Singapore and not being able to get to the Night Safari is about as unlikely as going to Orlando and missing Disney World.
Once you arrive at the departing bus terminal you are expected to enter a long, winding line to board the bus. If you aren't at the very beginning of the line, you won't be getting a seat and they pack these busses very full. There was hardly room to hold on. It's a rather long, uncomfortable, unairconditioned ride but the fare is minimal.
We had heard that there were hawker stands around the entrance. We didn't find these so we wound up eating park food. Chili pepper burgers. Which, while more expensive than hawker food would have been, were very tasty. There are several restaurants around the park entrance and they all served western-style food, so if you were planning on an authentic singaporean culinary experience, you should plan ahead.
Also at the entrance to the park are gift shops and a place where you can dangle your feet in a tank of water as little fishes nibble off dead skin. Fun to watch, even if you don't want to take part. Also fun to watch was the impressive show of Borneo tribesman throwing flaming spears and performing impressive acrobatics. All this, before you even have to enter the park.
When you buy your ticket, you have the choice of the standard ticket or upgrading to one where you can ride the tram. As the latter was pricier, we stuck to the standard. Apparently there are some areas of the park that are only accessible by tram but since we didn't see these we are in no position to tell you whether they are worth it.
The Night Safari was definitely worth the price. We saw animals in almost every enclosure. The lights that they use to illuminate the park for visitors without disturbing the animals makes the experience even more interesting. You can see the animals as they go about their business. In some enclosures, you are actually in with the animals, there is a bat enclosure where this is true. While these animals are supposedly harmless unless provoked it's still quite disturbing to feel them swooshing overhead without anything between the two of you.
In spite of all the people we saw on the busses and at the park entrance, the trails themselves weren't over crowded. We arrived alone at many enclosures. Many of the animals were novel to us and we spent a lot of time at most of the enclosures. All told, we were at the park around three hours.
If you happen to be in Singapore when the sky is clear, the Night Safari is a must-see. Especially if you have kids.
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