Singapore Zoo Tickets
Found in the northwestern part of Singapore at Upper Seletar, Mandai Wildlife Reserve’s Singapore Zoological Gardens is home to over 2,800 animals from over 300 species. Its open wildlife concept and world-class free-ranging orang-utan exhibit and dedication to saving threatened primates makes it one of the best rainforest zoos in the world and definitely worth visiting.
It is a popular tourist attraction especially with local residents, with the zoo opened since 27 June 1973.
You can see animals like giraffes, elephants, lions, and zebras from 11 zones. However if you’d like to see gorillas, unfortunately, they can’t be found in the Singapore Zoo. But you can see other incredibly cool animals like komodo dragons, which the zoo celebrated the first hatching of in 2009, as well as the sun bear. Catch the 33-year-old sun bear matriarch named Garang, which means ‘fierce’ in Malay, and her daughter Judy.
As for those of you folks asking what happened to the polar bear at the Zoo, the world’s only “tropical” polar bear, Inuka, sadly passed away in 2018.
You should set aside 3 to 4 hours to fully immerse yourself in the zoo experience and enjoy yourself. Go at either early in the morning or late afternoons as plenty of the animals snooze during the heat of the day.
Pro tip: if you’re going in the morning, don’t forget to catch the 10:30 Sea Safari show. Diego the sea-lion will steal your heart.
An itinerary for a day of fun:
1) Stop by Treetops Trail: this is likely your first stop, as it is near the zoo entrance. Here, you can see the Siamang Primate swinging about, as well as the Malayan Gharial.
2) Take a detour: and head left afterward to check out Otters, Anoa, and the Babirusa, before catching a glimpse of Pygmy Hippos
3) Explore the Great Rift Valley of Ethiopia: here is where you can see majestic tigers, as well the Hamadryas Baboons and the Nubian Ibex
4) Monkey about at the Primate Kingdom: check out a myriad of primates here, including the Douc Langur, the Colobus Monkey, and the Cotton-top Tamarin
5) Hang out at Elephants of Asia: this pit-stop is where you can get well-acquainted with the larger-than-life Asian Elephant, beautiful and intelligent animals. You can feed the elephants too, but do remember that it’ll cost you extra and you need to book slots.
6) Take a tram ride: tram services are include in most ticket packages and is a welcome benefit that lets you see the best of the zoo without breaking a sweat, with colourful commentary acting as a useful guide along the way.
7) Get off the tram at Wild Africa: at this incredible enclosure, check out cheetah, white rhinos, giraffes, zebras, leopards, and lions!
8) Beat the tropical heat at Reptopia: just like its cold-blooded inhabitants, this air-conditioned enclosure provides welcome relief from the blistering sun, and is a great place to check out frogs, turtles, and exotic reptiles like the Northern Caiman Lizard.
9) Next stop, Fragile Forest: if you love everything pretty, you will fall in love with this zone with its pretty butterflies, peacock pheasants, and adorable lemurs.
10) At the end of your journey: make your way past the chimpanzee and macaque enclosures, and stop by the African penguins before finishing your Singapore Zoo expedition at the Ah Meng Restaurant, named after the iconic female orang-utan who passed away in 2008.
Many people question though, is the Night Safari better than the Singapore Zoo? Well, it depends on your preferences. However, you will see more animals at the zoo if quantity is a priority for you.
Other than the Singapore Zoo, you can plan your visit to other wildlife parks like River Wonders (formerly River Safari), Night Safari, and Jurong Bird Park for a full-on animal experience, with each park within walking distance (with the current exception of Jurong Bird Park, which will move to Mandai after 3 Jan 2023).
- Why you should visit Singapore Zoo: to see all the animals you’d typically find in a traditional zoo, along with some endangered species.
- Why you should visit River Wonders: to check out unique animals from iconic river habitats and to get up close and personal with adorable giant pandas.
- Why you should visit Night Safari: if you’re not an early morning person but you’d still like to check out some cool animals – the only nocturnal park in the world would be perfect for you!
- Why you should visit Jurong Bird Park: birds, bird’s and more birds! The park is famous for its massive walk-in aviaries, with close to 3500 birds across 400 species living there.
Unfortunately, no. Kai Kai and Jia Jia, Singapore’s two giant pandas and their adorable cub Le Le, can only be found at the Giant Panda Forest at River Wonders, which is right next to the Singapore Zoo. It is the only place you can see pandas in Singapore.
Fun facts about Singapore’s giant pandas:
- Kai Kai and Jia Jia arrived in Singapore on 6 September 2012 from China
- Nine years later, the pair conceived their first-born Le Le on 14 August 2021.
- The adorable Le Le was conceived with natural mating techniques and assisted reproductive science
- Together, the happy family live in the Giant Panda exhibit at River Wonders.
- But be mindful that Jia Jia and Le Le might stay out of sight if they need privacy.
An adult Singapore Zoo ticket is priced from SGD$45.6 onwards, while children under two years old enjoy free entry. A child’s ticket will set you back SGD$31.5. And senior citizens can expect to pay SGD$20.
Children 12 years old and below must be accompanied by a paying adult at all times. You can check out the different Singapore Zoo tickets here (tram service is included in most of them – conditions apply).
If you’re looking for variety and good value, Pelago has the most bundle packages out there in the market for Singapore Zoo tickets (and not to mention, the chance you can earn KrisFlyer miles with every booking made and enjoy 10% off on your first booking)
Bonus: Breakfast in the Wild
You can also start the day right with a hearty breakfast sesh with all your favourite animals (excludes the Singapore Zoo admission ticket). Check out the package here.
Commonly Asked Questions
Is it worth it to go to the Singapore Zoo?
Definitely! The zoo is clean, spacious, and well-maintained. It has a variety of animals across different zones that mimic real-life habitats. Plus, there are animal feeding sessions, live shows, and tour packages that let you go behind the scenes. Young ones can also visit Rainforest KidzWorld to interact with and learn about cute critters.
Are tram rides on the Singapore Zoo free?
Tram rides are complimentary with the relevant Singapore Zoo tickets purchased. You can check out some of the various packages here.
Is it better to go to the zoo in the morning or afternoon?
It is entirely up to your discretion, but remember that plenty of tropical animals doze during the day’s heat. And Singapore’s sun can be blistering at times as well. An excellent way to enjoy the Singapore Zoo is to come in the late afternoon, and in the evening, when the sun sets, head over to the Night Safari.
What if it rains?
There are ways to keep yourself dry if it starts pouring during your visit. You can either hop on a tram or take shelter at one of the many pavilions around the zoo compounds. Just bring along an umbrella in any case, as the weather in Singapore is unpredictable and can rain any time throughout the year.
Do you need to wear a mask at the Singapore Zoo?
Mask-wearing inside the Singapore Zoo is optional.
