If you are an animal lover and would like to see the animals up-close, Singapore Zoo is a perfect place for you. This 69 acres zoo offers an experience you won’t forget. Here is your ultimate photo guide of Singapore Zoo.
I guess I was one of the first to visit the Singapore zoo to see the beautiful animals on that day. I landed very early in the morning at Changi Airport, waited for the metro to start its operation, and went to Singapore Botanic Gardens afterward. From there, I took a bus to reach the zoo. You know, what? It took me an eternity to reach the zoo.
The zoo is far from the city center. Theoretically, the distance is not that bad. The botanical garden, another popular destination is 16 Kilometers away. However, 1 hour 10 minutes of bus journey took me there. Maybe the anticipation or the entire night of the sleepless journey made my journey to the zoo feel longer.
Jokes apart, the bus stops in too many places in Singapore to my liking. Once you are in the bus, you will find a pre-defined stoppage in every house of Singapore to take its residents. Sadly, no metro rail connected the zoo directly, and the taxi was too expensive for me. However, if you want comfort and to save some time, don’t take the bus like me. If you want to save money like me, you can see the tips below at the end of this article to reach the zoo efficiently. Here is the ultimate travel guide for seeing the animals of Singapore Zoo for a perfect visit!
Three Types of Visits at Singapore Zoo
- Regular Day Visit — The main zoo experience, 8:30am–6:00pm
- Night Safari — World’s first nocturnal wildlife park. Thursday to Sunday, 7:00pm–midnight.
- River Wonders — Asia’s largest freshwater aquarium and wildlife attraction (formerly River Safari), adjacent to the main zoo
Each requires a separate ticket. I didn’t do the Night Safari on my first visit, reasoning I wouldn’t be able to see much. I was wrong — the Night Safari is a completely different, unforgettable experience. Read my Singapore at Night guide for more on that.
I purchased my ticket to the zoo online through Klook. They consistently offer discounts and a loyalty points programme where accumulated points reduce the cost of future purchases. I walked straight in — no queue.
Singapore Zoo Map
Keep this map handy. I’ve included it above because it’ll save you significant time and missed encounters. The zoo is large enough that without a plan, you’ll end up doubling back and missing sections. Trust me — I spent an almost full day there and still didn’t see everything.
The zoo has a free tram service — unlimited rides are now included with every admission ticket. Use it liberally, especially in the heat of the afternoon or if you’re travelling with young children.
Animals in Singapore Zoo
So, what did I see? What were my favourites? It’s a hard question to answer. But let me try to recall — it was an overwhelmingly sweet experience.
White Tiger
The number one on my list. The white tiger was prowling around so gracefully that it was difficult to move away. It looked so near to me.
White tigers are not a separate species — they are Bengal tigers with a rare genetic mutation (leucism) that affects pigmentation. The first captive white tiger, named Mohan, was captured as a cub from India and kept in a Maharaja’s palace, eventually becoming the ancestor of most white tigers in captivity today. In the wild, this pale colouration is actually a disadvantage — too visible to prey, too visible to poachers.
The tigers at Singapore Zoo are placed in a generous space with green vegetation and water. They swim regularly. I could have watched for an entire hour. You can often see a video of their endlessly graceful, rhythmic patrol — there’s something deeply hypnotic about it.
Giraffe
I love giraffes. I’ll admit it freely. They are so elegant, so improbably tall, so quietly dignified.
The giraffes at Singapore Zoo were the handsomest I’ve seen. There’s no barrier blocking your eyesight — they seem close enough to approach you at any moment. Giraffes live on vegetation, favouring hay, jackfruit, and mineral-rich soils. Look at their enclosure carefully and you’ll notice that the browse (leafy branches) is hung at height, making the giraffes stretch their necks upward — preserving their natural feeding behaviour.
Zebra
Zebras and giraffes share habitat in the wild across Africa’s savannahs, and at Singapore Zoo they’re often found in the same zone. Several zebras were grazing in their lush enclosure, looking content and slightly unimpressed by visitors. I always find myself asking the same question when I see them: are they black animals with white stripes, or white animals with black stripes? (The answer: genetically, they’re black with white stripes.)
Polar Bear
Meet Inuka — one of the most beloved residents in Singapore Zoo’s history. I had a long-cherished dream of seeing a polar bear. I’d even planned a trip to Svalbard, the extreme north of Norway, to see one in the wild. As it turned out, I met one just four hours from my home in Singapore.
The designers of the zoo created his habitat to replicate a polar environment — chilled, icy, with a large pool for swimming. He was active and playful for a while, then curled up and slept with the confidence of a creature that had nowhere to be.
Update: Inuka sadly passed away in 2018, becoming the last polar bear in Singapore Zoo’s history. His enclosure now hosts other animals. His memory, and the debate his life sparked about keeping polar bears in tropical climates, remains an important part of Singapore Zoo’s story.
Update on Polar Bear
Unfortunately, Inuka passed away in 2018, such a loss for us 🙁
Turtles – big and small
Singapore Zoo has a wonderful variety of turtles — some so large they can weigh up to 250 kilograms. They come from different parts of the world and require different environments: some prefer to stay mostly in water, others on land. Watching the large ones haul themselves slowly across the enclosure is oddly fascinating.
Cheetah
The big cat was rather lazy when I went to meet it. As global deforestation continues, we have lost a devastating proportion of wild cheetah populations. Seeing one this close — even in the context of a zoo — brings that reality home.
Did you know that cheetahs are the fastest land animals on earth? Their light build, long thin legs, and flexible spine allow them to reach speeds of 50 to 80 miles per hour (80 to 130 km/h) in short bursts. When they’re sleeping off their lunch in a zoo enclosure, it takes a real effort of imagination to picture that speed.
Rhinoceros
Here are the massive White Rhinos — grazing with that characteristic lazy authority, horn glinting. Do you know why rhinos have such enormously wide mouths? Because they are grazers — that wide mouth acts like a lawnmower, efficiently cropping low grasses. A rhino eats over 60 kilograms of vegetation per day. No wonder they were constantly busy eating and showing no interest in posing for me.
Crocodiles
When I reached the crocodile section, one was stretched out on a large rock, completely motionless, soaking up warmth. Crocodiles can remain still for extraordinary lengths of time — it’s not laziness but energy conservation, a survival strategy refined over 200 million years of evolution. I spent less time here than planned and moved on fairly quickly. Some ancient instincts don’t disappear easily.
Otters
Meet the Asian small-clawed otters — and they are a delight. There was an entire family of them, playing with each other, chasing, rolling, diving. They are constantly in motion, constantly cheerful, constantly entertaining. There’s a lower underwater exhibit too, where you can watch them swim — the grace they move with in water is completely at odds with their bumbling energy on land.
Tree Kangaroo
The Australasia zone introduced me to the tree kangaroo — a creature I genuinely hadn’t known existed before my visit. Found in Papua New Guinea, there are fewer than fifty tree kangaroos in zoos worldwide. It was eating something in a tree, far from me, and had absolutely no interest in my camera. I respect an animal that knows what it wants.
Red River Hog
I didn’t know this animal existed before Singapore Zoo. How could I — these bush pigs live in the forests of Central and West Africa, and I live very far from there. They are stunning: striking reddish-brown fur, black legs, white facial markings. Lovely, unusual creatures that I would never have encountered otherwise.
Koala
Four koalas — Pellita, Paddle, Chan, and Idalia — were brought to Singapore Zoo from Australia on a loan programme. They were playing in tree branches, doing exactly what koalas do: sleeping, eating eucalyptus, and looking unbothered.
Note: These koalas have since returned to Australia after I visited. You may no longer see koalas at the main zoo, but check the Singapore Zoo website for the latest on any special exhibits.
Snake
A friend from Germany once told me he was desperate to see snakes because they simply don’t see them in his country. I found this baffling — I’ve never been able to appreciate the beauty of a snake in the way he described. It just gives me the chills. However, as long as they’re behind glass, I’m happy to meet them. Singapore Zoo has an extensive reptile collection. If you’re a reptile enthusiast, you’ll find this section particularly rewarding.
Elephants
Two Asian elephants were walking together, touching trunks, clearly deep in some conversation I wasn’t privy to. Interestingly, all the elephants at Singapore Zoo are female — the herd structure reflects natural elephant society, where female elephants live together in close-knit groups led by a matriarch. I love elephants. Always have. These were smaller than I expected, but no less extraordinary.
Cotton-top Tamarin
These are small New World monkeys — one of the smallest primates in the world — with a dramatic shock of white hair on their heads that gives them their name. At Singapore Zoo, there is an entire family unit. One of their most charming behaviours: in a Cotton-top Tamarin family, the father is the primary caregiver for infants, only handing them to the mother for nursing. When I was there, they were playing in the trees at speed, and I barely managed to fit two of them into my photo frame.
Orangutan
A quick distinction worth knowing: Orangutans are not monkeys — they are apes, and they have no tail. They are the largest tree-dwelling mammals on earth, found in the wild only in Borneo and Sumatra, and they are critically endangered.
At Singapore Zoo, the orangutans live in a complex elevated habitat — an interconnected network of wooden structures spread over a large canopy area, through which they swing and climb freely. The young ones learn everything from their parents, staying with them for 7 to 8 years — one of the longest periods of parental dependency in the animal kingdom. Watch them long enough and the intelligence in their eyes is genuinely striking.
Cassowary
Meet the Cassowary — officially recognised as the most dangerous bird on earth. They have been known to attack humans, and a man in the USA was fatally injured by a captive cassowary in 2019. Don’t be alarmed — they’re not more dangerous than we are, so let’s admire them safely from a respectful distance. And they really are beautiful: vivid blue and red neck, prehistoric helmet-like casque on the head, iridescent black feathers. I wanted to bring one home. Knowing what I know about their temperament, I’m glad I didn’t.
Silhouette
This isn’t the name of an animal — don’t worry. But I wouldn’t be surprised if it were, given some of the names in my new vocabulary from this visit. One of the most special aspects of Singapore Zoo is its Treetops Trail — a walkway that takes you through the forest canopy at the level where animals actually live. Look up, and you see creatures in trees above you, moving and calling. This silhouette photo captures one such moment: a creature in its element, playing in the canopy, pure joy in its movement.
These are not all
The above list is not exhaustive. Singapore Zoo has far more to see than I’ve described here. You’ll also find: Proboscis monkeys, Komodo dragons, sun bears, meerkats, pygmy hippos, giant tortoises, flamingos, and much more. You really do need to go yourself to see it all.
….and Fuad
At some point, I became exhausted and sat down on a beautifully carved timber bench. While I was resting and gazing around, a small child rushed up, pointed at me excitedly, and started shouting: “Daddy! Daddy!! What is it? It looks like us, and oh my God, it’s grinning too!”
I heard some camera shutters.
I understood. It was time to leave the zoo — if not the world.
Best Shows at Singapore Zoo
One thing many visitors don’t plan for: the Singapore Zoo has several excellent animal shows included with entry. Build these into your day.
| Show | Location | Approx. Times |
|---|---|---|
| Splash Safari (sea lion show) | Shaw Foundation Amphitheatre | 10:30am, 5:00pm |
| Rainforest Fights Back (wildlife show) | Rainforest Amphitheatre | 11:00am, 4:00pm |
| Animal Friends Show (family, kids) | Rainforest KidzWorld | Various — check on arrival |
Pro tip: Show times can change — always confirm at the entrance when you arrive. Plan your zoo route around at least one show.
Singapore Zoo with Kids — What Parents Need to Know
The Singapore Zoo is one of the most family-friendly attractions in Asia. Specific highlights for children:
Rainforest KidzWorld: A dedicated children’s zone with a water play area (bring swimwear and a towel), pony rides, a carousel, and a farmyard section where kids can feed goats, rabbits, and guinea pigs.
Breakfast in the Wild (formerly Breakfast with Orangutans): Book a buffet breakfast at Ah Meng Restaurant inside the zoo. Orangutans, macaws, African penguins and other animal ambassadors roam nearby from 9:00–10:30am. SGD 47 adult / SGD 37 child (ages 6–12). Children under 6 must be accompanied by an adult. Note: a separate zoo admission ticket is also required. An unforgettable experience.
👉 Book Breakfast in the Wild via Klook — search for the breakfast experience on the listing page.
Animal feeding sessions: Check the daily schedule posted at the entrance. Arrive a few minutes early — these sessions draw crowds, but once they’re over, the space empties and you can often get better photos.
Stroller rental: Available at the entrance. Well worth it for young children — the zoo involves a lot of walking.
Baby care rooms: Available at Ah Meng Restaurant and KidzWorld.
Combo Tickets — Save with Bundles
Singapore Zoo is part of the Mandai Wildlife Reserve — a cluster of world-class animal parks that also includes:
- 🌙 Night Safari — World’s first nocturnal wildlife park (Thu–Sun, 7pm–midnight). 👉 Buy Night Safari tickets via Klook
- 🛶 River Wonders (formerly River Safari) — Asia’s largest freshwater aquarium, home to giant pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia. 👉 Buy River Wonders tickets via Klook
- 🦜 Bird Paradise — Southeast Asia’s largest bird park, which replaced the beloved Jurong Bird Park.
Visiting more than one park? Bundle tickets save significantly compared to buying individually. Check the current bundle options:
👉 View Singapore Zoo + Mandai combo tickets via Klook
Practicalities
How to Get to Singapore Zoo
The zoo is located in the Mandai area — about 20 kilometres from the city centre. Here are the best ways to get there:
Option 1 — MRT + Mandai Khatib Shuttle (Recommended)
Take any MRT line to Khatib Station (NS14). Outside the station, board the Mandai Khatib Shuttle Bus — it runs directly to the zoo in about 20 minutes and is the simplest, most efficient option. The shuttle costs SGD 1 each way and runs frequently during the day.
Option 2 — MRT + Bus 138
Take the MRT to Ang Mo Kio Station and board Bus 138 directly to the zoo. This route takes about 20–25 minutes from Ang Mo Kio.
Option 3 — Grab (Recommended if Speed Matters)
If you value time and comfort, just call a Grab from wherever you are in the city. Journey time from the city centre is around 25–30 minutes. Cost roughly SGD 15–25 depending on time of day and traffic.
Do Not Use: Regular Bus from the City
While technically possible, travelling by regular bus from the city centre to the zoo takes around two hours. I did this on my first visit. I do not recommend it.
Singapore Zoo Ticket Price
Prices below are for non-residents as of 2026. Local residents with a WildPass receive significant discounts. Always confirm current pricing when booking.
| Ticket Type | Adult (13+) | Child (3–12) | Infant (0–2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore Zoo (day) | SGD 49 | SGD 34 | Free |
| Night Safari + Tram | SGD 55+ | SGD 38+ | Free |
| River Wonders + Boat | SGD 43+ | SGD 30+ | Free |
| Bird Paradise | SGD 49+ | SGD 34+ | Free |
🚃 Tram rides are free and unlimited with every Singapore Zoo admission ticket — a recent upgrade that makes navigating this large zoo much easier, especially with children.
💰 Save up to 30% by buying a multi-park bundle (Zoo + Night Safari + River Wonders). Check current bundle pricing:
👉 Buy Singapore Zoo tickets via Klook | 👉 Buy Night Safari tickets via Viator
How to Buy Singapore Zoo Tickets
Buy online through Klook. Benefits:
- Usually cheaper than buying at the gate
- Skip the queue — just show your phone at entry
- Accumulate Klook points for future discounts
- Pay with any international credit card
Where to Eat in Singapore Zoo
- Ah Meng Restaurant (Breakfast in the Wild) — Buffet breakfast while animal ambassadors roam nearby. 9:00am–10:30am daily. SGD 47 adult / SGD 37 child (ages 6–12). Requires a separate zoo admission ticket. 👉 Book Breakfast in Singapore Zoo
- KFC at the entrance — Weekdays 10:00am–6:30pm; Weekends 9:00am–7:00pm
- Inuka Café — Singaporean cuisines, daily 8:00am–7:00pm
- Ben & Jerry’s — Ice cream for hot Singapore afternoons, daily 10:30am–7:00pm
- Treetops Trail food outlets — Snacks and drinks near the upper zoo sections
Toilet Facilities
The toilets at Singapore Zoo are uniquely designed, well-maintained, and free to use. They’re also easy to find — look for signs throughout the zoo. No unpleasant surprises.
Locker Facilities
- Small locker (30H × 38L × 51W cm): SGD 5 for first 3 hours; SGD 1 per additional hour
- Large locker (85H × 45L × 90W cm): SGD 10 for first 3 hours; SGD 2 per additional hour
- Oversized luggage storage: Same pricing as large locker
Singapore Zoo Opening Hours
8:30am to 6:00pm daily — last entry at 5:00pm.
Singapore Zoo Contact Number
+65 6269 3411
Tips for Visiting Singapore Zoo
- 📱 Buy your ticket online — cheaper and skip the queue
- ⏰ Arrive at opening time (8:30am) — cooler temperatures, lighter crowds, and animals are more active in the morning
- ☀️ Use sunscreen liberally — the Singapore sun at midday is fierce
- 🌧️ Carry a small umbrella — brief tropical showers can appear without warning
- 👟 Wear comfortable, closed shoes — you’ll walk far more than you expect
- 🍶 Bring a reusable water bottle — there are water refill points throughout the zoo. Drink constantly. Singapore’s humidity will dehydrate you faster than you realise.
- 📋 Don’t plan any other activities on your zoo day — it genuinely takes a full day including transport
- 🗺️ Study the map before you enter and plan a rough route — the zoo is large enough to get disoriented
- 🐾 Check show times at the entrance gate and plan at least one into your route
- 🦒 Feeding sessions are some of the best moments. After the crowd disperses, the animals often become more relaxed and approachable — ideal for photography
- 👙 Bring swimwear if you’re visiting with kids — the KidzWorld water play area is popular and well worth using
New in 2026: Exploria — Singapore’s Immersive Nature Experience
One addition that sets a 2026 visit to Singapore Zoo apart from any previous trip: Exploria, which opened in March 2026 as one of Southeast Asia’s largest indoor nature-themed multimedia attractions.
Exploria uses immersive digital technology to transport visitors into environments they couldn’t otherwise see — prehistoric ecosystems, deep-sea worlds, microscopic life, and rarely glimpsed wilderness. Think floor-to-ceiling projections, spatial audio, and interactive elements, all with a conservation message woven throughout.
It sits within the Mandai Wildlife Reserve precinct and is accessible as an add-on to your zoo visit. If you’re visiting in 2026 or later, it’s worth building into your day — particularly in the midday heat when the outdoor zoo can feel relentless.
Singapore Zoo vs Night Safari — Which Should You Choose?
This is one of the most searched questions about both attractions. Here’s the honest answer:
Choose the Singapore Zoo (day visit) if:
- You’re visiting with young children — the KidzWorld water play area, animal feedings, and the open daytime environment are perfect for kids
- You want to see the widest range of animals, including the iconic white tigers, giraffes, elephants, and orangutans
- You have a full day to spare and want a comprehensive wildlife experience
- It’s your only time at Mandai
Choose the Night Safari if:
- You’ve already done the day zoo, or want something truly different
- You’re fascinated by nocturnal wildlife — the Night Safari is a completely different cast of creatures: leopards, fishing cats, hyenas, slow lorises, Malayan tapirs
- You have flexible evenings (it’s open Thursday to Sunday only)
- You enjoy a more atmospheric, slightly mysterious experience
Do both if: You have the time and budget. They genuinely don’t overlap — different animals, different atmosphere, completely different experience. A two-park bundle saves around 30% compared to buying individually. 👉 View Mandai multi-park bundles via Klook
The verdict: For first-time visitors, the Singapore Zoo day visit is the priority. The Night Safari is the one to add if you have extra time.
Frequently Asked Questions: Singapore Zoo
Plan for at least 4–5 hours for the main areas. A full visit with shows, lunch, the kids’ zone, and the new Exploria attraction can take 7–8 hours. Wear comfortable shoes — the distances are significant.
Absolutely. It’s consistently rated one of the world’s top zoos for animal welfare and visitor experience. The Open Concept design makes it feel like a safari rather than a traditional zoo. With over 4,200 animals across 300+ species, you’ll never run out of things to see.
Arrive at opening time (8:30am) to beat the heat and the crowds. By midday the zoo gets very hot and busy. Alternatively, visit late afternoon (3–4pm onwards) when it cools slightly — but you’ll miss some morning shows.
What are the Singapore Zoo ticket prices in 2026?
Non-resident adult tickets are SGD 49; child (ages 3–12) tickets are SGD 34; children under 3 enter free. Tram rides are now included free with every ticket. Buy online via Klook for a small discount and to skip the queue.
Can you see pandas at Singapore Zoo?
Giant pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia (and their offspring) can be seen at River Wonders (the adjacent wildlife park, formerly River Safari) — not the main zoo. 👉 Book River Wonders Singapore
Yes. The Night Safari requires a separate ticket and is open Thursday to Sunday (plus public holidays) from 7pm to midnight. Book in advance — it sells out. See the “Zoo vs Night Safari” section above for help deciding between the two. 👉 Buy Night Safari tickets
Is Singapore Zoo good for kids?
Excellent. The Rainforest KidzWorld water play area, the Breakfast in the Wild experience (from SGD 47 adult), and the various animal feeding sessions make it one of the best family attractions in Southeast Asia. The free tram also makes navigating with young children far easier.
Yes, but it’s been rebranded as Breakfast in the Wild and now includes a wider cast of animal ambassadors — orangutans, macaws, and African penguins among others. It runs 9:00–10:30am daily at Ah Meng Restaurant. Prices are SGD 47 adult / SGD 37 child (ages 6–12). A separate zoo admission ticket is also required.
See More of Singapore
- 🗺️ 4-Day Singapore Itinerary for First Timers — Full day-by-day trip plan with real costs
- 🌙 Singapore at Night — The Complete After-Dark Guide — Night Safari, light shows and more
- 🌿 Singapore Botanic Gardens Guide — UNESCO heritage site, mostly free
- ✈️ Things to Do at Changi Airport — Jewel, layovers, and more
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