Creatures of the Night
Singaporeans love to complain – it’s almost become one of our favorite past-times. We complain about anything from bird poop on our cars to long queues at popular attractions like the Night Safari.
The birth of the new baby elephant calf will have everyone clamoring to pay her a visit, but is it really worth your while? The Klook team decided to head down to the Night Safari ourselves to bring you this guide of 11 most common Night Safari myths – OFFICIALLY debunked.
Read till the end to uncover some sweet summer deals we have in store for you.
Myth #1 – You can’t see any animals unless you have night vision goggles
Striped Hyena
All of us remember our parent’s typical response whenever we ask to go to the Night Safari, “So dark, see what?!”
While the Night Safari is indeed dark, the enclosures are all intelligently designed such that the animals can get the privacy they need and yet JUST remain visible enough for visitors to spot them, like this Nile Hippo chilling here!
Mind you, these pictures were taken from the tram, so if a camera can catch it, your eyes definitely can!
Myth #2 – It’s difficult to find your way out to civilization after visiting the park
Long line of taxis at the Night Safari taxi stand.
We took 15 minutes in total to get from the entrance of the Night Safari to Holland Village. No kidding.
Depending on how much of a hurry you’re in, you can easily find the most suitable commute to get yourself from the Night Safari to the heart of town, hassle-free.
Taxi
Contrary to popular belief, there’s actually an abundance of taxis just waiting to send you to your destination. We left the Night Safari at around 9pm and found the taxi queue empty with at least 6 taxis waiting in line. We attributed that to the fact that it was a weekday, but our WRS guide told us that’s the case practically everyday. Score!
Estimated time to the city: 20 mins
Estimated cost: $15-20
Public Transport
If you’re not in a hurry to get home, save yourself peak hour fees and other miscellaneous charges by taking our very efficient bus and train systems. There are buses that go to Choa Chu Kang (NS4), Ang Mo Kio (NS16), Marsiling (NS8) and Woodlands (NS9) MRT stations that are coincidentally on the same line (North-South Line) as Orchard (NS22)!
Pro-Tip: Ang Mo Kio (NS16) is the closest to Orchard (NS22)
Check out the bus schedules here:
Estimated time to the city: 1 hour
Estimated cost: $1.80 to $2
Express Bus
There’s also a swanky new express bus option that costs just $6 to go straight from the Night Safari to the the CBD or to Orchard Road!
Routes:
Orchard/Little India – Zoo
Beach Road/Marina Bay/City Hall/Clarke Quay – Zoo
Price: Single trip $6 (Adult) | $3 (Children 3 – 12 years old)
Website: http://www.bushub.com.sg/_saex_to_the_zoo.html
Myth #3 – You’ll always see the same old animals
Thanks to the breeding efforts of Wildlife Reserves Singapore, the Night Safari welcomed a ridiculously cute Asian elephant calf that was recently released into the main habitat!
Her parents are none other than Night Safari resident elephants Chawang and Sri Nandong, bringing the total count of elephants at the park to 6.
She-Who-Has-Yet-To-Be-Named is just a little over two months old and and shares the same characteristics as her aunt, Tun. Asian elephants are known to shun attention, but this rambunctious calf enjoys playtime as much as a puppy and is said to be very active and curious!
Visitors can now see the little big baby at the Asian elephant exhibit at the park, but you’ll have to hurry! She weighs a whopping 210kg and probably won’t stay fun-sized for much longer!
Myth #4 – Be prepared to pay through your nose for horrible touristy food
Ulu Ulu Safari Restaurant Buffet
If you’re one of the naysayers who thought they’d have to be content with a dinner of greasy fast food, you’ll be surprised to know the F&B options at the Night Safari have truly transformed. The Ulu Ulu Safari Restaurant offers a range of tantalizing local food options at wallet-friendly prices, or you can choose to indulge in a delicious local buffet spread (with a special Vegetarian sitting option) for S$32.
If you’re really feeling like a #baller that day, bring your date on the one-of-a-kind Cocktail Safari Express involving a candlelight dinner aboard a moving tram, no less!
One item on the menu that will probably send everyone running to the Night Safari after they read this is the all-time famous Singapore Chilli Crab going at an affordable S$68! With some Chinese restaurants charging upwards of S$100 for a small crab, S$68 is a super deal for such a “tourist-y” place that will have even the locals surprised.
Myth #5 – Other than the tram ride, there’s nothing else to do
While the tram brings you round the main attractions at the park, there are actually 4 other walking trails for visitors to explore! The Fishing Cat, Leopard and East Lodge trails all offer visitors the chance to view the animals up close and personal.
Their newest addition – The Wallaby Trail is the closest to the entrance of the Night Safari and features an exciting free-ranging Wallaby walk-through habitat that kids in particular will love!
Myth #6 – You have to queue an hour in advance for the tram ride
The large majority of visitors to the park are English-speaking, so naturally the English language trams will be crowded, but here’s a useful hack to skip the snaking queues: the Night Safari now offers Mandarin and Japanese language trams that have a much smaller crowd, meaning you won’t have to endure standing in line for the same experience!
It doesn’t even matter if you don’t understand Mandarin or Japanese – the exhibits are all around you, so just lookout for the animals or look where others are looking. The names of the animals are also printed in English on signs near the exhibit, so you won’t miss out. If you want to find out more, simply approach one of the park staff after your ride, or head to the exhibit on foot for a closer look after!
Myth #7 – Get ready to feed the mosquitoes!
Beware the mosquito man!
Singapore’s year-long tropical climate has us all accustomed and well prepared for mosquitoes 24/7 (Okay we exaggerate, slightly). I myself was guilty of trying to cover every inch of bare skin with insect repellent thinking I was going to get bitten like crazy at a forested place like the Night Safari, only to be laughed at by my colleague who’s been there a couple of times before.
As a test, I went in 100% insect repellent-free and emerged after 2 hours 100% insect bite free.
Myth #8 – The earlier you go, the better
Since the park closes at 12 midnight, you can skip the armies of Mordor and opt for the later entry timings instead! This makes for a nice after-dinner activity and with the smaller crowd, also gives you ample time to ride the tram and explore the other exhibits. The best part? Tickets are also $2 cheaper!
Myth #9 – “Touch and see must pay money”
There’s a common saying in Singapore that we have to pay for everything we do, but at the Night Safari not all animals have to be separated from us by a glass wall! The Night Safari also offers close animal encounters in and around the park. Kids in particular will jump at the opportunity to interact with animals like the Binturong (Bear Cat) amongst others, and learn some interesting facts about them along the way!
Myth #10 – Animal shows are lame
We’ve all sat through a long, boring show at some point in our lives, but the one at the Night Safari is definitely not one of those.
It was intriguing to watch animals appear from seemingly nowhere and saunter up on stage on cue. Birds swooped down just inches from our heads and our very own otters somehow learnt how to dispose trash in a responsible manner.
Step aside Punggol otters, you’ve been #pwned.
It was interactive and fun in an intimate setting and it was clear that everyone from the 5 year-old in the front row to the 75 year-old at the side was enjoying themselves. There are even poignant messages on conservation weaved into the show that serve as a good reminder to protect our environment on a daily basis.
Myth #11 – The facilities are old and unattractive
Said nobody, ever.
Nobody knew this gorgeous tent worthy of a Taylor Swift music video existed on the same premises as our very own Night Safari, but now you do.
Unfortunately the Night Safari Tipi venue is only available for event purposes only, but if you want to throw a birthday party or even a wedding that will have tongues wagging for weeks after, you know where to go.
The Fun Begins After Dark
Thinking of visiting the Night Safari? You’re in luck! Klook is currently having a summer flash sale for a very limited time only! Simply key in the code into our mobile app and stand to enjoy deals to local attractions that are too good to be true. Click the button below to find out more!
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