Singapore Zoo or River Safari? Just visit Both!

I was asked, what attraction should I visit? The Singapore Zoo or the River Safari...

Let's look at the price of their ticket first:

Singapore Zoo Admission Fee

Per Adult $22.00

Per Child*  $14.00
(3 - 12 years old)

Per Senior Citizen** $11.00
(Tickets available at ticketing counter)

River Safari Admission Fee

The River Safari boat ride and animal exhibits along this ride will not be available until later this year. In view of that, River Safari admission tickets will be sold at a discounted price.

Per Adult     $25.00
(Usual Price $35.00)

Per Child*     $16.00
(Usual Price $23.00)
(3 - 12 years old)    

Per Senior Citizen**    $12.50
(Usual Price $17.50)

• Entry to Giant Panda Forest requires booking of viewing time slots

(Both offers a 10% Discount for Online purchase or Passion card members)

   
Singapore Zoo have more exhibits than River Safari, plus the newly open Polar Bear enclosure will surely impress all visitors. As for River Safari, unless you are there to see the Giant Panda, Kai Kai & Jia Jia, if not visiting this Tourist attraction can wait...

The whole River Safari tour (one round) really just takes my family 2 hours, at most 3! The feel in there, seeing all the huge tanks reminds me of Marine Life Park in Sentosa RWS.

The Singapore Zoo is bigger, more animals to see and more fun for the children (water play). However River Safari is NEW and because several exhibits are not ready yet, the admission fee is cheaper for now!

Singapore Zoo newest and latest: Frozen Tundra, Inuka is back! Wolverines and raccon dogs.

Piranhas at River Safari exhibit placed under maximum security

Shouldn't all animals be protected? Well, its the Piranhas people are concerned. The risk of them escaping into our local habitat, reservoirs will damage our eco-surroundings.

Their tanks are padlocked, they are microchipped and, should they breed, their eggs are destroyed.

These are the living conditions of the most highly guarded creatures at the River Safari - the red-bellied piranhas.

The security measures are befitting of their fearsome image, thanks to their portrayal as ferocious man-eaters in movies like Piranhas 3D.

But River Safari's curator Wah Yap Hon would have you know that there is little truth in that.

Polar Bear Inuka moves into new Frozen Tundra Exhibit

AS THE first polar bear born in the tropics, Inuka has never experienced life on the frozen Arctic tundra.

Yet the 570kg furry giant's new home is perhaps the next best thing.

The $8 million Singapore Zoo enclosure is about the size of 2 1/2 basketball courts - four times bigger than the previous one.

And it is modelled on the natural environment of the Arctic, with a large pool, waterfall and an ice cave where the 22-year-old bear can rest. Called Frozen Tundra, the 2,700 sq m exhibit also includes two separate sections housing raccoon dogs and wolverines, both of which are native to sub-Arctic environments.

Inuka moved in on Wednesday.

The zoo came up with the idea of creating a new habitat in 2006. It was designed to give the Singapore-born bear - whose mother, Sheba, died last November - more space to move around, while offering the public a glimpse of the Arctic world.

"In the past, visitors wanted the animals as close to them as possible," said Wildlife Reserves Singapore director of exhibit design Cham Tud Yinn. "But as they become more educated, they appreciate the fact that animals need privacy and space."

He added that visitors may not be able to get quite as close to Inuka as they would like. However, the exhibit has more glass panels through which to view the spectacular creature.

Native to the Arctic Circle, polar bears are the world's largest land carnivores. Adult males can weigh up to 700kg. But global warming has pushed back the sea ice, shrinking their hunting grounds and cutting off their sources of food.

If global temperatures continue to rise, polar bears may become extinct within a hundred years.

The Frozen Tundra is open every day from 8.30am to 6pm.

Inuka was adopted at birth in 1990 by the SPH Foundation, the charitable arm of Straits Times' parent company Singapore Press Holdings. Its chairman, Dr Lee Boon Yang, was the guest of honour at a ceremony yesterday to mark the foundation's decision to adopt the Amazon Flooded Forest at the River Safari. This means it will sponsor the exhibit by making a donation to zoo owner Wildlife Reserves Singapore every year.

"SPH Foundation has been a long-time partner of Wildlife Reserves Singapore in supporting wildlife conservation," said Dr Lee. He added that it also sponsors the High Flyers Show at Jurong Bird Park and a conservation centre housing proboscis monkeys at the zoo.

Check out for Great Deals for River Safari packages

River Safari Adventure: $31.80 for Admission to Asia’s First & Only River-Themed Wildlife Park, River Safari + River Cruise Along Singapore River (Child Rate Available)

http://www.deal.com.sg/deals/singapore/river-safari-adventure-3180-admission-asia-s-first-only-river-themed-wildlife-park-r

 Redemption Period of DEAL Voucher: till 30 May 2013
Admission tickets expire on 30 Jun 2013

Wildlife Reserves Singapore's newest addition, River Safari opens

The $160 million river-themed wildlife park, River Safari - home to Pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia - opened on Wednesday morning

Waiting for the gates to open were groups of kindergarten and primary school children, tourists, as well as Singaporeans who took a day off work for the occasion.

One such person was Mr Albert Foo, 66, who arrived around 8.30am for the opening ceremony and was one of the first in line to enter. "I've always liked animals and plants," he said. He took a day's leave from his job as a hotel front desk assistant and woke up at 5.30am to make it in time to see the gates open.

The River Safari is the newest addition to the Wildlife Reserves Singapore's portfolio of parks, which includes the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and Jurong Bird Park. The 12ha park houses one of the world's largest collection of freshwater animals. It opens daily from 9am to 6pm.

Manatees in Singapore Zoo relocate to new home

Singapore Zoo staff members move a 400 kg, 33-year-old male manatee during the move to its new enclosure at the River Safari in Singapore, March 13, 2013. Singapore Zoo relocated the manatees to a new enclosure "Amazon Flooded Forest" at the River Safari.

Singapore Zoo staff members transfer oxygen to an 8-year-old female manatee during the move to its new enclosure at the River Safari in Singapore, March 13, 2013. Singapore Zoo relocated the manatees to a new enclosure "Amazon Flooded Forest" at the River Safari.

New enclosure for them.