Singapore visitors are always treated to a long list of surprises whenever they visit this amazing city.  For one, the list of things to do in Singapore seems endless.  There is always something new to enjoy, explore and discover.  No need to spend your entire time lounging in your superb hotel like the Conrad Centennial Singapore.

Try to get in touch more with nature by visiting the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.  Reaching the reserve is quite easy. All you have to do is board the TIBS 925 coming from the Woodlands Bus Interchange/Kranji MRT Station. This particular bus will bring you directly to the entrance of the park during Sundays and  Public Holidays. On different days, the bus will bring guests to the Kranji Reservoir parking area.  Guests who alight at the Kranji Reservoir would have to walk for around fifteen to twenty minutes to reach the entrance of the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

It would be interesting to visit Sungei Buloh, located at the northwest part of Singapore, as it is fertile with different bird species and various forms of wildlife.  Nature lovers would have a great time observing these birds in their natural habitat and at the same time feel enveloped by the refreshing mangroves and swamp area. Visitors of the park would usually be given time to watch a ten minute long audio-visual presentation at the small theater room. The video would be showing an overview of the park as well as its different attractions that guests must not miss while strolling around the park. This presentation is shown once every two hours from Monday to Saturday. As for Sundays and public holidays, the presentation is shown every hour.

The entire park occupies a total of 130 hectares that is made up of mangroves, rich soil, and forest among others. This is also considered home to highly fascinating animals including migratory birds and rich flora.  Another attraction of the park is the viewing tower where guests can take in the panoramic view of the reserve. There are even designated picnic areas where guests can enjoy some bonding time with their loved ones.  These picnic areas would be a great place for visitors to rest, relax and simply observe the different animals while enjoying a quick meal or a hearty lunch.

Because of its size, there are prepared walking routes around the park that guests can choose from.

One route will bring you to the mangroves where you will encounter several monitor lizards. This first route is about three kilometers long.

Another route involves a visit to the freshwater part of the wetland reserve. This will get visitors acquainted with the creatures who live in the habitat. This route is about seven kilometers long.

A shorter route, only five hundred meters long, is for those who are not fussy about going down and dirty as it involves a walk through the mangroves where one would surely get muddy. The route, also called the Mangrove Boardwalk, is the most popular among visitors because of the chance encounters with wildlife such as crocodiles, monitor lizards, crabs, angel fish, mud lobsters, shellfish, water snakes, spiders, moths, and mudskippers just to name a few. If the tide is slow, one can get a better view of the mangrove roots.

One of the favorite activities of visitors of the park would have to be serious bird watching.  A bird watching trip is best organized from September up to March.  This is the time when there is a high visibility of flocks of migratory birds.  Some of the birds that can be spotted here are the herons, kingfishers, egrets, plovers, bitterns, sun birds, coucals, and sandpipers that belong to different families or species.

I highly recommend that you prepare well for your trip to the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Remember to bring water to cool you down after long hours of walking around. It would be wise to bring an umbrella, visor or hat that can  protect you from the scorching heat. Toss in a pair of sunglasses in your travel bag as well.

With the hustle and bustle that you will encounter in the busy streets of Singapore, it would be refreshing to have a change of environment and go to a place where you can be closer to nature. You can simply spend your day inhaling fresh air and taking a leisurely stroll. The visit to the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve will make you appreciate nature more and make you feel lucky to have amazing flora and fauna to enjoy.

HELPFUL INFORMATION:
Address:   301 Neo Tiew Crescent, Singapore 718925
Contact Number: +65 7941401
Operating Hours:  7:30 am to 7:00 pm
Admission Rates:  $1 for adults / $.50 for children, students and senior citizens every Saturday, Sunday, Public Holidays, and School Break

Posted in Attractions, Singapore

This entry was posted on Friday, May 15th, 2009 at 1:19 pm and is filed under Attractions, Singapore. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.