river safari panda viewing

What to see at Singapore’s River Safari

Singapore’s River Safari is located next to the Singapore Zoo and also administered by Wildlife Reserves Singapore. It is the first and only river themed wildlife park in all of Asia. The River Safari is situated upon 12 hectares on the Upper Selator Reservoir and is home to over 240 species of both land and aquatic animals.

While the River Safari is nowhere near as large as the Zoo next door, the park serves as a great add-on to a trip to Singapore Zoo, both due to the proximity of the attractions, and their relative distance from the rest of the city. If you’re interested in exploring Singapore’s wildlife parks in one day, head to the River Safari after spending a half day at Singapore Zoo, before finishing up at the Night Safari. The parks are literally all next door to each other.

• Want to know more about the Singapore Zoo? Click HERE .
• Not sure how best to spend your time in Singapore? Check out my three day Singapore itinerary HERE .

• Where? 80 Mandai Lake Road, Singapore 729826.
• When? Open daily from 10AM – 7PM.
• How much? Single admission to the River Safari is $36.00 SGD (adults)/$24.00 SGD (children). There are discounts available if you pre-purchase a Park Hopper ticket which allows you to visit the other attractions run by Wildlife Reserves Singapore within 7 days of your visit. For more details, see HERE .
• How to get there? The River Safari is unfortunately not well connected to the city by Singapore’s efficient MRT service. I recommend getting a taxi or GRAB (about 30 minutes away from the city). Alternatively, a shuttle operates from the Khatib MRT station on the North-South Line.
• Website: https://www.wrs.com.sg/en/river-safari.html

How long to spend at the River Safari

The River Safari can be toured within around 2 hours. As mentioned above, it works best combined with a trip to the Singapore Zoo and/or Night Safari. Most of the exhibits in the River Safari are undercover, making it a good choice for the afternoon (Singapore showers and all that!).

What is there to see at the River Safari?

The River Safari is made up of a number of zones, each representing different global river ecosystems. Unlike Singapore Zoo, your progression through the River Safari is quite linear, so you shouldn’t have much trouble seeing all of the exhibits. Lets now break down the areas of the River Safari one by one so that you can get an idea of what to expect when you visit.

1. Rivers of the World

You’ll enter the River Safari through the Rivers of the World trail. In this section of the park, you’ll walk past a number of fresh water exhibits, each representing a different river and its distinct biodiversity. This serves as a great introduction to the river ecosystem, highlighting the immense amount of life found under the water’s surface around the world.

As you explore the Rivers of the World, you’ll travel to the following destinations:

• Mississippi River (USA): Bring on the alligators as you experience the fourth largest river system in the world. The Mississippi River is home to 25% of North America’s fish species. Unique species that you might find here include the common snapping turtle and the alligator gar, a prehistoric river monster that dates back to over 100 million years on earth.
• Congo River (Central Africa): Also known as the Zaire River, this body of water in Central Africa is the deepest in the world. While its surface is covered by rapids and waterfalls, under the water is a world of tranquility where you’ll find species such as the African dwarf crocodile.
• River Nile (North-East Africa): The longest river in the world, and the lifeblood of Ancient Egypt, the River Nile today empties the East African Great Lakes into the Mediterranean. In this exhibit you’ll see native species such as the Tigerfish and Giraffe Catfish.
• Ganges River (India): Flowing through India and Bangladesh, this river is sacred to those of the Hindu faith, being worshipped as the Goddess of Creation. Traversing 2,500 kilometres, the Ganges is home to the critically endangered Indian Gharial, the longest species of crocodile on earth.
• Mary River (Australia): Heading back to my home country, the Mary Catchment is a major river system in North-Eastern Australia. This river is home to the ancient Australian lungfish which have an average lifespan of a century.
• Mekong River (South-East Asia) : Aside from the Amazon (which has its own exhibit elsewhere in the park), the Mekong River is the second most populous river system in the world in terms of aquatic life. While its only the world’s tenth largest river, its the most productive. The Giant Siamese Carp and Giant Catfish are just two of the freshwater species that keep being discovered in this region.
• Yangtze River (China) : Asia’s longest river is deeply intertwined with the history of China and contains some of the most critically endangered species on the planet. Rare lifeforms such as the Yangtze Alligator and Giant Salamander can be found here.

2. Giant Panda Forest

Continuing on from the Yangtze River, the next part of the River Safari keeps the focus on China. The Giant Panda Forest is probably the most popular exhibit at the River Safari. Inside this bio-dome is the largest Panda exhibit in South East Asia, and is home to a pair of the critically endangered Giant Pandas. Named Kai Kia and Jia Jia, these two Pandas are on loan from the Chinese government (as I discovered all Giant Pandas in zoos around the world are) and are incredibly popular among guests to the Safari. The climate controlled bamboo forest in which you’ll find the two Giant Pandas lazing around is also home to the tree-dwelling Red Pandas. Spend some time admiring these beautiful animals here (and take a break from the humid air outside in the process).

Outside the Panda Exhibit, you can also get a quick bite at the Mama Panda Kitchen before continuing your journey along the river.

3. Reservoir Cruise

As you say goodbye to the Pandas, you’ll cross the river to the Boat Plaza. Here you can take a moment to relax and board a boat for a quick (15 minute) cruise out onto the Upper Seletar Reservoir. There’s no extra charge to go on this cruise and its a good way to break up your time exploring the animal exhibits at the River Safari. You might even get a view at the back of some of the exhibits at the Singapore Zoo next door before cruising out further to become immersed in the scenic environment of natural beauty.

On busy days, you may need to time your arrival here, but I was able to pretty much walk onto the boat rather than stand in line.

4. Amazon River Quest

If one boat ride wasn’t enough for you, the River Safari has a second one. This one isn’t included in your admission, but tickets are only an extra $5.00 SGD (adults) and can be purchased at Boat Plaza. This attraction is actually like a theme park ride in that you board a boat and are swept along a track, symbolising a journey along the Amazon River. There’s a few short drops but its very tame. From your boat, you’ll see the jungle come to life around you as you pass enclosures of animals native to the world’s largest river, including jaguars, tapirs, capybaras and flamingos. You’ll have to look carefully to see some of the animals as they camouflage with the surroundings as your boat moves past, but that’s all part of the adventure.

The Amazon River Quest is a lot of fun and adds a unique element of exploration to the River Safari. Don’t miss it when you visit. Its well worth the additional cost.

4. Squirrel Monkey Forest

The Squirrel Monkey Forest is a large walk-through dedicated to the most populous monkey in the Amazon rainforest. These highly curious monkeys spend most of their lives in the rainforest canopy, but as you explore this exhibit you’ll get up close and personal with them as they roam around you. If you time your visit right, you might be able to join a guided walk with a zookeeper around the enclosure to learn more about these active creatures.

5. Amazon Flooded Forest Floor

The last part of the River Safari takes you away from the tree-tops to the submerged forest floor of the Amazon. The Amazon river is flooded for six months of the year, resulting in up to ten metres of water covering the forest floor. This unique ecosystem is replicated here in the world’s largest freshwater aquarium exhibit.

While venturing through this exhibit, you’ll see species such as the red bellied piranha, electric eel, arapaima (largest freshwater fish in South America) and giant river otter. The highlight though is undoubtedly the gigantic manatees. Also known as sea cows, these herbivorous marine mammals can weigh around 600kg and feed on sea plants and mangrove leaves for six to eight hours a day. The manatee has an incredibly complex digestive system (taking about a week to digest a single meal), with the creatures intestines giving it its bloated appearance.

If you really want to splurge, you can even take the Manatee Mania tour ($118 SGD per adult) for a chance to really get up close with these incredible animals, however the main exhibit that you’ll go through when finishing up your River Safari experience provides a large area where you can sit and admire them from afar.

Shows at the River Safari

While I didn’t get the chance to see it during my visit, the River Safari also hosts the Once Upon a River Story presentation multiple times a day. This show highlights the important relationship that the animals living in river ecosystems have with their aquatic environment and provides opportunities to get an up-close look at some of these animals in the process. The show generally runs at 11.30AM and 4.30AM each day and is located near Boat Plaza.

Wrapping Up

After visiting the River Safari, its inevitable that you will compare it to the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari. If you don’t have time to do all three of these attractions, this is definitely the one to skip. With that said, I still enjoyed my visit. The River Safari provides a unique mix between a zoo and aquarium and I can’t say I’ve been to a wildlife park like this one before. As I’ve said multiple times in this post, I view the River Safari as an ‘add-on’ to the Singapore Zoo experience. I wouldn’t make the trip out to the city’s outer reaches just for the River Safari, but along with the other attractions here, its a great way to spend part of your day. Besides, pandas and manatees are awesome. Now, grab a coffee out front and head over to the Night Safari.

• Kale by LyraThemes.com.

River Wonders (River Safari) Singapore Review & How to Go Guide

The River Wonders , or previously known as River Safari is a river-themed wildlife park in Singapore with distinct animal zones. Plus, it comes with a riverboat ride and reservoir cruise for a unique kind of adventure.

I visited the park, together with my wife and kid, just recently. And our trip was undeniably memorable and entertaining.

In my River Wonders Singapore (formerly known as River Safari Singapore) review , I will share our personal experiences during our visit as well as the animals in each zone .

In addition, I will provide you with information and tips on how to go to River Wonders (River Safari) Singapore by MRT and Bus .

So, without any delay, here’s everything you need to know about this popular destination.

• What Animals You Can See at River Safari Singapore

1. Giant Panda Forest

2. wild amazonia, 3. amazon flooded forest, 4. mekong river, 5. mary river, 6. nile river, 7. mississippi river, 8. yangtze river, 9. congo river, 10. ganges river, 11. river gems, once upon a river (show), reservoir cruise.

• Where to Eat at River Safari

Visitor Information and Ticket Prices

• Where to Go after River Safari
• How to Go to River Safari Singapore

Related Posts

What animals you can see at river wonders (river safari) singapore.

River Safari Singapore is the home to over 6,000 animals , including 40 threatened species .

There are 11 zones for you to explore and 1 amazing show for you to look forward to.

The highlight in the park are the giant pandas . On top of that, you’ll also see some Caribbean flamingos, jaguars, manatees, capybaras, pelicans, electric eels, and alligators.

During our trip, we went through all zones and also watched the show.

I will include some of the photos we took in each zone so you’ll have an idea of the animals there (make sure to check out below).

And if you want to know other must-visit places, don’t worry. Get ideas from my suggested five days itinerary for Singapore and 47 top places to go in Singapore so you can plan your dream trip.

Giant Panda Forest is definitely the most anticipated zone at River Safari Singapore. You can’t miss these fluffy creatures roaming around their habitat.

Giant pandas like Jia Jia loves to eat bamboo. In fact, they can consume at least 28 pounds every day!

Here is Kai Kai, having the time of his life hanging around the tree.

If you can’t find him eating bamboos or climbing trees, he is most likely rolling on the ground.

Red Pandas, on the other hand, are quite notable because of their colors. Instead of the usual black and white, they have brown, black, and white fur combination.

But just like giant pandas, they love eating bamboos and climbing around.

Wild Amazonia is one of the most popular River Safari attractions. It offers two unique zones for you to explore.

The first one is the Amazon River Quest, which is a captivating river cruise. The second one is the Squirrel Monkey Forest.

i. Amazon River Quest

The Amazon River Quest is one of the most memorable zones in Wild Amazonia. This river ride offers you a fantastic water escapade.

Catch these monkey species dangling on the trees. Because of their structure, they can easily hang and jump from one branch to another.

Aside from monkey species, you’ll also see some giant anteaters and collared peccaries during the boat ride features.

Other distinct animals in this section are Brazilian tapir, coatimundis, and capybaras.

Also present are the ever-vibrant and eye-catching Caribbean flamingos and scarlet ibis. These give them the reputation of being the brightest bird species.

ii. Squirrel Monkey Forest

Another nice place to tour around River Safari is the Squirrel Monkey Forest.

In this area, you’ll spot some squirrel monkeys that are known for their vibrant colors.

The Saki Monkeys, on the other hand, have the most distinct face among all other monkeys. It’s because the color of their face differs from their entire body.

If you love the adorable Capybara on your Amazon River Quest, you have another chance to see them again here.

Because of their appearance and size, these cute animals look like puppies!

Amazon Flooded Forest is another top-notch zone in River Safari.

Here, you will meet many sea animals, particularly the manatees, or the sea cows.

These large mammals weigh around 600 kgs. Despite their immense size, manatees are mainly slow, plant-eaters.

And, they just prefer swimming in shallow waters and lazing around.

You will also see arapaimas, which are known for their super scaly bodies and pointed head.

As one of the world’s biggest freshwater fishes, they can reach as much as 9 ft wide and weigh up to 200 kgs.

The Giant River Otters are heavier and bigger compared to typical otters. They follow an amphibious lifestyle, wherein they can easily adapt to both water and land.

And it’s not hard to find them as they often relax on the ground or sometimes on the river stream.

Did you know that electric eels are actually not eels but rather knifefish?

They have electric organs that create dangerous discharges to sting their prey.

Aside from these slimy creatures, you’ll also catch a glimpse of different fish species. These include blue discus fishes, altum angelfish, and red oscars.

And if you’re a die-hard fan of sea creatures, you shouldn’t miss the SEA Aquarium. This place is a massive underwater world located in Sentosa Island.

Simply refer to my article of SEA Aquarium Singapore for relevant information and tips about this place.

Mekong River is the home to the Mekong Giant Catfish. Just so you know, this massive freshwater fish is already considered an endangered species.

Studies show that there are only around 100 remaining of these rare fishes.

So, if you spot this huge creature, be sure to appreciate them before they’re gone forever.

Surprisingly, the Mekong River isn’t just for catfishes and stingrays. It also has an impressive collection of distinct-looking animals like the crab-eating macaques.

They even have painted storks, Eurasian spoonbill, and rufous night heron.

At Mary River , you get to meet and interact with some sea stars and horseshoe crabs. This is fun activity that you should try during your River Wonders/River Safari trip.

Both chocolate chip sea stars and horseshoe crab are very fascinating to look at because of their shapes.

Australian Lungfishes are highly interesting because of their exceptional breathing feature.

These slow-paced creatures who love deep waters can breathe air using only one lung!

On contrary, mudskippers are the only fish species that can walk on lands! These amphibious creatures look like a fish with some frog-like characteristics.

Get amazed by various fish species in the Nile River . In this section, you will notice the massive goliath tiger fishes.

These freshwater fishes are famous for their razor-like teeth and muscular body. Because of their physical features, they are one of the river’s ultimate predators.

As you continue with your tour, you will get a glimpse of the African arowanas. These creatures have an elongated body with huge yet almost proportionate scales.

Additionally, you will have the chance to meet some Nile perches.

These are freshwater fishes who love warm waters. They feed on different fishes, insects, mollusks, and even smaller perches.

Another must-visit section in River Safari Singapore is the Mississippi River .

This is where you’ll see alligator gars, alligator snapping turtles, and common snapping turtles.

The alligator gars are quite eye-catching because of its alligator and fish features.

These creatures are also considered one of the longest-living freshwater fishes in the world.

Yangtze River is the habitat of sturgeon fishes. These ancient creatures commonly live in rivers, coastlines, and lakes.

You can easily identify them because of their sharp-edge bodies and long snouts.

Yangtze alligators are recognized for their rock-like body structure. They often swim in the water or spend time hiding around the rocks.

At Congo River , you will come across the African dwarf crocodiles. These reptiles grow up to 5 ft. long, making them one of the smallest crocodilians in the world.

They have a small, bony structure that allows them to climb easily on lower tree branches.

Aside from crocodiles, this place also has a lot of colorful fishes from the cichlid species. These are the blue cichlid, lemon cichlid, Tanganyikan butterfly cichlid.

There are also large spot catfishes swimming around.

Continue with your tour at Ganges River . This is the place where you’ll find the big-mouth Indian golden mahseers.

The clown knifefishes also occupy a part of this zone. Both species have special physical characteristics that make them stand out.

River Gems houses a couple of fahaka pufferfishes. Just like other puffers, these creatures inflate themselves when they sense danger.

Generally, they just feed on snails and freshwater mussels

Other fishes in this particular River Safari Singapore zone are cardinal tetras and black phantom tetras.

On top of that, there are also rummy-nose tetras and rainbow sharks.

Once Upon A River showcases the talents of the animals at River Safari. This animal presentation runs for 20 minutes.

And, it highlights the skills of capybaras, pelicans, ball python, and hedgehog.

All these creatures got their own set of charms to captivate the crowd.

At the end of the show, you’ll gain valuable knowledge about these animals. Not only that but you’ll also get a chance to meet them up-close!

The hornbills are also in the spotlight because of their smartness. Plus, their laugh is very unique and contagious.

Monday to Friday: 11:30 AM and 4:30 PM

Saturday to Sunday and Public Holidays: 11:30 AM, 2:30 PM and 4:30 PM

In between animal encounters and interactive shows, you can squeeze in the 15-minute Reservoir Cruise .

Enjoy this scenic water journey with your family and friends and fall in love with nature even more.

As it sails around the Seletar reservoir, don’t forget to take photos of the beautiful landscapes around.

And conveniently, this is a wheelchair-friendly cruise that can cater up to 40 persons in one trip.

Where to Eat at River Wonders (River Safari)

Take your lunch at Mama Panda Kitchen Restaurant inside the River Safari park.

This is the only dining spot in the park, which is just beside the viewing Panda area.

This fast-food restaurant is unique because of its panda-themed food and bamboo-framed photos.

However, the restaurant is quite crowded during lunchtime.

To avoid the waiting game and skip the long queues, you can take your lunch earlier or later.

The best time to go to the restaurant is either 11:30 AM in the morning or 2:00 PM in the afternoon.

Mama Panda Kitchen’s menu largely consists of Chinese dishes. They have ramen, steamed buns, wanton, and wok rice.

In addition, they have western selection that includes seafood basket and roasted chicken. And for dessert, they serve fresh fruit cups and almond chocolate profiteroles.

Our visit to River Wonders Singapore (previously known as River Safari) was definitely a great experience.

We enjoyed touring around each zone and meeting different animals.

We recommend that you prioritize Giant Panda Forest and Amazon River Quest boat ride . It’s because these 2 attractions are the most popular at River Safari.

During our trip, we started around 3:00 PM in the afternoon and spent 3 hours inside the park.

A tip when visiting the park is to bring your own drinking bottle. There are free water dispensers near the washroom to refill your water bottles.

Make sure you also bring a mosquito repellent, hats, and sunblock.

Also, we bought our River Safari tickets online and actually saved money .

Not only that but we also entered the park conveniently. It’s because we just presented the soft copy of our tickets at the entrance of the park.

To wrap it up, this famous river-them zoo is highly recommended to anyone who wants to have a fun-filled adventure with the animals.

Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Last Admission at 6:00 PM)

Normal Ticket Prices: Adult: SGD $41 Child (3 to 12): SGD $24 *Included Amazon River Quest Boat Ride

Money Saving Tips: To save money and get speedy access to the park, buy your tickets online here .

Address: 80 Mandai Lake Road, Singapore 729826

Official Website: https://www.wrs.com.sg/en/river-safari.html

Where to Go after River Wonders (River Safari)

Are you done with your River Safari Singapore tour?

You can explore Singapore Zoo or Night Safari right after because these two are just a 1-2 minute walk from River Safari.

1. Singapore Zoo

Explore this popular animal park together with your loved ones. This place comes with distinct animal zones as well as spectacular shows for everyone.

Just see here for a complete guide to Singapore Zoo and review and start kicking off with your plans.

2. Night Safari

Have a unique encounter with the wild animals at Night Safari. As the world’s first night zoo, this place provides you with an unforgettable animal experience.

Here are my tips for visiting Night Safari and review that are very helpful when planning.

Other than Singapore Zoo and Night Safari, Sentosa Island is also a great place to visit for nonstop adventures.

Here, you can explore some family-friendly beaches, try different outdoor activities, or simply enjoy the views.

Find out more about this destination in my super detailed guide on what to do in Sentosa .

If you’re planning to travel to Bangkok, there’s also a famous zoo that should be part of your itinerary. Get more information about this place in my detailed Safari World Bangkok article and start plotting your plans now.

How to Go to River Wonders (River Safari) Singapore

There’s no MRT station near River Safari Singapore. But there’s nothing to feel sad because you can easily reach the river-themed wildlife park by MRT then bus.

Basically, there are 3 easy ways to go there and let me show you in details below.

1. By MRT and Mandai Khatib Shuttle

To get to River Safari Singapore, you can take the Mandai Khatib Shuttle from Exit A of Khatib MRT Station .

The bus runs every 20 minutes from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM (Monday to Wednesday) and 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM (Thursday to Sunday).

This is a direct bus go to River Safari in 15 minutes and it costs SGD $1 only.

Kindly take note that the bus only accept EZ-link or NETS Flash card without accepting Cash.

2. By Bus 138

Another method to reach River Safari is to take the bus 138 from Ang Mo Kio Bus Terminal.

The service runs every 8 to 14 minutes from 6:30 AM to 11:45 PM. The one-way ticket costs SGD $1.64 (via EZ-link or NETS Flash card)/ SGD $2.50 (via Cash).

It takes around 39 minutes to reach River Safari.

To reach Ang Mo Kio bus terminal, you can take the North South Line to Ang Mo Kio MRT Station. From there, you go out the Exit C which will give you direct access to Ang Mo Kio Bus Terminal.

Take a taxi to River Safari Singapore is the easiest way but it can be expensive. If you plan to take a taxi, you can ride it from Exit A of Khatib MRT Station.

It costs about SGD $13 and you’ll reach there in 10 to 15 minutes.

Singapore Itinerary: The Best 5 Day Trip for You to Copy It

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Trending Topics

Follow our news, recent searches, giant panda cub le le welcomes visitors at new nursery in river wonders, advertisement.

Lakeisha Leo

SINGAPORE: Visitors to River Wonders caught their first glimpse of the giant panda cub, Le Le, in its new glass-fronted nursery at the Giant Panda Forest on Thursday (Dec 30). 

Le Le (叻叻), which garnered more than 31,000 votes in the online poll held from Nov 3 to Nov 7, was the winning name chosen for the Singapore-born giant panda cub. 

The word “Le” comes from “Shi Le Po”, which is an ancient Chinese name for Singapore and in use since the country’s beginning as a trading port. It is also a transliteration of the Malay term “selat”, which means straits, indicative of Singapore’s geographical location. 

Le Le made its first appearance in its new nursery on Thursday, a day after the results of a public vote was announced.

Visitors who were at the nursery took videos and photos of Le Le. The cub was seen sleeping in its new nursery. 

Mandai Park Holdings deputy chairman Tan Chuan-Jin and China's Ambassador to Singapore Hong Xiaoyong were present at the nursery's unveiling. 

From Thursday, visitors can catch a glimpse of Le Le's daily routine, which includes playing with specially created enrichment toys, learning to walk more confidently and catching up on sleep. 

Mandai Wildlife Group said viewing times are scheduled for around 10.30am and 3.30pm daily, as these reflect Le Le's and its mother Jia Jia's present routines.

Each viewing period ranges between 20 to 30 minutes, which may vary depending on the comfort level of both pandas. The viewing period will be reviewed and adjusted over the next few weeks, it added. 

Squats, pee swaps and the ‘roller-coaster ride’ of making a panda baby in Singapore

Singapore’s first giant panda cub has been born to Jia Jia and Kai Kai

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A Complete Guide to the River Wonders (or River Safari) Map

BY Pelago by Singapore Airlines

22 MAY 23 . 3 MIN READ . GUIDES

The animals and zones of the River Wonders (River Safari) Map

Are you planning a weekend to visit  River Wonders  (formerly River Safari Singapore), aka  Asia’s first and only river-themed wildlife park ? This Singapore zoo features attractions split into zones that are named after famous rivers. Here’s a breakdown of the River Wonders map (and the plethora of wildlife) to get you started:

Image Source

1. River Gems

After entering the park, cross off the first attraction on the River Wonders map by turning left from the Entrance Plaza. You’ll see the  River Gems  exhibit, which features the Mississippi, Congo, and Nile Rivers. Here, watch as the  alligator snapping turtle, the striking blue cichlid, the vibrant Caribbean flamingo, and the ferocious tigerfish  wade in their natural habitat.

2. Ganges River

River wonders tickets.

Nearby lies the  Ganges River , where  the endangered Indian gharial  (a species close to crocodiles and alligators) live in freshwater. Notice the mothers protecting their hatchlings as they stay close to the shore.

You can also find the  Goonch catfish  in this zone.

3. Mekong River

Majestic creatures swim through the next attraction on the River Wonders: the  Mekong River . Dedicated to just two creatures — the  giant freshwater stingray and high fin catfish  — be sure to wave at the friendly-looking creature gliding across the walled exhibit.

4. Yangtze River

Just behind the Mekong River is  the adorable red panda , perched atop the trees of the  Yangtze River . Swimming in the river is the  Chinese giant salamander , an impressive invertebrate species that have existed since the time of the dinosaurs. Then, try and spot the  Chinese softshell turtle  bobbing near the bottom of the river.

5. Giant Panda Forest

A visit to the park wouldn’t be complete without heading to the other end of the River Wonders map: the  Giant Panda Forest . The largest panda exhibit in Southeast Asia,  Kai Kai and Jia Jia, and their cub, Le Le  live among bamboo plants, a waterfall, and shallow pools (to simulate their natural environment).

Then, drop by the  House of Kai Kai & Jia Jia  to purchase some adorable mementos. Stop for a  break at Mama Panda Kitchen , a Chinese-style eatery serving Panda Pau and Panda Cappuccino.

6. Once Upon a River

Cross the viewing deck — a wooden boardwalk crossing the park’s main river — and arrive at the  Boat Plaza . Happening here daily, the  Once Upon a River  animal presentation  offers an up-close look at the variety of fascinating creatures in the park. Be sure to snap pictures of the capybara feeding.

The River Wonders timings of this presentation are 11.30am, 2.30pm, and 4.30pm.

Oh, and if you’re planning a trip to River Wonders, here’s a guide to the shows you can catch there .

7. Amazon River Quest

At only  SGD $5 extra , hop on the  Amazon River Quest . Feel as though you’re coursing along the Amazon River as you observe the unique  Brazilian tapir and giant anteater  camouflaging with their surroundings. A few  monkey species  hang from the branches as well.

Then, see if you can spot the stealthy jaguar swimming in the waters.

8. Amazon Flooded Forest

The final stop on your River Wonders trip? The Amazon Flooded Forest, aka the world’s largest freshwater aquarium.

Be amazed as giant river otters, manatees, and electric eels drift past you. Head up to the second floor to find other fish species swimming overhead.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best time of day to visit river wonders.

The River Wonders opening hours are from 10am to 7pm (daily, including public holidays). That said, it’s best to  arrive after lunch between 1pm and 2pm . This will allow three to four hours of exploring River Wonders. Also, since the park closes at 7pm (and some park exhibits close at 6pm), this will ensure sufficient time to see everything.

Plus, if you’re planning a multi-park day trip, you can head to  Night Safari  after River Wonders closes.

How much are River Wonders tickets?

River Wonders tickets start at SGD 39.9 for Singapore residents. You can start planning your trip by getting tickets here .

Prices for tickets online may vary. Please click here for updated prices.

How do I get to River Wonders (or River Safari)?

If you’re taking a private car or taxi directly to the park, the journey to River Wonders will take about 30 minutes from Singapore’s city centre.

By public transport, River Wonders (or River Safari) is accessible via a connecting public bus after alighting from Khatib, Choa Chu Kang, or Ang Mo Kio MRT Stations on the North-South MRT Line. From Khatib MRT Station, you can also board The Mandai Shuttle.

There are also shuttle buses available from the heartlands on weekends and holidays.

Getting to River Wonders by Bus/MRT

Getting to river wonders by mandai shuttle.

You can also get to River Wonders by hopping on the Mandai Shuttle from Khatib MRT station. Buses arrive every 10 minutes during operating hours and every 20 minutes between 11am to 2pm, and the one-way fare is both SGD $1 for both adults and children.

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River Safari

This wildlife park re-creates the habitats of numerous world-famous rivers, including the Yangtze, Mississippi and Congo. While most are underwhelming, the Mekong River and Amazon Flooded Forest exhibits are impressive, their epic aquariums rippling with giant catfish and stingrays, electric eels, red-bellied piranhas, manatees and sea cows. Another highlight is the Giant Panda Forest enclosure, home to rare red pandas and the park's famous black-and-whiters, Kai Kai and Jia Jia.

Young kids (at least 1.06cm tall) will enjoy the 10-minute Amazon River Quest Boat Ride (adult/child S$5/3), a tranquil, theme park–style tour past roaming monkeys, wild cats and exotic bird life. The ride begins with a big splash, so if you're sitting in the front row, keep feet and bags off the floor. Boat-ride time slots fill quickly, so go early. Discounted multi-park tickets are available, which includes the Singapore Zoo , Night Safari and Jurong Bird Park .

To get here catch bus 138 from the Ang Mo Kio MRT station.

80 Mandai Lake Rd

Get In Touch

https://www.wrs.com.sg

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Visitors queue to catch glimpse of Singapore’s first panda cub Le Le

SINGAPORE - Half an hour before Le Le, the first panda cub born in Singapore , was to meet Singaporeans, the queue outside the Giant Panda Forest had already stretched beyond 100m, all the way to the viewing deck.

However, that did not deter visitors like Sharmaine Tan, 15, and her older sister, Sharlene, who were among those who caught a glimpse of the baby panda when he made his public debut on Thursday (Dec 30) in his new glass-fronted nursery at the Giant Panda Forest at River Wonders.

Having never seen a baby panda in real life, the Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School student was amazed and glad she got a chance to do so.

“I think the baby panda is really cute and it seems very ‘hyper’ as well,” she said.

Le Le was born to giant pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia on Aug 14 - their firstborn since they arrived in Singapore in 2012 on loan from Chengdu, China.

Weighing just an estimated 200g at birth, he was 9.62kg on Wednesday.

The cub’s name, derived from an old Chinese term “shi le po” - referring to Singapore - was jointly announced on Wednesday (Dec 29).

Visitors to River Wonders - formerly known as River Safari - can watch the cub playing, learning to walk more confidently or sleeping.

The public can view the cub twice a day, at about 10.30am and 3.30pm. Each viewing session will last 20 to 30 minutes, said Mandai Wildlife Group.

On Thursday, River Wonders unveiled the cub’s nursery.

Mr Hong Xiaoyong, China’s Ambassador to Singapore, and Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, deputy chairman of Mandai Park Holdings, were among the first visitors.

As part of safe management measures, River Wonders staff ensured that people were queuing in an orderly fashion while maintaining a 1m distance between one another.

Within the Giant Panda Forest, which had a maximum capacity of about 100 visitors at a time, visitors were not allowed to linger in one location so as to allow the line outside to move at a regular pace.

When Le Le was finally unveiled at around 3.30pm, excited visitors in the gift shop located next to the nursery started crowding near the entrance of the store, attempting to snap photos of the baby panda.

A staff member asked people in the crowd to disperse so that they would not block the exit to the Giant Panda Forest, which was on the other end of the gift shop.

Other visitors who were still in the Giant Panda Forest were allowed a brief window of time to take pictures with Le Le before they were asked to move on to the gift shop.

Student Sharmaine had been following Le Le’s journey for the past year, after hearing from her family members about Jia Jia and Kai Kai’s attempts to conceive.

“It’s a miracle that this actually happened,” she said.

Another visitor who had planned to see the pandas was Ms Goh Meow Lee, 57, who was at River Wonders with her sister and elderly father.

She had also been keeping up with news on Le Le’s journey ever since his birth, through Facebook posts.

Ms Goh, who used her SingapoRediscovers Vouchers to purchase tickets to River Wonders, said “it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to see the baby panda.

However, she was reconsidering the decision to enter the Giant Panda Forest after seeing the long lines outside the entrance.

“Due to my father’s leg pain, we’re not sure if we want to join the queue,” she said.

Mr Sadali Mohamed Tali, 48, was also on a family outing to River Wonders with his wife and three daughters.

The senior avian keeper said that when he told his youngest daughter they were going to see the baby panda, she became very excited.

“It’s something unique, so we want to see it for the first time,” he said.

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Dania Experiences

Travel • food • lifestyle, review: river safari/wonders, mandai wildlife reserve (singapore).

River Safari recently underwent a name change to River Wonders as part of a corporate rebranding move , so for consistency, I’ll be referring to River Safari as River Wonders from here on out! This wildlife park is one of four (soon to be five) parks managed by the Mandai Wildlife Group , with a river theme and greater focus on aquatic animals. The open-dated tickets my husband and I bought from Traveloka included entry to both River Wonders as well as the Singapore Zoo. It was flexible in that we could visit each park on a different day, as long as both visits were within 7 days of each other. However, given the fact that we’re both working folks, that flexibility didn’t exactly apply to us so I planned a packed but doable itinerary to cover both parks in a day. Unfortunately, God had other plans and literally rained on our parade shortly after we arrived so we had to make spontaneous adjustments. That also meant that we could only visit River Wonders as the Singapore Zoo is largely unsheltered, rendering that option untenable (no matter since my workplace provides complimentary corporate zoo passes). Thank goodness the plan was to start the day at River Wonders anyway!

• 1-day entry tickets to River Wonders and Singapore Zoo
• Spent: SGD$60 (for 2 tickets)

The animals are more or less sorted into zones of rivers or forests where their species can be found but it became rather perplexing as it wasn’t very clear when one zone ended and another began. So I’ll just string together some highlights of the animals which I found pretty interesting (: We spent the most time at the Amazon Flooded Forest’s otter and manatee habitats as there was something magical about watching these graceful creatures glide through the waters. Two of the otters were frolicking and chasing each other, zooming overhead as we stood beneath them in an underwater tunnel (video here !). During the manatees’ feeding time, it was quite amusing to see them swimming around with poop hanging off their undersides. On a sweeter note, I managed to take a video of one manatee “hugging” another, awww ❤

At the Squirrel Monkey Forest, it was really cool how we got to get so up close and personal with animals like the squirrel monkeys and Azara’s agoutis. No barriers, no glass, just us walking along the same paths in the same space as them. While a staff was handing out food to these guys, I spotted a cheeky squirrel monkey snatching food from a helpless agouti, who had no means of fighting back! Poor fella ): In the event of rain and lightning, note that this zone will be closed.

Over at the Mekong River zone, I was blown away by the sheer size of the giant catfish there! At first glance from far, they didn’t appear that humongous but it was a totally different story when we stood in front of the glass tank. I’d never seen such a big fish in real life, only those on Wicked Tuna heh.

An undeniable must-see here are the super cute pandas at the Giant Panda Forest. It was a bummer that mummy Jia Jia was nursing baby Le Le in the maternity ward during our visit so we could only see daddy Kai Kai lazing out on a rock. Not forgetting the adorable red pandas too! They were perched quite high up on the trees so it was tough to get a proper view of them. Even if you don’t fancy pandas that much, this is still a great place to cool off and seek respite from the heat as it’s fully air-conditioned to maintain a suitable climate for them.

If you’re feeling hungry, your only two options within the park are Starbucks (located at the entrance) and Mama Panda Kitchen (located at the Giant Panda Forest), which serves up chinese cuisine. Deciding to have lunch at the latter and wait out the rain there, we ordered chicken zha jiang mian ($12.90), chicken cutlet ramen ($12.90), a panda chocolate custard pau ($2.90) and a root beer float ($6.90). Portion sizes were not too bad but the food was terribly bland. I even found a short strand of hair in my soup, nasty. The only saving grace of this meal was the fluffy panda pau with its creamy chocolate custard. As with most theme park food, prices were on the expensive side, making this meal totally not value for money. Pack your own food if you can.

Right after lunch, we made a beeline for the Amazon River Quest as it was closed earlier due to the rain. This ticketed boat ride goes in a loop and brings you past various animal habitats along the way. Thankfully, the staggering queue for this ride moved fairly quickly even though the board indicated a wait time of 20 minutes. There are 3 mild roller-coaster-ish slopes spaced out across the ride (video of one of them here !), possibly an attempt to make the ride a little more exciting. It was a pretty cool experience as the boat gets right up to the edge of the enclosures and it felt like we were really near the animals. I read in some reviews that the best time to see the animals here is earlier in the morning as it gets too hot past noon. Although we didn’t make that timing, we still managed to see many of them. All things considered, I thought this ride was quite worth it ($5 per adult, $3 per child), but do note that if weather conditions aren’t suitable, there’s a chance you won’t get to take the ride and no refunds will be given.

On top of Amazon River Quest, there used to be another boat ride called the Reservoir Cruise that would take you on a 15-minute scenic journey along the outskirts of the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari. However, due to the covid situation, this ride has been temporarily suspended.

Rounding off our day here was the Once Upon A River animal presentation. I can’t even begin to describe how arduous it was for us to get seats for it. There are 3 sessions in a day: 11.30am, 2.30pm and 4.30pm. When we reached Boat Plaza at 11.15am for the first show, the capacity of 50 pax (40 pax in rainy conditions) was maxed out. Thinking we’d learnt our lesson, we decided to arrive 45 minutes earlier for the second show. We were initially allowed in the queue to supposedly take the last two available slots. Alas, due to some miscalculation on the staff’s part, our slots apparently never existed and so we were ousted from the show once again. One of the staff empathized with our plight and very kindly told us that she will help to reserve 2 spaces for the last show of the day, suggesting that we come by at 4pm. After visiting the rest of the exhibits, we came back to Boat Plaza at 3.25pm for the 4.30pm show AND IT WAS FULL, save for the fact that we had seats reserved. We were legit the last ones standing in the queue line even though we were a whole hour early to showtime, such is the weekend crowd. Hopefully there won’t be such occurrences again as the park has introduced an online booking system where visitors can now reserve slots 2 hours before showtime (fastest fingers first, of course), ideally helping to limit the uncertainty of seat availability. We finally got to watch the show after all that hullabaloo and our verdict is, it’s really not worth waiting in line for an hour or more for it. It simply felt like a quick, successive parade of the animals (some doing little tricks) while having loads of information thrown at us. I think the suspension of interaction opportunities with the animals as compared to pre-covid iterations of this show kinda stifled the experience, but kudos to the presenters who did their best to engage the audience.

My overall rating of the experience: 3 out of 5 stars . I was pleasantly surprised that the animals here weren’t the common run-of-the-mill types, which was a refreshing eye-opener for me. I was especially intrigued by the gigantic Mekong catfish, the adorable capybaras, the graceful manatees, as well as the agile and playful otters. The Amazon River Quest boat ride was quite the novel experience, where we got to view various animals and intermittently cruise down some slopes. It was amazing to be in such close proximity to the creatures at the Squirrel Monkey Forest too! However, a number of park experiences like the feeding sessions were suspended at the point of our visit, which was a bit of a letdown. But what really affected this rating was the pricey yet unappetizing food served at Mama Panda Kitchen and the pains of getting a near-impossible seat at the animal presentation (I hope you won’t find yourself in a such a situation with the new online booking system). Otherwise, this would’ve been a 4-star rating. With that said, it’s still worth a visit for the unique wildlife you can find here.

If this post helped you in some way and you’d like to buy me a coffee, I’d be incredibly grateful (:

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Entertainment

Le Le makes his debut at River Wonders’ Giant Panda Forest exhibit, joining mum Jia Jia

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Some "baby proofing" was needed at the main exhibit before the panda cub's debut on Thursday (Mar 10). 

Jia Jia and Le Le spending quality time bonding in the main exhibit - Day 202 3 March 2022. (Photo: Mandai Wildlife Group)

Shameelah Abdullah

Singapore’s first giant panda cub is finally ready for his time in the spotlight. Le Le joined mum Jia Jia in the main exhibit at the River Wonders’ Giant Panda Forest Exhibit on Thursday (Mar 10). Prior to this, Le Le was placed at the nursery, where he made his first public appearance on Dec 30 last year . 

According to the media release sent by Mandai Wildlife Group, some “baby proofing” was necessary before Le Le was able to join his mum in the exhibit.

The animal care team had to remove any potential risks to ensure the curious cub’s safety. For example, the water area was drained and is now filled and padded with leaves and bark chips.

At almost seven months old,  Le Le is said to enjoy exploring his space independently and spending time with mum Jia Jia throughout the day in the enclosure. He has even tried his paws at enrichment devices.

Le Le was born on Aug 14, 2021  to Singapore’s beloved panda pair, Kai Kai and Jia Jia. He weighed an estimated 200g at the time.

Now weighing a whopping 15.86kg, Le Le’s first day at the exhibit was marked by the unveiling of his information board.

“Le Le has come a long way in his development since last August,” said Mandai Wildlife Group CEO, Mike Barclay. “His birth has stirred hearts far and wide, and we would not have got to this point without the generous and strong support provided by our partners and the public.”

Le Le’s name was picked through an online poll held in November – the word “Le” comes from “Shi Le Po”, which is an ancient Chinese name for Singapore and is also a transliteration of the Malay term “selat” – or straits – indicative of Singapore’s geographical location.

Also present at the unveiling of Le Le’s information board at the Giant Panda Forest were Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies Heng Swee Keat, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China Hong Xiaoyong, as well as Mandai Park Holdings deputy chairperson Tan Chuan-Jin and Mandai Park Holdings chairperson Suppiah Dhanabalan.

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