Here is our guide to River Wonders Singapore (formerly River Safari) including info on panda Le Le’s last day before he goes back to China, boat rides and animal shows!

Giant Panda Cub Le Le Returns to China Jan 2024 so you can see him at River Wonders for another month until 13 December 2023!

River Wonders Singapore in Mandai has always been a hit with families. After all, where else in Singapore can you find 7,500 land and aquatic animals from 240 different species under one roof? Have a blast on the Amazon River Quest boat ride, watch the animals in the various animal shows and visit the pandas! Ready to plan your trip to the River Wonders Singapore? Here’s everything you need to know including how to take a last peek at panda Le Le before he goes to China!

Jump to:
– Getting to River Wonders Singapore
– What to Expect at River Wonders Singapore
– Animals at River Wonders Singapore
– Visit the River Wonders Singapore: Panda Exhibit
– River Wonders Animal Show
– River Wonders Boat Ride: Amazon River Quest
– Activities at River Wonders
– River Wonders Food & Restaurants
– River Wonders Singapore Tickets & Opening Hours
– River Wonders Promos & Discounts

           Read more: Everything You Need to Know About Visiting the Singapore Zoo

Ultimate Guide to River Wonders Singapore:

Panda Le Le last day at River Wonders: now 13 December 2023!

River Wonder’s little sweetheart Le Le, is set to return to China in January 2024 as part of a conservation mission for the Giant Panda species. But don’t worry, there’s still time to see Le Le before his final day at River Wonders (which has been extended from November until 13 December 2023!) Cub Le Le will then undergo a month’s quarantine, until his departure date. River Wonder’s farewell campaign in honour of Le Le will continue through to 13 December 2023 with photo points, a mailbox for farewell fan mail and more. On Le Le’s last day in his exhibit, there will also be a final farewell party.

Mama Jia Jia had already started exhibiting avoidance behaviours such as moving away when Le Le approaches, and in the last month, she has been observed to display initial signs of rejection, like chasing Le Le away. This is the natural progression in the Giant Panda species and Jia Jia will eventually reject two-year-old Le Le. The bears will timeshare their exhibit in the lead-up to Le Le’s departure. When timesharing kicks in, the public can see panda Le Le from 10am to 2pm and Jia Jia from 2pm to 6pm.

Bon Voyage, Le Le! Campaign
Check out the series of photo points of Le Le’s growth milestones around River Wonders.
When: Till 13 Dec 2023, 10am – 7pm

Farewell Fan Mail for Panda Cub Le Le: Drop off fan mail such as letters and drawings into the panda mailbox.
Redeem a free* panda plantable postcard when you snap a photo of your fan mail and share it on social media. Tag @mandaiwildlifereserve and #BonVoyageLeLe. *Limited quantity and on a first-come-first-served basis. T&Cs apply.
When: 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 25, 26 Nov, 2, 3, 9, 10, 13 Dec 2023, 10am – 5pm at Panda Courtyard.

Final Farewell Party for Panda Cub Le Le
When: 13 December 2023, details TBC

What Else to Expect at River Wonders Singapore

We love River Wonders because nearly all of the park is either indoors (hello, air-conditioning!), or under covered walkways. As Asia’s “first and only river-themed wildlife park,” River Wonders Singapore projects a strong message about protecting fragile freshwater ecosystems, and showcases threatened species such as the manatee and Mekong giant catfish. It’s because of these elaborate exhibits – constructed to mirror iconic rivers such as the Mississippi, the Mekong and the Nile – that much of the River Wonders Singapore is indoors.

River Wonders is also the smallest of the Mandai wildlife parks, requiring just a few hours to cover. This means it’s a great option for families with younger kids!

Animals at River Wonders Singapore

Across the 11 ‘zones’ representing different geographic ecosystems at River Wonders, you’ll find a wide variety of animals (like otters and pandas), reptiles (crocodile-like Indian Gharials, Green Anacondas), and sea creatures (Electric Eels, Giant Freshwater Stingrays), among many others. There’s also the Amazonia Encounters exhibit, which lets you walk through ‘the Amazon’ and experience intimate animal encounters on foot.

You’ll find Singapore’s two famous Giant Pandas, Jia Jia and Kai Kai (plus their baby, Le Le who just turned two), in the Yangtze River Zone.

Visit the River Wonders: Panda Exhibit

The panda exhibit at River Wonders (River Safari) is probably one of the most popular exhibits ever since the first baby panda in Singapore was born on 14 August 2021. Parents Kai Kai and Jia Jia arrived in River Wonders Singapore (back when it was still called the River Safari) in September 2012, on a decade-long loan from China. Sadly though, panda Le Le, will return to China in January 2024 (extended from December 2023. Pandas at River Wonders Singapore are one of the star attractions, being one of only nine countries to have received pandas on loan from China. Be sure to plan your visit to River Wonders soon to can catch a glimpse of panda Le Le before he leaves.

Look out for the adorable red pandas while you are here, too!

River Wonders Animal Show

The animal show at River Wonders Singapore (River Safari Singapore) is called ‘Once Upon a River’ and is free to attend. Shows are limited to a maximum capacity of 50 people and seats must be booked online. Online booking for seats opens two hours before the show starts. This animal show is a hit with kids and is worth doing at least once. The River Wonders staff weave lots of information about reducing plastic and its harmful effect on animals and the Capybaras that feature are just so adorable (and big!).
When: 11:30am, 2:30pm and 4:30pm
Where: Boat Plaza. Click here to book your seats!

River Wonders Boat Ride: Amazon River Quest

With river in the name, it only makes sense that River Wonders Singapore would offer some options to get out on the water! Amazon River Quest is an open-top boat ride designed to simulate a journey along the Amazon River. Passengers have the chance to spot all sorts wildlife among the lush vegetation. Note that River Wonders boat ride involves moderate acceleration, elevation changes, and minor bumping, so it’s not recommended for pregnant women. Kids need to be at least 1.06m and above to experience the boat ride and kids between 1.06m and 1.35m must be accompanied by an adult). Tickets must be booked online ahead of time, and on this 10-minute boat ride, you’ll have the chance to spot even more animals up close, including a few jaguars (who seemed a little sad pacing back and forth repeatedly in their small enclosures), Red Howler monkeys, tapirs, a giant anteater, a capybara, and many more.

Amazon River Quest ticket prices: $5 per pax. Book your tickets online.

Note: The Amazon River Quest boat ride will be closed from 11 to 28 September 2023 for its annual maintenance. 

Activities at River Wonders

1. Wildlife Experiences: River Discovery Tour

Get a personal tour of the watery world and hear all of the inside scoop about baby panda Le Le. You can even enjoy priority access to the Once Upon a River animal show, and the kids can get up close with the stars of the show!

When: Every Tuesday, Thursday & Sunday, 3:30pm – 5pm
How much: From $320 (weekdays) and $400 (weekends) for up to 8 pax.

2. Wildlife Experiences: Backstage Pass

Want to meet the adorable manatees? Buy this backstage pass to learn all about their quirks and join in their training sessions! You can even hand feed them during their mealtime.
Note: Kids must be at least 1.2m to participate. 

When: 2:15pm – 3:15pm
How much: From $92.72 per pax (weekdays) and $118.40 per pax (weekends).

River Wonders Restaurants: Where to Eat

While there aren’t as many food options at the River Wonders in comparison to the Singapore Zoo, there is a Starbucks in the entrance plaza and Mama Panda Kitchen restaurant, serving Chinese food like adorable panda buns, at the Giant Panda Forest. All that said, it’s easy to manoeuvre River Wonders in a couple of hours – half a day at most – so if you pack a few snacks, you should be fine!

River Wonders Singapore Tickets & Opening Hours

For local residents, tickets are currently priced at $27 for children and $37.80 for adults (WildPass holders). Sign up for a free WildPass to enjoy discounted prices. Other multi-park tickets are also available. Note that cash payments are not available at River Wonders, and you should be prepared to show your electronic ticket on your phone upon arrival.

River Wonders Singapore opening hours:
River Wonders Singapore: Daily, 10am – 7pm.
Amazon River Quest: Daily, 11am – 6pm
Amazonia Encounters: Daily, 11am – 6pm
Giant Panda Forest: Daily, 10am – 6:15pm

River Wonders Promos & Discounts

Local Residents’ Discount: Join River Wonders to bid farewell to Le Le and enjoy up to 20%* off River Wonders admission tickets! * T&Cs apply.

River Wonders Nursing Rooms & Stroller Rental

River Wonders has four nursing rooms with changing facilities located at the Entrance Plaza, the Giant Panda Forest, the Boat Plaza, and the Amazon Flooded Forest. How cute is that manatee wallpaper?!

If you’re bringing a car seat, you can rent a small storage locker priced at $5 for three hours, $1 thereafter, or a large locker (85 x 45 x 90cm) for $10 for three hours, $2 thereafter.

Another handy feature of booking ahead is that you can reserve a wagon or stroller in advance. Wagons ($18 each) can accommodate up to two children with a combined weight of 35kg, while an umbrella stroller ($15) can hold a child weighing up to 15kg.

Be sure to book a time slot before arrival at River Wonders, as these are subject to availability. Note that there are different booking portals for WRS Members and non-members. Click here for the latest information on closures and openings.

How to get to River Wonders Singapore

The River Wonders Singapore, formerly known as the River Safari Singapore, is located on Mandai Lake Road, right next to Singapore Zoo. The nearest MRT is Khatib on the North-South Line (with the $1 shuttle bus), or take bus 927 from Choa Chu Kang MRT. Note that there is also the 926 bus (which connects from Woodlands and Marsiling MRT stations), but this is only available on Sundays and public holidays.

It’s easy to take a taxi to the River Wonders Singapore, and there is ample parking on site as well ($3 for the first hour, $2 for every additional hour, maximum parking charge of $10).

River Wonders, 80 Mandai Lake Road, Singapore 729826, www.mandai.com/en/river-wonders

Need more kid-friendly ideas for a fun day out? We’ve got you covered!