From seeing baby Panda LeLe to boat rides and animal shows, River Wonders Singapore (formerly River Safari) has plenty for the whole fam. Here are some of the best highlights!

River Wonders Singapore at Mandai (formerly known as River Safari) 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, watch the animals in the various animal shows and visit baby panda Le Le, who has now been moved to the common viewing exhibit! Queues are long and viewing times are limited, but the kids are sure to be excited to see Le Le. Ready to plan your trip to the River Wonders Singapore? Here’s everything you need to know to before you go:

Getting to River Wonders Singapore
Animal Shows at River Wonders Singapore
What you’ll find at River Wonders Singapore
Visit the River Wonders Singapore baby panda exhibit 
Animals at River Wonders Singapore
River Wonders Singapore Boat Rides
River Wonders Singapore Tickets & Opening Hours
River Wonders Singapore Nursing Rooms & Stroller Rental
Food at River Wonders Singapore

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

How to get to River Wonders (River Safari) 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 (most affordable if you have a WRS annual pass!).

What you’ll find at River Wonders Singapore

We love River Wonders because nearly all of the park is either indoors (hello, airconditioning!), or under covered walkways. As Asia’s “first and only river-themed wildlife park,” River Wonders Singapore previously known as River Safari 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.

Visit the River Wonder Singapore baby panda exhibit

River Wonders has been in the news because the first baby panda in Singapore was born on 14 August 2021! Parents Kai Kai and Jia Jia arrived in River Wonders Singapore (then known as River Safari Singapore) in September 2012, on a decade-long loan from China. According to Straits Times, baby panda Le Le, will return to China when he turns two. 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. See if you can catch a glimpse of baby panda Le Le in River Wonders’ Panda enclosure.

Baby panda Le Le at the Panda enclosure

Want a closer look at the pandas in Singapore? River Wonders Singapore is offering a special panda-mania tour! From 10am to 3pm, tour the Giant Panda Forest with your very own personal wildlife guide. You will also get the opportunity to head to the VIP dining experience where you will have lunch in a private dining room with a full view of the Giant Panda Forest. The tour also includes reserved seats to the Once Upon a River show, a printed photo, complimentary parking and a special activity where you get to create your own panda family with air-dry clay. Click here to book now!

Animals at River Wonders (River Safari) Singapore

Across the River Wonders’s 11 “zones” representing different geographic ecosystems 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. You’ll find Singapore’s two famous Giant Pandas, Jia Jia and Kai Kai (plus their new baby panda, Le Le), in the Yangtze River Zone. Thankfully there are fewer crowds than normal, but they’re still just as likely to be sleeping or non-visible, so adjust expectations accordingly. The Singapore panda habitat is also huge, so they can be a bit tough to spot for photos. Look out for the red pandas while you are here, too!

Animal Shows at River Wonders Singapore

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 (River Safari) 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 a super cool 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 (River Safari) boat ride involves moderate acceleration, elevation changes, and minor bumping, so it’s not recommended for pregnant women. Your 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: $3 for children (or $2.40 for members) and $5 for adults ($4 for members). Book your tickets online.

Food at River Wonders Singapore

There are relatively slim pickings for food at the River Wonders in comparison to the Singapore Zoo: you’ll find a Starbucks in the entrance plaza, and “Mama Panda Kitchen,” serving Chinese food like adorable panda buns, at the Giant Panda Forest. All that said, it’s easy to manouevre 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

Advanced booking is currently required for River Wonders Singapore. For local residents, tickets are currently priced at $25.20 for children and $36 for adults. Other multi-park tickets are also available. Note that cash payments are not available at River Wonders Singapore previously known as River Safari Singapore, and you should be prepared to show your electronic ticket on your phone upon arrival.

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

River Wonders Nursing Rooms & Stroller Rental

River Wonders (River Safari) 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 storage locker, priced at $5 for three hours, $1 thereafter (for a small locker) and $10 for three hours, $2 thereafter for a large locker (85 x 45 x 90cm). 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.

Safety Measures & Closures

Be sure to book a time slot before arrival at River Wonders Singapore (River Safari Singapore), as these are subject to availability. Note that there are different booking portals for WRS Members and non-members. Face Masks are required at all parts of the park, and there are hand sanitisers located throughout the park. At the moment, Keeper’s Chit Chat is temporarily suspended due to safe distancing measures, and shows are operating at limited capacity. Click here for the latest information on closures and openings.

River Wonders (formerly known as River Safari), 80 Mandai Lake Road, Singapore 729826, www.mandai.com/en/river-wonders/.html

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