We are wild for a trip to the Singapore Zoo with our kiddos! Here’s everything you need to know to plan your trip, from Singapore Zoo ticket prices to feeding times and how to book animal shows
We love visiting the Singapore Zoo (one of Wildlife Reserves Singapore’s four parks)! In a city jam-packed with fab family excursions, the Singapore Zoo still tops our must-do list. We love spotting wild animals in town but for guaranteed animal viewings, Singapore Zoo is the place! Well-planned walking trails, beautifully kept gardens, free-roaming animals (oppressive bars and small cages are kept to a minimum), a chance to feed some of the animals from giraffes to rhinos and elephants, educational animal shows and lots of clean kid-sized toilets, and nursing rooms — what could be better?
Jump to:
Ticket Prices & Promotions
Getting around Singapore Zoo & Tram tickets
Animal Feeding Times & Tickets
Animal Shows Times & Fee
Where to Eat in Singapore Zoo
Kidzworld & Water Play
Friends of the Zoo WRS Annual Pass
How to Get There & Opening Hours
There’s more than enough to see at Singapore Zoo to keep your little ones entertained weekend after weekend. Singapore Zoo is part of Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) and we recommend getting an annual membership instead of buying individual tickets (more on this below).
Ticket Prices & Promotions
Do note Singapore Zoo will be operating at limited capacity — on the plus side, no crowds! But it also means you’ll have to reserve a designated arrival time prior to your visit, and must enter the park within 45 minutes of that time. Masks are required, and groups are limited to no more than five people. Click here for the full advisory.
You won’t need a ticket for under 3s (yippee!). During the pandemic you can only buy Singapore Zoo tickets online (where there’s an automatic 5-10% ticket discount depending on if you are purchasing tickets for peak or off-peak). It’s cheaper to get Singapore Zoo tickets on a weekday than on the weekend or public holiday. Do note that local residents who are WildPass holders enjoy 10- 20% ticket discounts on Singapore Zoo tickets! Non-residents who buy tickets online can currently enjoy discounts of up to 10%.
Admission for Local Residents (Singapore citizens, PRs, EP, DP and work permit holders)
Adult: $36.90/$38.95: Mon to Fri/ Sat, Sun and Public Holidays
Child (3-12 years old): $25.20/$26.60: Mon to Fri/ Sat, Sun and Public Holidays
Admission for Non-residents
Adult: $36.90/$38.95: Mon to Fri/ Sat, Sun and Public Holidays
Child (3-12 years old): $25.20/$26.60: Mon to Fri/ Sat, Sun and Public Holidays
Discounts: You can get better deals when you opt for Park Combos and ParkHopper passes on the WRS website or purchase via websites like Klook!
Current Singapore Zoo Ticket Promotions: Get $50 tickets to two WRS Parks!
Now you can visit both Singapore Zoo and River Safari for just $50 with the WRS 2-Park Admission promo ($40 for kids age 3-12!). You just have to visit both parks within 7 days, but the great news is you don’t need to book a time slot.
Local Residents’ Ticket Promotion: Enjoy 50% off admission for Singapore Zoo only from 25 – 29 Aug! Valid for same-park and same day admission only. Terms and conditions apply.
Singapore Zoo Map
If you want to plan your trip before you get there, download the Singapore Zoo map first! That way you can decide with your kids what animals they want to prioritize seeing. Plus if you plan on any animal shows (more on this below) you’ll need to factor showtimes in to your visit.
Getting around Singapore Zoo & Tram tickets
If you have littlies, bring their pram – great for carrying your bags and water bottles and for when your kids’ legs get tired – there’s lots of walking at Singapore Zoo! Or consider renting a wagon where kids can sit facing each other, which is fun until they start arguing, and then you turn them in opposite directions. Strollers (max weight 15kg) rent for $15, wagons (max weight 35kg for two kids) rent for $18, and both come with a 20% discount for Singapore Zoo members (we told you it was worth it!). Other mobility devices like wheelchairs and electric scooters are also available for rental; click here for all the deets.
You can also buy Singapore Zoo Tram tickets to explore the park with a guided tour. Rides are unlimited. You can purchase tickets online here. Tram tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for kids. If you have a Friend of the Zoo pass and are there on a weekday, the tram is free!
Animal Feeding Times & Tickets
One of the highlights for our kids is getting up close to some of the animals at the Singapore Zoo. There’s a chance to take part in feeding the animals – for this you’ll need to buy animal feeding tickets online when you buy your Singapore Zoo entry ticket. Each animal feeding ticket costs $5 and feeding takes place at set times.
Pro tip: Get your cameras ready for pictures early as those animals gobble up their food fast and each child’s feeding session is over in less than 5 minutes!
- White Rhino Feeding at Wild Africa, Singapore Zoo at 1.15pm tickets $5
- Elephant Feeding at Elephants of Asia, Singapore Zoo at 9.30am, 4.30pm tickets $5
- Giraffe Feeding at Wild Africa, Singapore Zoo at 10.45am, 1.50pm, 3.45pm tickets $5
- Goat Feeding at Rainforest KidzWorld, Singapore Zoo at 11.30am & 3.30pm tickets $5
- Giant Tortoise at Reptile Garden, Singapore Zoo, 1:15pm tickets $5
Animal Shows at Singapore Zoo
Look out for Pedro the Sea Lion in the Splash Safari Show at the Singapore Zoo. It’s lovely to see the Sea Lions up close and in action, plus we respect how they discuss environmental issues such as plastic waste in the ocean and advocate using reusable shopping bags and water bottles!
The great news is WRS is trialling booking the animal shows online (no more queues perhaps!?) You can now book seats for animal shows at Singapore Zoo 90 minutes before the show time. You’ll need to scan the QR code at the show entrance and follow the steps to book.
Animal shows play twice daily and each show lasts for 15 to 20 minutes, weather permitting! Here’s the schedule (above) for you to get the most out of your visit to Singapore Zoo.
Orangutans at Singapore Zoo
The Singapore Zoo is famous for its free roaming orangutans and other animals that are housed not in green enclosures. Instead of cages there are moats to keep animals contained (as well as live electricity wires throughout). One of the highlights is the orangutans who laze on the tree structures, chatter and if you’re lucky you’ll catch them swinging gracefully from branch to branch.
Use the Singapore Zoo map to plan your route according to what animals you want to see. From Australasia to Wild Africa, different zones replicate diverse animal habitats around the world. Your kids can go looking for white rhinos, giraffes, white tigers, crocodiles and more! If you need to cool off (or escape a torrential downpour — this is Singapore, after all), a number of cool sheltered buildings are strategically placed around the zoo. In addition to restaurants like Ah Meng’s and Ben and Jerry’s, there’s also Reptopia (don’t worry, the snakes are in an enclosure!), the Forest Lodge, the Penguin House, and the Kangaroo House.
NB: One of the things we like most about the nearby River Safari is that it’s almost all either indoors or under a covered walkway — it’s a good back-up option if the weather’s not cooperating.
Dining & Food options at Singapore Zoo
Singapore Zoo food options include multiple KFCs, Inuka Cafe (local coffee shop), and two Ah Meng’s (serving up local dishes like nasi lemak and chicken rice, noodle soup along with fish & chips and other Western fried faves). Just don’t exhaust yourself looking for a salad. Do note that unvaccinated guests will have to purchase food for takeaway as dining in is only possible for 5 fully vaccinated guests per table (exceptions are made for children aged 12 years and below if they all from the same household).
NB: If you do buy food to eat in the park – do watch out for wild macaques (not part of the zoo collection)! These wild monkeys associate baby prams and plastic bags with food and may approach you in search of food. Remain calm and walk away.
Read More: Where to See Wild Crocodiles, Dolphins, & Otters in Singapore!
Breakfast with the orangutans
Where else in the world can you enjoy your tea and toast with orangutans than Singapore Zoo? Each day from 9am to 10:30am at Ah Meng Restaurant, families can chow down and then look forward to a photo op with a whole family of friendly orangutans (they make their appearance from 9:30-10am) in this totally unique-to-Singapore Zoo dining experience. Reservations are required and tickets cost $35 for adults and $25 for children ages 6-12. Once again, Friends of the Zoo members get a 20% discount!
NB: Temporarily closed due to safe distancing measures.
Water Play at Kidzworld
The zoo can be hot and tiring for little kids. So we love saving a trip to the wet play area at Kidzworld until the end! This mini water park is located at the very back near Sungei Buaya (Mandrills and Chimps) and nearby to the Tortoise Shell-ter and Sea Lion Splash Show. Here you’ll find a huge, fabulous water play with an animal-themed slide and spray shack and a truly massive water bucket ready to rain down at regular intervals. Be sure to bring kids’ swimsuits to avoid disappointment; there are showers on site, too. Other popular Rainforest Kidzworld attractions include pony rides and the Buddy Barn (where kids can meet bunny rabbits, guinea pigs, and even occasionally ferrets and goats). NB: This is closed until further notice due to safe distancing measures.
What’s open at Kidzworld? A carousel kids’ ride, and the new Houbii Rope Course (which all cost extra — Friends of the Singapore Zoo get a 20% discount off the ropes course, though!).
Singapore Zoo Membership WRS Annual Pass
It doesn’t take long to enjoy value for money with the Singapore Zoo WRS membership pass. For roughly the cost of three visits to Singapore Zoo (prices start from $235 for two adults + 1 child over 3), with a Friends of the Zoo pass your family gets unlimited visits throughout the year, plus free weekday tram rides, majorly discounted parking, and all sorts of discounts off food, souvenirs, and other fun experiences.
We’d definitely suggest going for the full “Friends of Wildlife” pass while you’re at it, since for less than $100 extra it also includes access to all the Wildlife Reserves Singapore parks; the Night Safari, Jurong Bird Park, and The River Safari (who doesn’t love pandas – especially a newborn baby panda?!). And real talk, mamas: the Singapore Zoo is SO big that we prefer hitting it up in chunks, rather than making a full day of it (to see everything). This set-up works way better with cranky toddlers, too. When you buy a membership ticket the pressure’s off to cram everything into one day!
Don’t forget the Night Safari and the River Safari
The Night Safari might be a bit further up the road but is a super fun way to finish off a day at the Singapore Zoo, particularly if you have out of town guests who want to avoid the heat, or older kids who can stay up a bit later. With different, nocturnal animals and cool shows, it’s absolutely worth a visit unto itself. As aforementioned, the River Safari right next door rates with us because most of it is either indoors or under cover. Here you’ll also find cool activities like Sleep with the Manatees and the theme park-esque Amazon River Quest ride, and of course its also home to Singapore’s famous giant pandas, Jia Jia and Kai Kai (and newborn baby!).
A few final tips:
- Don’t forget to pack sunscreen and insect repellant
- Storage lockers are available – so if you’re coming by taxi and have a care seat you can leave it for $10 for three hours, and $2 for each additional hour.
- An umbrella could come in handy, too (though naturally you can find plenty – along with ponchos in both child and adult sizes – in the gift shops).
- Stay tuned for the gradual opening of the massive Mandai Project, starting with the new Jurong Bird Park in 2021 and culminating in a sure-to-be-incredible eco-resort in 2023.
Singapore Zoo: How to Get There
The Singapore Zoo is located at 80 Mandai Lake Road, Singapore 729826.
By public bus:
Bus 138 from Ang Mo Kio MRT
Bus 927 from Choa Chu Kang MRT
By Mandai Khatib shuttle: You can take the Mandai Khatib shuttle bus that takes you from Khatib MRT straight to the Singapore Zoo, available daily from 8am (first bus from Khatib MRT) to 11pm (last bus from Singapore Zoo Coach Bay). The fare is just $1 and payment can be made by EZ-link/NETS Flashpay card only.
By Mandai Express: The Mandai Express operates from Bedok, Sengkang and Tampines available daily from 8:45am. The fare is just $3/adult, $1/child and tickets can be purchased online or on board using EZ-link/NETS Flashpay card only. Check out the pick-up locations here!
By taxi or car:
If you’re coming by taxi or private hire vehicle, there are two convenient drop-off points at the zoo. If you’re driving, here are two routes from the city:
Via Central Expressway (CTE) from the City
1. Take the CTE toward Seletar Expressway (SLE)
2. Continue onto SLE towards Mandai Road
3. Take Exit 8A on SLE onto Mandai Road
4. Turn left onto Mandai Lake Road
Via Pan Island Expressway (PIE) from the City
1. Take the PIE toward Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE)
2. Continue onto BKE toward Woodlands
3. Take Exit 7 on BKE onto Mandai Road
4. Turn right onto Mandai Lake Road
Singapore Zoo Opening Hours
The Singapore Zoo is open every day of the year, from 8:30am to 6pm (last entry at 5pm). Weekends, public holidays and school holiday periods are naturally the busiest.
Ready to plan your day at the Singapore Zoo?
Singapore Zoo, 80 Mandai Lake Road, Singapore 729826, www.wrs.com.sg/en/singapore-zoo
