Zoos & aquariums
Singapore Zoo
The Singapore Zoo, formerly known as the Singapore Zoological Gardens or Mandai Zoo, is a 28 hectares zoo located on the margins of Upper Seletar Reservoir within Singapore's heavily forested central catchment area. It is operated by the Mandai Wildlife Group, which also manages the neighbouring Night Safari, River Wonders, Bird Paradise as well as Rainforest Wild.
Singapore Zoo
Singapore Zoo sits on 28 hectares along the edge of Upper Seletar Reservoir, inside the island's central catchment forest area. Enclosures are largely open, using moats and natural barriers instead of cages, so the appeal is seeing animals in relatively naturalistic settings rather than behind bars. It's run by Mandai Wildlife Group, the same operator behind Night Safari, River Wonders, Bird Paradise and Rainforest Wild, which sit nearby and are often paired with it.
Getting there
The zoo is in the north of the island, away from the downtown core, so plan for a 40-60 minute journey from central Singapore. The most common approach is a taxi or ride-hail directly to the entrance, or the subway to Ang Mo Kio or Khatib MRT stations followed by a connecting bus into Mandai. There is no MRT station right at the zoo itself.
Time to allow
Most visitors need at least half a day, roughly 3-4 hours, to walk the main enclosures and catch a few of the animal presentations. If combining with another Mandai attraction on the same day, plan for a full day overall.
When to go
- Arrive as early as possible: animals tend to be more active before the midday heat, and it gets noticeably crowded by late morning, especially on weekends and school holidays.
- Singapore's climate is hot and humid year-round with frequent short showers, so bring rain protection and expect some outdoor walking regardless of season.
- Weekday visits are generally calmer than weekends.
Combining with nearby sights
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is about 2.3km away and suits travellers who want a forested hike after the zoo. Singapore Island's broader attractions sit around 2.6km off. Those continuing north could factor in the Johor-Singapore Causeway (5.9km) if crossing into Malaysia, though this is a border crossing rather than a casual add-on. Given the shared operator and location, pairing the zoo with Night Safari or River Wonders on the same visit is usually more practical than combining it with sights further into the city.
Sources: open data from Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap · Updated August 5, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors
