• PAGE ONE
• INDEX
• HOME

Singapore's safari night

Inder Raj Ahluwalia

It was a jungle out there at the Night Safari. Well, almost...

The enchantment of seeing the world's first and only night safari was hard to resist, especially since the advertising had been strong and effective. So here we were, a few miles out of Singapore city, keen to see if the experience matched up to its repu tation. The Night Safari, we were told, is an exciting adventure -- combining the comfort of a zoo environment and the vastness of a wildlife park -- which proves clearly that there are no limits to ingenuity.

But we didn't really know what to expect. ``It's only a glorified zoo open at night,'' said the cynics. ``It is a marvel of planning,'' said others. Actually, it turned out to be somewhere in between. It is sort of magical being up when the rest of the w orld is preparing for slumber. Under the night sky, one can discover beautiful and unusual wildlife in a natural jungle setting adapted to their natural habitat, with the moon and the stars as reliable guides.

Few people actually know that over 90 per cent of animals are nocturnal, which means the best time to see them is at night when they are most active. What makes the experience here different from any zoo is that for the first time, one can see the animal s engaging in their active night-lives -- prowling, hunting, feeding and playing.

Spread over 40 hectares of secondary jungle with the Upper Seletar Reservoir as a beautiful backdrop on three sides, the Night Safari is divided into two almost equal halves -- the East and the West Loop. From the Entrance Plaza, one can proceed on well- lit walking trails or, take the scenic route on a leisurely tram-ride.

Housed in natural habitat type settings across the length and breadth of the park are over 1,200 animals of over 110 exotic species that include the Cape Buffalo, African Bongo, Blue Sheep, Striped Hyena, Golden Jackal and the rare one-horned Rhinocerous . The animals have separate enclosures, skillfully separated in a fashion that there are little or no visible boundaries. One can get close to them without fear, thanks to the hidden pits and meshing that confines them to their designated areas, while cr eating an impression that they are roaming around free.

The landscaping is a major feature, each animal species found in enclosures exactly similar to their natural habitat. Leopards, for instance, are in a large space which features thick foliage

and large trees, which these predators like to climb. Tigers reside in enclosures with undulating floor space. Each area is illustrated with signs that provide the name of the animal species and their notable characteristics.

Besides being a commercial operation catering to visitors, the Night Safari also serves as a conservation centre for the breeding of rare and endangered species, especially from Singapore and nearby regions.

Under subtle lighting, one can see the wildlife specially created for the place. The walking trails, each half-a-kilometre long, enable one to get close to the animals. Hemming the trails in is a profusion of vegetation to create a jungle effect. The tra m-ride, weaving through select East and West Loop routes, lets one see the animals from the comfort of the carriage.

Animals or no animals, our little group was high on food and drink and so the first 30 minutes saw us wolfing down sandwiches and coffee, as befits any type of safari, of the night or day variety.

The overall effect created resembles a jungle setting to perfection and the effect is enhanced by the dramatically changing terrain as one goes along. There are eight major zones that feature recreations of exotic Himalayan foothills, an island-dotted la ke of a Nepalese River Valley, Savanna grasslands of Equatorial Africa and the dense jungles of Indo-Malaya.

We boarded the little train on our journey across the park, and, five minutes later, alighted at a sort of junction point for several different walking trails leading off into the darkness in different directions.

All trails bring one back to the Entrance Plaza where a spread of food awaits visitors. It was feasting time once more, which meant more coffee. The Entrance Restaurant serves sumptuous food and has excellent views. At the East Lodge, one can refresh one self with long cool drinks and sandwiches as one watches the elegant silhouettes of Cape Giraffes ambling around on the other side of the reservoir. And there is also a fast food outlet. And one can stroll through the shops and pick up good souvenirs.

The Night Safari is a perfect example of the care and attention to detail for which Singapore has become internationally renowned. It may not be a large area, providing the thrill and danger of the African Bush, but within its own parameters, it is a hig h-class family entertainment area, besides being an innovative idea in nature conservation.

Fact file

How to get there: The Night Safari is located at the Singapore Zoological Gardens and is a 30-minute drive from the city. Most Singapore hotels have information on the park. Entrance tickets can be bought on the spot. One can take taxis or buses and also the Mass Rapid Transit.

When to visit: The park is open from 7.30 p.m. until midnight.

Normally, an hour-and-a-half are enough to see the entire area. But there are also fixed programmes of two-and-a-half hours including a dinner stop.