Did you know over 50 percent of the Lion City is actually parks and reserves? Sunory Dutt laces up her walking shoes and discovers a Singapore surprisingly rich in flora and fauna.
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Web: www.sbwr.org.sg
The Mangrove Boardwalk is one of Singapore’s most favoured natural trails. This 500-metre walk takes 30 minutes and is an easy, flat wooden platform with no steps – suitable for young children and those in wheelchairs. The Boardwalk brings you closer to the trees and wildlife of the mangroves than any other facility in the Reserve, without getting your feet wet or muddy. As the tide comes in, you might see Mangrove stingrays and other fish rushing in to feed on the mudflats. Birds such as kingfishers and woodpeckers are common encounters, while white-breasted fish eagles and bee-eaters sometimes rest in the dead trees nearby. Marine Fish tours are held on Saturdays to introduce visitors to the fascinating marine life here.
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
Web: www.nparks.gov.sg/nature_bukit.asp
A walk along the short South View trail gives a quick introduction to the rainforest and is the best place to go trekking on a sunny afternoon. The unpaved trail goes mostly uphill with many steps cut into the ground. Suitable for reasonably fit adults and children; it’s not recommended for those with prams, wheelchairs or walking difficulties. Free guided tours are available on the first Sunday of every month at 4pm.
Lower Peirce Boardwalk
Web: www.wildsingapore.com/places/lpt.htm
Along this shady, cool boardwalk, discover and learn about amazing plants such as pitcher plants, Macaranga or the Ant-plant and Nibong palms. Monkeys and lizards are common and you might even spot a flying lemur (Colugo), clouded monitor lizard or a beautiful twin-barred tree snake. Skirting the water's edge, you can also see dragonflies and fish among the waterweeds. The wooden boardwalk is relatively level with some steps in some portions – and many in others. Not ideal for prams, but possible with help. Not accessible for wheelchairs.
MacRitchie Prunus Trail
Web: www.wildsingapore.com/places/macr.htm
The Prunus Trail is a boardwalk which hugs the reservoir, for easy exploration of its freshwater wildlife. There are also breathtaking views of the reservoir and the surrounding forests. Interesting plants line the boardwalk including the intriguing Ant plant and pitcher plants. You may find white-breasted fish eagles or kingfishers here. Look out for a flying lemur (Colugo) fast asleep in high tree branches. The trail ends in a series of steps, bringing you through a short stretch of secondary forest.
Botanic Gardens Rainforest Trail
Web: www.wildsingapore.com/places/sbg.htm
Right in the heart of the city, within minutes of Orchard Road, this is the oldest remnant of rainforest in Singapore. Short and easy trails take you to the feet of rare forest giants that shelter birds and other wildlife. Among the highlights are rainforest trees of up to 40 metres in height – some so gargantuan that lightning conductors have been installed on them for protection. Here you’ll find a good representation of Singapore’s original timber trees. Forest birds, playful squirrels and brightly coloured butterflies are common sights.
Upper Seletar Reservoir Park
Web: www.singaporeguides.info/html/public-park/upper-seletar-reservoir.shtml
Explore the upper reaches of Sungei Seletar, which was dammed to create one of Singapore’s oldest reservoirs. Although it’s a public park just 15 hectares large, it remains largely natural. It’s at the fringe of the Central Catchment Forest and promises encounters with monkeys and monitor lizards.
Web: www.wildsingapore.com/ubin
Pulau Ubin is in essence, Singapore’s last traditional kampong (village). A stroll through Ubin takes you back to the Singapore of the 1960s and the simpler pleasures of life. Ubin is a great day trip. Walk or pedal a bicycle along rustic roads weaving in and out of swaying coconut palms. Explore shady trails in overgrown rubber plantations and discover secluded beaches, flourishing mangroves and the fragile marine eco-system of Chek Jawa at low tide.
Labrador Park
Web: www.nparks.gov.sg/nature_labrador.asp
Labrador Park’s high vantage point is an oasis of tranquility and offers a picturesque view of the sea. Visit at low tide to explore the rocky shore and discover various species of crab, coral and fish. In the park itself you’ll discover a rich variety of birdlife, such as the white-crusted laughing thrush, the Yellow-vented Bulbul and the regal White-bellied Sea Eagle. Explore the underground complexes used during World War II for the storage of ammunition and supplies for a glimpse of Singapore’s past.
Pulau Semakau
Web: www.wildsingapore.com/places/semakau.htm
An unspoilt mangrove, Pulau Semakau has vast seagrass meadows, coral reefs, sandy shores and migratory birds. Activities here include bird watching, sports fishing and inter-tidal walks.
Interesting websites and blogs
Do you have a Singapore Secret you’d like to share? Send details of your discovery (700 words) plus images to mjones-white@acpmagazines.com.sg and you could be published in an upcoming issue of The Finder!
Photography: www.wildsingapore.com
Posted on May 07
