Visit Singapura
Henderson Waves bridge curving above the rainforest canopy

Nature & wildlife

The city in a garden

Rainforest trails, island kampungs, mangroves and wild otters: Singapore’s wild side is closer than you think.

Henderson Waves wooden bridge curving above the rainforest canopy01

Hike

The Southern Ridges

A 10-kilometre trail links hilltop parks with bridges and boardwalks above the forest. Henderson Waves, the island’s highest pedestrian bridge, is the star.

Don’t miss

  • Henderson Waves, a curving timber bridge with wave-shaped seating alcoves
  • The Forest Walk, an elevated steel walkway through the treetops at Kent Ridge
  • Mount Faber Park, with views of the harbour and Sentosa

Insider tip: Start early or late in the day to avoid the heat, and bring water. The bridge is lit up in the evening.

Dirt cycling trail on Pulau Ubin with a bicycle and a kampung house02

Island escape

Pulau Ubin

A short bumboat ride from Changi Point takes you to a quieter Singapore: kampung houses, mangroves and wild boar, with no high-rises in sight.

What to do

  • Rent a bicycle at the jetty and explore the island trails
  • Walk the Chek Jawa boardwalk across mudflats, coral rubble and mangrove
  • Stop for a simple local lunch at a village stall

Insider tip: Bumboats leave when they have a full load of passengers, and bikes can run out on busy weekends. Go on a weekday.

Wooden boardwalk through mangrove wetlands with a heron in the shallows03

Birdwatching

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

Singapore’s first ASEAN Heritage Park is a mangrove and mudflat reserve in the north-west, and a key stop for migratory birds.

What you might see

  • Herons, kingfishers and migratory shorebirds in season
  • Estuarine crocodiles, mudskippers and monitor lizards
  • Mangrove boardwalks and a tall lookout tower

Insider tip: Visit at low tide and in the morning for the best birdwatching. Bring insect repellent and binoculars.

Family of smooth-coated otters on a waterfront with city buildings behind04

Urban wildlife

Otters in the city

Wild smooth-coated otters have made a comeback, and they now fish in rivers, reservoirs and even around Marina Bay.

Good places to look

  • Marina Bay and the Singapore River, especially around dawn
  • Gardens by the Bay and the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park waterways
  • Pasir Ris Park and the East Coast shoreline

Insider tip: Keep a respectful distance, never feed them, and keep your voice low. They are wild animals with young pups.

Keep exploring

More green escapes

Plenty more places to stretch your legs once you have covered the highlights.

  • Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

    Primary rainforest around the island’s highest hill, only 12 km from the CBD.

  • MacRitchie Treetop Walk

    A 250-metre suspension bridge high in the forest canopy of the central reserves.

  • Night Safari

    Wildlife in the dark, with tigers, fishing cats and flying squirrels.

  • Coney Island Park

    A rustic island park of casuarina trees, cycling and quiet beach in the north-east.

  • Labrador Nature Reserve

    A coastal boardwalk and rocky shore with views of the busy shipping lanes.

  • St John’s & Lazarus Islands

    Car-free southern islands with calm beaches and a day-trip ferry ride away.

Pair nature with the city

See how a green morning fits into a three-day itinerary.

See the itinerary