The private Zoo Adventure Tour at Singapore Zoo

Why it is on the list

Singapore Zoo opened in 1973 on 28 hectares of forest beside Upper Seletar Reservoir. It keeps about 315 species in open exhibits behind hidden moats and glass, and holds the largest captive colony of orangutans in the world.¹ The Private Experience puts one party on its own buggy with its own guide, who plans the route around the animals the party wants to see.² The morning route takes in the tigers and the orangutans, KidzWorld or the Fragile Forest biodome, a giant tortoise interaction and Wild Africa, and ends with a giraffe feeding.²

It is the wrong choice for guests with limited mobility and for wheelchair users, who cannot join, and for anyone who needs a stroller or wheelchair stowed on the buggy.² Tours run only in English.² For an evening, the private Safari Adventure Tour at Night Safari next door is the equivalent.

How to get it

Book the Private Experience on the Zoo Adventure Tour page, or write to tours@mandai.com.² It runs daily at 9.30am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm, for 90 minutes; meet the guide at the Mandai Lounge, beside Food Republic at Mandai Wildlife East, 15 minutes before the start.² The Private Experience is S$600, park admission not included.² Once bought it cannot be refunded, cancelled or changed; a late arrival may miss parts of the tour and the end time is not extended, and weather or an animal's health can alter or cancel it.² A child under three rides free with a paying adult aged 21 or over, but say so by email when booking to keep a seat.² Anyone under 18 must be with an adult throughout.²

Discretion

The buggy and the guide are the party's alone; only the Join a Group version of the tour takes other guests.² Photographs are allowed only at the authorised photography areas.² The zoo is open to the public daily from 8.30am to 6pm, so the paths around the buggy are shared.³