Night Safari

Last Saturday we visited another "must-do" Singaporean attraction - the night safari. I thought it is just the zoo at night but in fact it is a separate site for nocturnal animals specifically and really quite a fascinating experience. It starts at 7 pm, when it gets dark and is really on the late side for our bedtime routines but just this once ... . All kids had a power-nap in taxi on the way there, so we were well prepared for a late night. We had dinner there first while watching some buffaloes with enormous antlers. Then watched a show of night animals - wolves, cervals, otters, some smaller animals whose names I have forgotten. We did get a good view as we sat in the front row. (And just to give you another example of Singapore being a village - a boy from Beatrice's class sat a few meters away.) In the middle of the show the presenters started to look frantically for an escaped animal. They found a 3 meter boa underneath a bench in the midst of the public. Luckily not ours. Boys were keen to go on stage and touch it but this time they called a grownup male who was honoured with the snake being wrapped around his body. That would have crushed the boys.
Then we boarded the bus/tram for a ride through the areas where most animals are free roaming. That was very interesting indeed. Saw lots of goats, deer, flamingoes, some rhinoes, foxes, tapirs, hippoes, elephants, even lions and a tiger. We got off at the other end to go for a walk on our own. The kids were very excited to run around in the dark. Got very close to some bats, saw funny porcupines and majestic leopards. After the tram-ride back that was all we managed at one go. The rest will have to wait until next time. Saturday night is maybe not the best time to visit - quite busy with busloads of tourists. So might try a weeknight during school hols.