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Visit Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve to spot wild crocodiles, monitor lizards and birds, and explore mangrove forests! This kid-friendly nature park is a great place for families
Looking for an exciting yet leisurely activity to try with the kids? Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is one of those places we love to visit multiple times because there’s no way of getting bored! It’s a spot that I also frequently recommend to friends and family who pass through town, as it is a jewel of an ecosystem. In the 19th century, mangroves were found all along the coastline of Singapore, but were cleared for industry and housing. Today, forests of mangroves can only be found on offshore islands and nature reserves such as Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is incredibly kid-friendly and an easy day trip that can be completed in as little as an hour or stretched out to a few hours if you choose to walk the longer trails. Keep reading to find out all about this beautiful slice of wildlife in Singapore!
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How to Get to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Nature & Animals at Sungei Buloh
Sungei Buloh’s Stroller-friendly Walking Trails
Things to Know Before Visiting Sungei Buloh
How to get to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
By car: Sungei Buloh is easily accessible by car, with free parking at car parks off Kranji Way located near the Visitor Centre and another car park off Neo Tiew Crescent near the Wetland Centre.
Public transport: The bus stop located outside the entrance on Kranji Way is served by Bus 925 (Monday – Saturday) or 925M (Sunday, Public Holiday), which you can take from Kranji MRT station.
Nature & Animals at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Of the 70 species of mangrove found in the world, 31 can be found in Singapore, and 27 in Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve alone. These diverse species are home to a plethora of animals, including insects, amphibians, fishes, birds, and mammals.
On our most recent visit to Sungei Buloh, we saw mudskippers, bizarre fish whose eyes protrude from the water and “skip” along the mudflats, and even managed to follow, from afar, an estuarine crocodile from sea to inland. In all our visits, we have yet to catch sight of a Malayan water monitor lizard, which can grow up to 6 feet long, or a smooth-coated otter, which is widespread along the Johor Straits. Soon, we hope!
While it’s fascinating to catch sight of animals at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, it’s important to remember that these are wild animals capable of attacking. To ensure safety, avoid approaching, provoking or feeding them. Always stay on the designated trails, keep an eye out for wildlife, and if you encounter any, remain calm and maintain a safe distance.
Download: Free Nature Play Scavenger Hunt
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve’s stroller-friendly walking trails
Sungei Buloh has several walking trails, including the Coastal Trail, Forest Trail and Mid-Canopy Walk. Most of these trails are stroller-friendly, and are perfect even for toddlers! The 500-meter-long Mangrove Boardwalk, which winds its way through the mangrove trees, is just perfect for my daughter, who can hike a little over a mile comfortably before asking to be carried. The Boardwalk is also stroller- and wheelchair-friendly.
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve special features
Kingfisher Pods
One of the iconic features of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve would have to be the kingfisher pods, which provide stunning panoramic views of the Johor Strait. There are five of these pods around the reserve, and they’re best accessed via the Coastal Trail (which is also super stroller-friendly!)
Eagle Point
Just like its name, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve’s Eagle Point is where you can spot eagles and more as they fly above the sea – if you’re lucky. The Eagle Point is also a sizeable area where you can rest mid-trail while soaking in the views. Don’t forget to take gorgeous selfies here!
Junior Wetland
The Junior Wetland is a little area featuring a freshwater pond home to a variety of plants and fish. It also offers a small, child-friendly trail that’s perfect for kids to safely explore and hop around.
Migratory Bird Trail
My preschooler and I have taken to birdwatching upon moving to Singapore, and we have spotted exotic migratory birds like whimbrels, plovers, resident herons and sunbirds here. According to NParks, there have been an amazing 231 species of migratory birds recorded at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. If you’ve got older kids or are trying to introduce your little ones to the magic of bird-watching, this is absolutely the place to go! Click here to see the reserve’s full list of migratory birds, and consider following the Singapore Bird Group on Facebook — they’ve even got their own app to help you when you’re out in the field!
Aerie Tower
If you’re feeling adventurous and have energy to spare, climb up the 18m-high Aerie Tower for breathtaking views of the reserve!
Mangrove Boardwalk
Learn more about Singapore’s mangrove forest by taking the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve’s Mangrove Boardwalk trail. This trail’s difficulty level is easy and lets you observe the different trees and wildlife up close. Some of the animals that you can expect to see here include mudskippers, monitor lizards, mud lobsters, crabs, spiders and more.
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve map
There are a few nature trails that you can go for a self-guided walk to explore Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. While not all trails are stroller-friendly, they offer different difficulty levels, from easy to challenging, ensuring an enjoyable experience even for the little ones! Click here for the full details and maps of the different trails.
Things to know before visiting Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
How much: Free entry!
Opening hours: Daily from 7am to 7pm
Tips: Don’t forget sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, an umbrella, a water bottle, and a packed lunch if you plan to walk the longer trails.
Volunteers also lead free guided nature walks of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve every Saturday from 9:30-11am (except on public holidays and the eves of public holidays). Each walk is also limited to a maximum of 12 people, and registration is required.
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Kranji Way entrance: 60 Kranji Way, Singapore 739453
Neo Tiew entrance: 301 Neo Tiew Crescent, Singapore 718925
[email protected] or Tel: (+65) 6794 1401, www.nparks.gov.sg
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