Singapore Botanic Garden

The Gardens at its present site was founded in 1859 by an Agri-Horticultural Society. Planned as a leisure garden, the scientific mission of the Gardens evolved when the colonial government assumed management and deployed Kew-trained botanists and horticulturists to administer the Gardens.

The Gardens' first Director, Henry Nicholas Ridley, came to the Gardens in 1888, Ridley's zealous persistence in persuading Malaya's planters to grow rubber trees earned him less than flattering nicknames such as "Mad Ridley" and "Rubber Ridley". During the 1890s and early 1900s, Ridley devised successful propagation methods and also discovered a way to harvest commercial quantities of latex without harming or killing the trees. He advocated the large-scale cultivation of rubber in Malaya.


The Gardens had a ready source of seed supply when the rubber rush came. The Gardens' revenue multiplied greatly as the region became a major market for the rubber trade. The plants at the Botanic Gardens became the basis for Southeast Asia's rubber industry, an industry that generated fortunes.

Beginning in 1928, Professor Eric Holttum, Director of the Gardens from 1925 - 1949, set up laboratories and conducted the first experiments in orchid breeding and hybridization

Today the Gardens is geared towards entrenching itself as a tropical botanical institution of international renown.

The Jacob Ballas Children's Garden at the Bukit Timah Core of the Singapore Botanic Gardens is a specialized garden dedicated to children. Through play and exploration, children will learn about the importance of plants and conservation. Experiences in the garden will stimulate a sense of wonder for the plant world and provide happy memories for our child visitors.

Come & enjoy a half-day tour of Singapore Botanic Garden & chose from one of the below activity to explore the
Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden,


The Fruits and Vegetables Trails
Suitable for children between 6yrs to 12yrs old
Duration: 1.0 hour
Learn where healthy, yummy fruits and vegetables really come from! Join this informative guided tour and explore the importance of fruits and vegetables in our daily life!

Plants Highlights
Suitable for children between 6yrs to 12yrs old
Duration: 1.0 hour
Love to eat chocolates? Seen a cherry tree? Here's your chance to see cocoa trees, a local cherry tree and many more in this tour highlighting interesting and useful plants in the Children's Garden. if you are lucky, you may even have a close brush with the animals and insects that live amongst the trees and plants in the garden.

Looking at Plants
Suitable for children between 9yrs to 12yrs old
Duration: 1.5 hours
A comprehensive study on selected members in the living collection at the Children's Gardens. This tour emphasises functional parts of a plant; namely leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds.

Flowers at Work
Suitable for children between 9yrs to 12yrs old
Duration: 1.5 hour

Children are encouraged to take a closer look at selected flowering plants to increase their understanding of the forms and functions of flower parts. Thus, unfolding the mysterious role of flowers in pollination

CITY TOUR BY LAND & WATER

This is the tour that takes you overland and through water to make sure you’re soaked and wringing wet with culture and everything fantastic about Singapore. Tour begins with a visit to Kampong Glam - originally a fishing village at the mouth of the Rochor River, it was the historic seat of Malay royalty in Singapore. Look out for the Arab cloth merchants with their delicate silks and velvets, food stores selling traditional Arab-Muslim food stuff and merchandise of all kinds. Next, drive through the Colonial district for a view of Parliament House and the imposing Supreme Court and City Hall that overlooks the Padang. Then, we proceed to Chinatown where you will enter the 160 years old Thian Hock Temple, a must for Chinese immigrants in the early days and uniquely built without any use of nail joints. Stop by at the Gem Factory, admire the best of Asian craftsmanship. Down to the Water –enjoy the Singapore River Boat Tour.

SENTOSA WITH DOLPHIN LAGOON

We’ll cross over to Sentosa via the Causeway Bridge. First, visit the Dolphin Lagoon, where visitors are able to watch the dolphins perform their natural behaviors such as spy-hop, tail flapping, vocalizations, etc. Some visitors will also be allowed to wade into shallow waters, under the guidance of staff to touch and feed these wonderful and highly intelligent animals.

Onto the fascinating Underwater World, witch at last count has collection of 6,000 fish from 350 species. Served by a moving travellator, you can marvel at the mysteries of the deep through a 83-metre acrylic tunnel.

The tour ends with a breathtaking Cable Car ride across to Mount Faber where you can catch a beautiful view of the harbour and the cruise centre.

SENTOSA GLITTER

First we will bring you to learn how Singapore evolved into the thriving and harmonious multi-racial society she is today in Images of Singapore. Experience the many challenges that our founding fathers overcame from our humble beginnings as a Malay fishing village to the prosperous and bustling cosmopolitan city. 

Next, we’ll bring you to Asia’s largest tropical fish oceanarium – the Underwater World. Admire close-up awesome and fantastic sights of sea creatures as they swim past over you in bigger than life-size. 

Lastly, enjoy "Songs of the Sea" a all-new $4 million spectacle that will take you to a fantasy world of fun, style with 10-tonnes of special effects to boot! It is definitely a musical and visual extravaganza not to be missed.

SENTOSA MAGIX

All aboard! We'll enjoy a scenic Cable Car ride from Mount Faber across to picturesque Sentosa at Sunset. Visit the latest attraction in Sentosa starring you as part of the movie! Combining 3D film with a variety of “4D”spevial effects that synchronise with events that occur throughout the film, you will be dodging bullets and jumping over cliffs like it is done in the movies! 

Next, travel back in time into the bygone era of Singapore. Meet key personalities, who had helped make Singapore unique and successful, and then, explore Singapore’s best-loved traditions and festivities to get a taste of our rich cultural diversity at Images of Singapore. 

Lastly, enjoy "Magical Sentosa Fountain Show", You’ll be spellbound by Sentosa’s new 4 million sound, fire and laser extravaganza! Synchronised to music, the beautifully lit fountains put on an unforgettable multi-sensory show hosted by Kiki the Monkey and a cast of colourful characters.

JURONG BIRD PARK

The largest bird park in all of South East Asia, The Jurong Bird Park is one of the world's largest and most impressive aviaries with more than 8000 birds of 600 different species from all over the world.
Visit the world’s largest Lory Flight Aviary, Lory Loft that offers an Australian “Outback” experience with 1000 Lories.

The world's highest man-made waterfall a height of 30 meters, is located in Jurong Bird Park.

Comprehensive collection of Humboldt, the Rockhopper, the Macaroni, the Fairy and the majestic King Penguin.

Take a ride on the air-conditioned Panorail for a panoramic view of the Park and into a tropical world of jungle mist at the Waterfall Aviary. Enjoy the spectacular show like All Star Birdshow & Birds of Prey in action. 

NATIONAL TAPS

71% of the Earth's surface is covered with water. On Earth, it is found mostly in oceans and other large water bodies, Saltwater oceans hold 97% of surface water, glaciers and polar ice caps 2.4%, and other land surface water such as rivers, lakes and ponds 0.6%.

Clean, fresh drinking water is essential to human and other life. Some observers have estimated that by 2025 more than half of the world population will be facing water-based vulnerability, a situation which has been called a water crisis by the United Nations. Water plays an important role in the world economy, as it functions as a solvent for a wide variety of chemical substances and facilitates industrial cooling and transportation. Approximately 70 percent of freshwater is consumed by agriculture.

So, how does Singapore manage her water needs?

Select one of the destinations, Marina Barrage OR National Taps and be thrilled with water for life.

The Marina Barrage’s Sustainable Singapore Gallery (SSG) is an information and sensory extravaganza showcasing Singapore’s efforts towards environmental sustainability. Explore six galleries, each sharing a unique aspect of Singapore’s sustainable story. Uncover, through fun interactive and innovative multimedia, how a small country with limited resources meets the needs of a fast developing community in an environmentally-friendly manner.

The Singapore Water Reclamation Study (NEWater Study) was initiated in 1998 as a joint initiative between the Public Utilities Board (PUB) and the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR). The primary objective of the joint initiative was to determine the suitability of using NEWater as a source of raw water to supplement Singapore's water supply. NEWater is treated used water that has undergone stringent purification.

NIGHT SAFARI

Welcome to the world of nocturnal creatures at the world's premier Night Safari! The 40-hectare park comes alive after dark with some 1,200 animals of 110 species engaging in their fascinating and intriguing nightly rituals.

We begin with a 45-minute tram ride to view the sights and hear the sounds. The park is divided into eight major ecological habitats, each different from the others and each displaying a number of interesting animals.

First, the Himalayan Foothills region with hardy goat-like tarps and mouflon sheep. Equatorial Africa showcases giraffes, waterbucks and graceful gazelles, while the Asian Revering Forest section is home to regional species such as the elephant, samba deer and the endangered Malayan tapir.


Embark on our Walking Trails - the Fishing Cat romantic Forest Giants or come face to face with free flying bats at the Leopard Trails to watch them as they go about their daily routine. If you're lucky enough, you'll catch them while they're fishing.... for supper perhaps.

NIGHT ADVENTURE WITH RIVER CRUISE

The night adventure begins as we bring you to Clarke Quay- Singapore’s only riverside festival village for a sumptuos dinner and the Royal Selangor Showroon- the well-known makers for fine pewters. Next embark on a romantic journey on a River Cruise to view the magnificient view of Singapore by night.

The next stop, Bugis Village is another famous night market with lots of shops and stalls selling everything from electronics and household items, clothes, knick-knacks and souvenirs. 

Your sojourn in Singapore will not be completed without a visit to Singapore’s oldest hotel- The Raffles Hotel. Built during the colonial days and named after Singapore’s founder, Sir Stamford Raffles, the hotel has been restored to its ful splendor.