Mention Singapore and usually what comes to mind are the tall and glitzy skyrises, the clean streets and perhaps the diverse cuisines. But did you know that underneath all the modernity, Singapore has a wild side to it too? Not the nightlife type of wild, but the nature type of wild?
Despite its small size, Singapore boasts a various number of parks, nature reserves, and gardens as part of its City in a Garden vision. One of them is the Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve (SBWR), a wetland nature reserve that is located at the northwestern edge of the island, right opposite Johor.
I had the chance to visit the place again a few weeks ago, thanks to @Minggg who organised the Singapore chapter of the Local Guides meetup. There were a total of 12 of us who attended the morning session, and it was quite awesome to meet other Local Guides like @CheikoSairin, @JulienH and @Pedi.
It is quite a different experience visiting a place alone as compared to with other Local Guides, as you can get to hear stories from other people and get to know people outside of your comfortable circle. I must admit that I was not as outgoing during the trip, but the group did make it comfortable for everyone around.
In the context of Sungei Buloh, the reserve plays an important part in the ecosystem as it serves as an important stopover location for migratory birds. As our planet becomes increasingly urbanised, birds who fly long distance as part of their yearly cycle will find fewer place to stopover and rest, which was the Wetland Reserve was created.
Due to the role that SBWR plays, one of the attractions of the place is the number of migratory birds you can find in the place. You can spot different species of herons and egrets scouring for food amidst the wetland, which can rarely be seen anywhere else in Singapore. Aside from birds, you can also spot other species of animals like mudskippers, bats, crabs and if you’re really lucky, even a crocodile!
We did not manage to spot a crocodile, but we did see monitor lizards, a snake, huge spiders and even numerous squirrels! Given the different types of wildlife you can find at SBWR, it is a popular place for photographers and nature lovers to visit. As a city dweller myself, I am really quite amazed at the amount of animals that you can see up close and nearby in SBWR.
Getting to SBWR isn’t that easy though, due to its location that is far from the city. The place is only served by a public bus and a shuttle bus, and the frequency can be a little longer compared to the usual timing of Singapore’s public transport. Driving is the easiest way to get to the place, but you’ll need a car and if you get a taxi, usually the drivers aren’t very keen to drive to the place. Protip: Plan ahead!
There are no food places nearby, you’ll either need to go back to the city or try your like at one of the farms like Bollywood Veggies that is about 5 to 10 minutes drive away, which means you’ll need to drive or catch the shuttle bus (no public bus though!). There is however enough facilities around the place like toilets and vending machines, and if you’re really lost there are information counters where you can ask for help, so you don’t have to worry.
Still, SBWR is quite a fun place to visit, if you enjoy the outdoors and wildlife. It offers something another perspective of Singapore that is not usually seen and as a bonus, it is also an ASEAN Heritage Park! Many thanks again to @Minggg for making the meet-up possible!
Are you a fan of any other parks near your place? Do share!