River Wonders (River Safari)

The River Wonders Singapore is the largest and the first zoo and aquarium built on river theme. Built over a sprawling 12 hectares in between the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari Singapore, the park hails of its exotic biodiversity and wildlife found in the banks of the Amazon, Mississippi, Nile, Yangtze and so on.

The River Wonders is one of the must-visit places in Singapore, offering an unforgettable experience for visitors. It boasts the largest freshwater aquarium in the world, making it a highlight of any Singapore tour package. The rainforest setting of the park adds to its allure, inviting tourists to embark on different cruises and partake in various riverine sports, all of which bring them close to the varied marine creatures inhabiting the watercourses.

The River Wonders is home to 6,000 animals of more than 300 different species. About 40 among them belong to the endangered species that include the Giant Salamander (largest amphibian in the world) and the Giant Mekong Catfish.

One of the chief wildlife attractions of the River Wonders park is a pair of Giant Panda which is one of the national treasures of China. The pair was brought to Singapore from China in 2012 to commemorate the twentieth year of Sino-Singapore diplomatic relations.

Besides a diverse range of wild animals, the reserve is also home to more than 150 categories of flora that gives a comfort zone to the animals who inhabit there. The freshwater aquarium of the River Wonders park is home to a number of ferocious marine predators viz.

Piranha, Sharks and many more and watching them in their natural habitat and at times getting close to them will certainly challenge your guts. Rest assured, you will be thrilled and amused at the same time by their aggressive gestures in the aquarium.

There are different exciting water rides and cruises in the watercourses of the park for visitors through different zones. The two most popular are the Amazon River Quest and the Wild Amazonia which lets you meet the endangered animals from close proximity and gather fair knowhow about them.

Last but not least, you have a great chance to complement your trip to the River Park with a delectable platter at any of the themed restaurants inside the park.

Here's everything you should know before making your reservation for a mind-boggling trip to one of the amazing theme parks of Southeast Asia.

Note: River Wonder Singapore was formerly known as River Safari Singapore.

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• You get to explore the major water basins of the world and their unique inhabitants all in one place with the specially designed river zones.
• Catch a glimpse of the Amazon Basin, the Yangtze River, the River Nile, the River Ganges and lots more.
• View the world’s largest freshwater aquarium in Wild Amazonia which is a combination of the Amazon Flooded Forest, the Squirrel Monkey Forest and the Amazon River Quest.
• In an effort to bring about awareness about conservation of the many endangered species that are housed here, the Park also has interactive activities and enrichment programs that guests can be a part of.
• Meet Chico and Carla the river otters which are on display for the first time in Asia in the Amazon Flooded River zone.
• The River Wonders is the first river theme wildlife park in Asia
• The River Wonders houses over 6000 animals and 400 different plant species in various exhibits that mimic the natural habitats of these animals and plants.

If you want to cut through the crowds and enjoy uninterrupted activities and safari sessions then make sure that you choose the morning slots. As soon as the River Wonders Singapore opens, the crowd is comparatively less in the first few hours, hence making it the best time to tour here.

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Here is the list of all the Zones at River Wonders Singapore:

a. Congo River - The Congo River being one of the largest rivers in the world and home to thousands of colorful species of fish. Here you can find giant freshwater puffer, the Congo tetra, the African dwarf crocodile and so much more.

Your visit in the Congo River zone will give you the incredible opportunity to witness these unique water animals first hand and take you right to the Congo River in Africa

b. Ganges River - Explore the unique wildlife that inhabits India’s longest river. The Ganges originates in the Himalayas and it is worshiped by the Hindus. The Ganges River Zone is inspired by the Indian Temples and worship areas that are found on the banks of the River Ganges. In these waters you will find the Indian fish gharial, the goonch catfish, the frog-faced soft shell turtle and lots more

c. Amazon Flooded Forest - The Amazon Flooded Forests mimics the environment of the Amazon forests and is inhabited by the fascinating creatures that thrive in this ecosystem. Here you will find the red-tailed catfish, electric eel, arapaima, etc.

The most interesting inhabitants of this zone are the giant river otters Chico and Carla that can be viewed from the viewing tunnel during your River Wonders

d. Giant Panda Forest - Visit Kai Kai and Jia Jia in their natural habitat at the Giant Panda Forest. This area has been developed to mimic the natural environment in which these large friendly animals thrive. It is complete with waterfalls, climbing structures, natural plants that grow in these areas and the temperature is controlled to suit the requirements of the giant pandas.

The giant pandas are friendly, playful creatures and you can enjoy their antics from the viewing area. You can also watch them being fed and groomed. 

e. Mekong River - The Mekong River zone is one of the largest exhibits in the River Wonders Singapore. The Mekong River rises from the Tibetan Plateau and passes through six countries before joining in the South China Sea.

The main inhabitants of this meandering river are the Mekong giant catfish. The river is home to over 800 different species of freshwater animals and quite a number of these species can be seen in the Mekong River zone of the River Wonders in Singapore.

f. Nile River - The longest river in the world is home to some equally unique water animals such as the African arowana, giraffe catfish, lapradei bichir and the tigerfish. The unique design of this zone will transport you to ancient Egypt and let you experience the fascinating world of the wealth and civilization that the River Nile has brought to this country right from the Stone Age

g. River Gems - The River Gems is one of the most colorful exhibits in the River Wonders Singapore. The tank is filled with a wide variety of freshwater plants and animals that are unique and fascinating.

Here you will find pearl gourami, pearl danio, fahaku pufferfish black phantom tetra, red-tailed hemiodus tetra, harlequin rasbora, rainbow shark and so much more. The vibrant colors of the inhabitants are a sheer delight.

h. Wild Amazonia - The Amazon Basin is one of the most unique places on earth with creatures that are as fascinating as they are dangerous. The Wild Amazonia is a combination of the Amazon Flooded Forest, the Amazon River Quest and the Squirrel Monkey Forest making it the largest freshwater exhibit in the world.

As you travel in your boat you can feast your eyes on some of the most fascinating creatures of this region such as the rotund manatees, arapaimas, electric eels, giant river otters and more.

i. Yangtze River - The Yangtze River Basin supports an incredible variety of animals and plants along its course. The Yangtze River zone of the River Wonders Singapore has exhibits that mimics the natural environment of the Yangtze River and houses the giant panda, the red panda, sturgeon, Chinese softshell turtles, the Chinese giant salamander and several others

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3. Places to Visit near River Wonders

Don't miss out on touring around the following places of attractions near the River Wonders and enrich your experience of Singapore trip:

a. Rain Forest Kid's World- A great place for children's amusement which houses domestic animals such as dogs and parrots. Children can watch the amusing gestures of these birds and animals from close quarters and feel entertained.

b. Night Safari- It is one of the most hunted tourist attractions of Singapore and the world's first nocturnal zoo. It is an amazing place of hangout for those who want to see the wild animals roaming in their natural habitat in the moonlight. The Night Safari opens at 7:30 pm and remains till midnight. To Book, Singapore Night Safari click here.

c. Singapore Zoo- It is built in a rainforest zone housing over more than 2,800 animals from 300 different species of mammals, reptiles, and birds. It is also the first-ever zoo with a free-ranging orangutan habitat. You can enjoy photo sessions with your favourite animals, presentations on animals and many more. Click here to book Singapore zoo tickets.

d. Laser Battle- It is a great fun-filled game for visitors of all ages in which bright green laser rays are shot. The Laser Battle game is designed by using the Laser Tag Gaming Technology.

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4. Tips for Visiting River Wonders

Check out the following tips before preparing your itineraries for an exhilarating trip to the River Wonders in Singapore:

- The River Wonders Singapore lasts for 2-3 hours only. So, for having the best wildlife experience you must check out on Night Safari and Singapore Zoo.

- Boat rides are subject to availability of seats which is arranged on a first-come-first-served basis. The weather condition is also taken to be a consideration for the availability of seats.

- Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the River Wonders park.

- To participate in the Amazon River Quest, the minimum permissible height of a guest has to be 1.06 metre.

- The tickets for entering River Wonders Singapore are only permissible for use of tourists. Singaporean citizens or permanent residents of Singapore are not entitled to the use of tickets.

- The validity of tickets is for 60 days from the date of purchase. During this time you can enjoy complete flexibility of visiting the River Wonders.

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1. By car: River Wonders is about a 30-minute drive from the city. If you’re coming by taxi, there are two convenient drop-off points at the zoo.

2. By train: Khatib, NS14, connect using the Mandai Khatib Shuttle; Choa Chu Kang, NS4, connecting bus service 927; Ang Mo Kio, NS16, connecting bus service 138

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