Getting to the Night Safari

The short answer

Getting there is straightforward and getting back is the part to plan. The park's page offers trains with connecting buses, a shuttle bus, taxis and ride-hailing apps, and the address is 80 Mandai Lake Road. A reviewer on the booking page found the late return to the hotel hard, and another wished transport were included. The park lists its own pick-up points and a taxi stand, so you can plan the return before the night.

By train and bus

The park's getting-here page lists several train stations from which a connecting bus reaches the reserve. Standard bus and train fares apply, and the page names the bus stop to alight at for the Night Safari side as Singapore Zoo. Check the stop name and the current bus details on the park's page before you leave, because routes and timings change.

The shuttle from Khatib

The park runs a shuttle bus from Khatib station to the attractions daily, which it gives as about 20 minutes. The pick-up for the Night Safari side is at a coach bay named on the park's page. The same page lists the pick-up points for the return, so read it before the night and check the time of the last service on the day.

By taxi or ride-hailing

The park's page says taxis wait at a designated stand at the Night Safari side, and says the main ride-hailing apps serve the reserve. Ride-hailing pick-ups have their own designated point, so check the exit on the park's map before you order a car. The park's page does not give late-night waiting times or advice on busy evenings.

By car

The park's page says the reserve is about a 30-minute drive from the city and tells drivers to head to the car park at the Night Safari side. Vehicles taller than 2.1 metres should use the coach bay, and motorcycles have their own area beside it. Parking charges apply, and the park's page gives them. Check the current rates there before you go.

Getting back late

The Night Safari opens only in the evening, so the return is always late. A reviewer on the booking page found getting back to the hotel hard, and another wished transport were included. The park's page lists the last shuttle details, a taxi stand and a ride-hailing pick-up point for guests leaving. Decide before you go in which option you will use. The guided evening with hotel transfers on the card list removes the question.

Read next: Is the Night Safari worth it?

Which option for whom

A train and shuttle journey suits visitors who know the network and are happy to check the last service. A taxi or ride-hailing car suits groups who want a direct ride, with the pick-up point checked in advance. Driving suits visitors who already have a car. The guided evening with a tram ride and hotel transfers suits anyone who would rather not plan the late journey, and it is listed at four to five hours.

Before you leave the hotel

Check four things. Your voucher and time slot confirmation are on your phone or printed, as the booking page says a printed ticket is required. You know how you will return. Your phone is charged and its flash is off. You have eaten or know where to eat, because the park suggests eating before you go in. Those four checks cover most of what goes wrong on a late evening out.

Build in a margin

Allow time for the journey, the time slot you reserved with the park and the tram. The booking page asks you to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early for the multi-language tram, and its timings are fixed. A late arrival can mean a missed tram, and a rushed evening is not the point of the visit. If your journey is uncertain, set out earlier rather than later.