Arrived in Singapore at 17.00 and caught the metro to City Hall a station in the centre, up an escalator into a large shopping mall and straight into the Fairmont Hotel, so easy. We were upgraded to a large room with a fantastic view and free use of the executive lounge with canapies and drinks. After over endulging we caught the metro out to the Night Safari
. Unlike traditional nocturnal houses, which reverse the day-night cycle of animals so they will be active by day, the Night Safari is an entire open-air zoo set in a humid tropical forest that is only open at night. It is divided into seven geographical zones, which can be explored either on foot via four walking trails, or by tram.
The animals of the Night Safari, ranging from Indian rhinoceros and pangolins to tarsiers and Asian elephants, are made visible by lighting that resembles moonlight. Although it is brighter than full moonlight by a few orders of magnitude, it is dim enough not to disturb nocturnal and crepuscular animals' behaviour. London based lighting designer Simon Corder created the lighting for Night Safari.
The naturalistic enclosures simulate the animals' native habitat. Animals are separated from visitors with natural barriers, rather than caged, similar to the Singapore Zoo's open concept. Instead of vertical prison-like cages, cattle grids were laid all over the park to prevent hoofed animals from moving one habitat to another. These are grille-like metal sheets with gaps wide enough for animals' legs to go through. Moats were designed to look like streams and rivers to enable fishing cats and servals to be put on show in open areas, and hot wires were designed to look like twigs to keep animals away from the boundaries of their enclosures.
Next morning we packed up all our gear and put into the hotel luggage room as our flight home is not until 22.40. We then ventured out and did some sightseeing from a boat on a river trip. Had lunch on the waterside and then went for a couple of obligatory Singapore Slings at Raffles whilst throwing peanut shells on the floor.
Caught the metro to the airport and although our flight was delayed an hour everything wet smoothly.