You cannot visit Singapore without taking a walk around the Mac Ritchie Nature Trail.
Only 15 minutes away by taxi from the Center, you will be in the middle of the nature.
There are several trails that you can take, ranging from 4k to 11k. We decided to try the Prunus and Petai trails as we are not used to walk long distances in the heat and it was more than enough to get a glimpse of the jungle surounding Singapore. The starting point is not easy to find but then after that, the trails are well marked.
Starting point of the trails
There were quite a lot of benches along the Prunus and Petai trails to take some rest and admire the stunning scenery. I think that these trails are easily feasible with kids. You’ll see a lot of locals running or walking around Mac Ritchie.
Mac Ritchie Nature Trail in Singapore
Can you see the macaque?
On the first part, you walk on a wooden trail following the lake shore. After a few minutes, we saw our first friend, the monitor lizard. His size was impressive, but he didn’t seem to be interested in us.
Prunus Trail
A water monitor
So we continued. The landscape is beautiful and the colors magic, changing with the sun light and the cloud shadows. It is hard to believe that you are just minutes away from a big city like Singapore.
Not long after, looking into the water, we met our second friends, two water turtles.
After about 2 kilometers, the trail is leaving the shore and goes in the forest. (Petai Trail)
Keep your eyes open. You never know who you gonna see next
And that’s were we met our third friends, the monkeys. For us europeans, it is not usual to see monkeys living in the wild so that was a pretty exciting experience. The babies were adorable.
Mac Ritchie Nature Trail in Singapore
If you’re adventurous and don’t suffer from vertigo, try the 11 kilometers trail as part of it must be really interesting: a free-standing suspension bridge that connects the two highest points in MacRitchie and offers a great view on the landscape around.
Copyright not ours. Picture found on the web.
And if you don’t feel like hiking, why not try kayaking, fishing or their outdoor fitness ?
Our tips : make sure you wear good shoes, take a lot of water (it’s hot, very hot), and don’t feed the monkeys !
How to find the starting point of the Mac Ritchie Nature trails:
Tell the taxi driver to take you to Mac Ritchie Reservoir on Lornie Road or catch a bus to this stop. Here at the main entrance you’ll find a car park, a café, vending machines and toilet facilities. When facing the building take the path to your right, up the stairs to the reservoir then follow the way along the water. You’ll see a cabana where they rent kayaks or canoes. Continue this way towards the pontoon until you see a small open air fitness. That’s the beginning of the trails.
Mac Ritchie Reservoir makes a great half-day escape from the city. I cannot recommend it enough especially if you’re not used to seeing this kind of wildlife. We had a great time and on the top of that it’s free.
