Sungei Buloh Wetland - Nature reserve with Crocodiles

Where can you find some wildlife apart from the zoo in urban Singapore? Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is located at the quiet remote corner of northwestern part of Singapore. Buloh is a Malay word for bamboo. And Sungei means river. Therefore, Sungei Buloh means Bamboo River. Simply because it is located along Buloh River. Maybe there are many bamboos which grow in the area previously You certainly can see some bamboos there.

The rich mangroves at Sungei Buloh were once used as a spawning location and nursery by prawn and fish farmers. The wetland reserve officially opened in 1993. But since 2002, the 202 hectares of rich biodiversity of wetlands of mangrove swamps, mudflats, ponds and secondary tropical rainforests of Sungei Buloh has been protected as a nature reserve. Sungei Buloh Wetland is a member of the East Asia-Australasian Flyway Partnership and is Singapore's fist ASEAN Heritage Park.

What do mangroves do? They contribute to soil formation and help to stabilise coastlines. They help to protect coral reefs and sea grass beds. They serve as a refuge and nursery for young fish, shrimps and crabs. Mangrove trees also act as filters to prevent excess amount of nitrogen, phosphorous and other contaminants from entering the sea. More importantly for Sungei Buloh it provides a place for migrating birds to rest and feed as the mangroves produce leaf detritus that feeds fish, crabs, oysters and other marine life.

Sungei Buloh Wetlands

There are many things to do and see at Sungei Buloh Wetland. It is a nature paradise for nature lovers. There is migratory bird trail, and you may be able to spot some migratory bird species among the hides. Other than migratory shorebirds, Sungei Buloh is also home to many bird species, including bitterns, kingfishers and other common water birds, like herons and egrets. There are many types of herons and egrets, just like there are many types of bitterns and kingfishers (common, collared, stork billed, etc.).

Herons and egrets look similar, and one can easily get confused between the two. Both have long legs and necks. Grey herons are the second tallest bird here. They are generally grey with white feathers on its head, neck and underparts and they have black crest. Their bills and legs are yellow. All egrets have white plumage with black bill, black legs and yellow feet. You can also spot many herons and egrets at Pasir Ris Mangroves Park.

Mangroves facing Johor Strait

Do you know that the common redshank is the oldest recorded bird species at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve? If you are lucky, you can even spot a crocodile or two. The crocodiles here are the common tropical estuarine or saltwater species. Sungei Buloh Wetland rivalled Pulau Ubin in terms of wildlife. So, we are fortunate to be able to appreciate nature right here in tiny Singapore.

Do not expect those big, huge crocodiles that we see on TV, but they are crocodiles, nevertheless. And the sight of them can still make one squirm especially when you realised they are quietly chilling just next to you. :) You can walk under the mostly shady trees to enjoy the wetlands. The shady trees help to mitigate the harsh humidity. You can go up the hide to see the bird's eye view of the reserve or to spot some birds like kingfisher, herons and egrets. At the hides there are educational boards to learn about the various types of birds.

Fantail pod among lush forest

You certainly do not have to go to the Amazon jungle to enjoy the forest, the swamps, the smooth-coated otters and the crocodiles or the caimans. There are boardwalks so you will not tramp on the fragile ecosystem. Ok, you can't find caiman here. Or the piranhas. They only exist in South America. You can see some piranhas in captivity at the River Safari at Mandai Zoo. Only male piranhas are kept here, to prevent breeding or accidental release into the wild. There is also dwarf caiman at Singapore Zoo.

Snakes, such as the venomous King Cobra, can be spotted at Sungei Buloh, as are spiders. As for monkeys, the long-tailed macaques, they are abundant at MacRitchie Reservoir, Pulau Ubin, at the Southern Islands in particular the Big Sisters Island (Pulau Subar Laut), and at Bukit Timah nature reserves. So, for those who are afraid of monkeys, the quiet Sungei Buloh is the place as it is more of a shore bird paradise. Monkeys still can be spotted there though not in abundance. Maybe the crocodiles scare them away ;).

Watch out for crocodiles!

Monitor lizards breed very well at Sungei Buloh, you can see them in all sizes happily basking under the sun. Some monitor lizards can be quite huge, but they are harmless so just leave them alone. The occasional smooth coated otters have been spotted too swimming just off the mangroves. Well, you can now find otters just about everywhere now in Singapore, from Changi Beach to Sentosa Island. Squirrels are common sighting too, but you can see squirrels in many parks in Singapore like the monitor lizards.

You can see from the scenic photos above and below that Sungei Buloh does resemble Amazon jungle. Just don't look too far out though while you are there as it will be Johor Bahru with their smoggy skyline. Sungei Buloh borders Malaysia with some water separating between us and our neighbour.

Migratory birds' sanctuary

The best spot to see Malaysia is at Eagle Point observation fantod and the scenic boardwalk. There are fanpod observatories towers all over the reserve for shade and for looking out for wildlife. Both the coastal and mangroves boardwalks are quite pleasant to walk and enjoy the sceneries. Many floras associated with mangroves can be found along the coastal trail like the Sea Holly. Sea holly is a plant that is associated with mangrove forest. This shrub has beautiful flowers and pointy leaves. In the past, villagers cooked the leaves of Sea Hollies for food.

Since the location is quite 'ulu' (remote), getting to Sungei Buloh is not so straightforward but that is the novelty of it. Most nature reserves here are away from the urban areas and are not served by MRT stations, not within walking distance. A few nature reserves like Pasir Ris Mangroves Park and Coney Island are walking distance from MRT or LRT stations.

Eagle Point overlooking Johor, Malaysia

You can take bus #925 from Kranji MRT station and it stops near a carpark outside the reserve. You walk about 10 min from there to the reserve entrance. On Sundays and public holidays, the bus stops right in front of the Wetland Centre entrance. Its free entry all week long. So, you can indeed find calm and tranquility with nice sceneries right here in urban Singapore.

National Parks Board regularly organise free guided walks at Sungei Buloh so check out their website. Do check out their visitor centre too near the entrance and there are lots of information about the mangroves and the wildlife at Sungei Buloh. The gallery is very educational.

If you are into birding or nature photography, the migration of shorebirds to Sungei Buloh is quite remarkable. Just like at Pasir Ris mangroves park, you will find nature photographers with their bulky long-zoom lens and camouflage tees waiting patiently to capture some good shots.

Monitor lizards basking under the sun.

Do you know that each year the birds migrate via ancestral routes such as the East Asian-Australasian Flyway to escape the harsh winter from the north from as far as Siberia and make their way to Sungei Buloh? These migratory shorebirds come every August to September and will fly off during springtime.

You can find birds or photography enthusiasts with their camouflaged long zoom lens and camouflaged tees at the Singapore's Amazon jungle. To avoid crowds many people come during weekdays.

A collage of photos of Sungei Buloh