MacRitchie Reservoir
Reservoir · Central Water Catchment ·
Nature reserve with rainforest trails, wildlife viewing, and kayaking
Information
Singapore Get directions
Nature reserve with rainforest trails, wildlife viewing, and kayaking
Singapore Get directions
"The MacRitchie Reservoir is one of four reservoirs in the heart of Singapore at the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, where the surrounding forests are protected as national parks to ensure the quality of the water. Though unfortunately not accessible to the public, the ruins of a once-massive Shinto shrine built by the Japanese during their World War II occupation of Singapore are hidden in the overgrown, off-trail jungle near the northwestern corner of the reservoir. There is more to Singapore than meets the eye."
"A nearly 30-acre nature reserve centered on the country’s first reservoir, with forested hiking trails and kayak and canoe rentals; longtime favorite for peaceful walks and runs that feel like an oasis in the middle of the city." - AFAR
"An 11km nature trail through tropical rainforest within the Central Catchment area, centered on a striking emerald lake fringed by tall trees and wooden boardwalks. The route is rich in wildlife — long-tailed macaques, monitor lizards, colugos (flying lemurs) and owls are commonly seen — and features a treetop walk that provides expansive, bird’s-eye views of the forest canopy." - Sanjay Surana and Syahirah Mazlan
"The Singapore Canoe Federation has kayaks in the paddle lodge found at the eastern corner of MacRitchie Reservoir Park. The calm waters are ideal for beginners and even children. Participants will be taught to don and doff safety equipment like the Personal Floatation Device (PFD) and learn all of the basic dos and don’ts. The craft used for their Kayaking Orientation Programme is called a Sit On Top (SOT), a robust boat design that will not take in water easily and provides stability, however they do point out that participants should still be prepared to get wet and have fun in the water. Keep an eye out for a wide range of animals, including long-tailed macaques swinging from the trees and stingrays swimming below in the water." - Alexandra Karplus
"As Singapore’s oldest reservoir, Macritchie Reservoir Park offers a chance to learn about the country’s water heritage while seeing many animal residents up close; guided walks led by groups like BES Drongos help you spot the reservoir’s wildlife and understand its ecology." - Alexis Ong
