Singapore's Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

Our very own Theresa McDermott has just come back from Singapore and her first visit to the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. A natural wonder close to a bustling city, it left a lasting impression.

“When you look at images of the reserve, it looks a bit tame because there’s a wooden walkway,” she says. “But when you get there, you realise that the walkway means you can get right into the mangrove, close to the plants with their various root systems, and close the animals too. I saw Monitor Lizards and even one of the Estaurine Crocodiles submerged the water. Standing looking out over the wetlands gives you a fascinating glimpse of a landscape that would once have covered most of Singapore. It's very quiet there too because the wetlands aren’t photogenic enough for Instagram so you have the sense of being somewhere wild and ancient, despite being so close to the city.

“The reserve is best known for its birds - over 200 species have been spotted here. Residents include the Grey Heron (Singapore’s largest bird), the Crimson Sunbird (which was declared the National Bird of Singapore in 2015) and the majestic White-Bellied Sea Eagle, and there are lots of visitors too because it lies on the East Asian Australasian Migratory Flyway. This route traverses 37 countries from Alaska to Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand and between August and April, all sorts of species such as  Whimbrel, Common Greenshank, Common Redshank, Pacific Golden Plover and the Lesser Sand Plover stop off here to refuel on worms from the mud flats. When I was there, there were birders watching in hides, but I spotted a stalk, a plover and a Common Greenshank just walking along. It was a wonderful, and surprising, experience that gave me a much better sense of Singapore - it's so much more than a bustling city."

A quick guide to the Mangroves

Api Api Putih: This tree has a lateral root system which grows horizontally just below the surface of the mud and you can spot the pencil-like breathing roots sticking out of the muddy soil. As well as taking in water and nutrients, these roots also serve to stabilise the tree. (Api Api means ‘fire fire’ or ‘firefly’ in Malay as some species attract fireflies. Putih means white, referring to the white underside of the leaves.)

Mangrove Apple: This critically endangered native tree can grow up to 20 metres tall, while its thick, conical roots sometimes reach 1m. When dried, the roots can be used as corks or fishing floats.

Bakau Minyak: The extensive prop roots of this tree help to protect the shoreline by dispersing tidal wave energy and provide shelter for young animals such as fish and crustaceans. It also has aerial roots which you can spot dangling down from branches above.

Baku Putih: The breathing roots (or pneumatophores) of this tree protrude from the soil in knee-shaped loops, stabilising the tree in the waterlogged soil.

Sea Holly: This mangrove shrub is often seen on mud lobster mounds and makes up a large part of the mangrove forest's undergrowth.

Come and see the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve for yourself as part of our Captivating Holiday to Singapore & Gaya Island in Borneo, Malaysia. We have departures in May and October 2025.