Hailed as one of the most beautiful in the world, the Singapore Zoo takes vistors on journeys to wild places where they are able to admire the fauna and flora of the various regions of different countries and to be immersed in a total ecological and cultural experience. A 28-hectare tropical rain forest of an open zoo concept. Wild polar bear, .

The Singapore Zoological Gardens was founded by the late Dr Ong Swee Law. In the late 1960s, Dr Ong, the then Chairman of the Public Utilities Board (PUB) felt that some of the forested catchment areas adjoining the reservoirs, which came under PUB's purview, should be made more accessible to the public. Eventually, the idea of a zoo arose. With the Government's support of S$9 million and after almost six years of hard work, the Singapore Zoological Gardens finally opened its gates to guests on 27 June 1973.

The Zoo began with a humble collection of 270 animals of about 72 species. One of the more appealing attractions at the Zoo is the Animal Shows - started in the late 70s at various open areas within the Zoo. Due to popularity and the surge in crowds, an Amphitheatre was built in 1985 to centralise these shows and to seat visitors comfortably.

Another major breakthrough for the Zoo was the introduction of underwater viewing exhibits. The first in 1988. - the underwater viewing polar bear exhibit - enable visitors to "rub noses" with the Zoo's polar bears.

Since 1987, the Zoo passed the milion mark in visitor attendance. After welcoming more than 42 million visitors worldwide in its 30-year history, the Zoo now boasts a new entrance plaza, developed at an estimated cost of $2.7 million.

Checked out the following Wild Discoverer Tours: - Fragile Forest Behind-the-Scenes (11am to 12.30pm); Reptile Garden Behind-the-Scenes (2pm to 3.30pm); and Great Rift Valley of Ethiopia Behind-the-Scenes (4pm to 5.30pm). For more information, view their website.