Singapore's largest nature reserve, The Central Catchment Nature Reserve, forms one big green lung that occupies most of the island's central area.
Concurrently acting as a catchment area for four reservoirs within its boundaries, it also houses several recreational sites, including the Singapore Zoo and the Night Safari (located in the northern part of the reserve), as well as several newer facilities built to encourage public appreciation of the reserve, such as the Jelutong Tower, the walking trails and the fantastic HSBC TreeTop Walk (all are located at the southern part of the reserve, around MacRitchie Reservoir).
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MacRitchie Reservoir, Singapore's first reservoir, lies on the southernmost edge of the reserve. It was built in the 1860s, after a delay of more than 10 years, and its development brought the forest devastation around the area to a halt. The forest surrounding the reservoir has been protected as a water catchment reserve. The forested areas surrounding the other two reservoirs, Peirce Reservoir and Upper Seletar Reservoir were also protected when these reservoirs were developed during the 20th century, although it is mostly the area around MacRitchie that boasts a truly indigenous primary forest, just like the one that once covered most of Singapore...
Several Hiking trails and boardwalks are stretching across this part of the reserve... from the relatively easy Green marked trail and Purple marked trail, along the reservoir's shores, to the "more serious" Blue marked trail, Yellow marked trail and the difficult Pink marked trail that go deeper into the forest.
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A small tip from 'Metropolasia-Man':
One of northern Singapore's most popular nature attraction is the HSBC TreeTop Walk: A 250 meter long free standing suspension bridge that offers visitors a panoramic view of Upper Peirce Reservoir and the surrounding lush rainforest, and enables them to take a close look at the forest canopy and its dwellers...
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Most of the hiking trails start near the entrance to MacRitchie Reservoir Park, along Lornie Road. As soon as you enter the park, turn right and walk along the reservoir till you get to the starting point (where MacRitchie Nature Trail starts from). If you want to walk the easier Purple marked trail, you can turn left and go there...
The area's most popular attraction is the HSBC TreeTop Walk, a 250 meter long free standing suspension bridge spanning Bukit Peirce and Bukit Kalang which are the two highest points in MacRitchie. The bridge offers visitors a panoramic view of Upper Peirce Reservoir and the surrounding lush rainforest, and enables to get a close look at the forest canopy and its dwellers...
Jelutong Tower, on the Yellow marked trail, also offers a breathtaking view of the Singapore Island Country Club golf course and the MacRitchie Reservoir.
Walking from the park entrance to the TreeTop Walk and back takes a few good hours... try not to plan for any other activities that day.
How to get there ? quite a few buses stop on Lornie Road, just opposite the entrance to MacRitchie Reservoir Park :
Take SBS bus No. 52 from the bus interchange next to MRT - Bishan (along the red marked North-South MRT line), or from Kong Meng San Phor Kark See (Bright Hill Temple).
Take SBS bus No. 93 from the bus interchange next to MRT-Harbourfront (VivoCity)
Take SBS bus No. 130 from Raffles Quay (Robinson Rd., opposite AIA tower), or from Bras Basah Rd. (near Raffles City), or from Bugis Junction.
Take SBS bus No. 162 from Raffles Quay (Robinson Rd., opposite AIA tower), or from Bras Basah Rd. (near Raffles City), or from Orchard Rd. (Dhoby Ghaut or Opposite Meritus Mandarin or Marriott Hotel), or from Scotts Rd. (Far East Plaza).
Take SBS bus No. 132 from Tanglin Rd. (opposite British High Commission), or from Grange Rd. (near Singapore Tourism Board), or from Orchard Boulevard (opposite Four Seasons Hotel), or from Scotts Rd. (Far East Plaza).
If taking 130, 132 or 162, alight along Thomson Rd., next to Mount Alvernia Hospital and the entrance to MacRitchie Reservoir Park.
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