Wander through stunning indigenous rainforest, try your hand at an adventure sport and climb Singapore’s highest peak in this wonderful protected park.
On the outskirts of this cosmopolitan city state lies an incredible area of unspoilt natural wonder. This sprawling, 162-hectare expanse of indigenous rainforest is one of the biggest in Singapore and was thought by renowned British naturalist, Alfred Russel Wallace, to be one of the most productive areas of nature in Asia. Indeed, today the park still houses over 500 species of animal and 840 flower varieties.The government has named the area an ASEAN Heritage Park in recognition of its vital importance in the preservation, propagation and protection of much of the country’s substantial natural bounty. While this designation has led to certain restrictions, the park is still open to visitors for a range of activities, from rock climbing and mountain biking to simply walking the myriad marked trails and experiencing Singapore’s amazing flora and fauna first hand.First thing to do when you arrive in Bukit Timah is to stop by the visitor centre where you’ll find a wealth of information on the park’s history and the environmental practices which help to preserve it for future generations. You can also organise a guided tour from here or simply grab a map and explore for yourself.One of the most popular activities is to climb the hill from which the reserve takes its name. The 163-metre peak at the centre of the park is Singapore’s tallest and the tramp to the top is rewarded with fantastic views across the rainforest canopy and the dramatic city skyline in the distance. Beneath the hill lies an abandoned granite quarry whose sheer cliff face is a favourite with rock climbers. There are also numerous mountain bike tracks and walking trails around the quarry, a section of which has been flooded to form a strikingly blue lake.This amazing natural wonderland is a mere 12 kilometres from Singapore’s Downtown Core district and, while there is parking available at the visitor centre, it is in high demand at peak times. The nearby Dairy Farm Nature Park offers overflow spaces and there are also bus services from the city. Bukit Timah is open every day and entrance is free.
