After my breakfast at Master Tang's, I make my way back to Sixth Avenue MRT station. The Botanic Gardens is another two train stations away but I crossed over to the bus stop opposite and took a bus instead.
The MRT will bring you to the Bukit Timah gate at Botanic Gardens MRT station but the Learning Forest is nearer to Tanglin gate at Orchard Road side.
If you go by the Bukit Timah gate, you have to walk at least 2 - 3 kilometers to reach the Learning Forest. Taking the bus, however, brings you right to the front of Tanglin Gate.
From there, it is only a short
distance from Swan Lake to reach the Learning Forest.
The 10-hectare Learning
Forest houses more than 700 plant
species and more than 200 species of fauna. It is officially opened by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on 31 March 2017.
Keppel Discovery Wetlands
This is the elevated boardwalk that spans over the Keppel Discovery Wetlands. It gives you an unobstructed view of the entire wetlands.
Spotted a Monitor Lizard swimming across the wetlands
The end of the boardwalk leads to two different paths. On your right is the Durian Theory which eventually leads to the Bambusetem or Pulai Marsh, depending on where you want to go.
If you turn left, it leads to Bark Of Trees, Products Of The Forest and the SPH Walk Of Giants.
Pulai Marsh
The Pulai Marsh supports a rich diversity of flora and fauna and is a part of the wetlands. It collects water from the surrounding area, and is also fed by a natural spring which contributes enough water to fill one Olympic-sized swimming pool every month. The water eventually feeds into the Gardens' Swan Lake.
Spot the fishes
The reason I wanted to visit the Learning Forest is because I am curious about the SPH Walk Of Giants. I
wonder how it is like to be suspended 8m in mid-air via a canopy web. You
can lie there and look up into the trees (which are still young at this
moment) just like what PM Lee Hsien Loong did.
Canopy Web
The
SPH Walk Of Giants is an elevated boardwalk in the forest which
showcases a collection of “giant” trees most of which can
grow up to 20 storeys high. If you follow the trail back where you came from, it is a gradual down slope walk back to Products Of The Forest, Bark Of Trees and Durian Theory.
How it looks like from the bottom up
You can access the canopy web via this spiral staircase near the Swan Lake or you could also get up there via the elevated boardwalk from the Keppel Discovery Wetlands side.
A log with fungi near the "Durian Theory" section
Orchids growing along Canarium Drive
"Bambusetem"
"Bambusetem" is an area dedicated to the bamboo family with over 30 species that occur naturally in the wild.
Just a tip if you are visiting the Botanic Gardens. Bring your own water because the bottled drinks sold here are ridiculously priced at $2.50 for a 500ml bottle. You could refill your bottle from the two water-coolers outside the washroom at the Learning Forest and another two outside the washroom at the Orchid Garden.
Do take note that the SPH Walk Of Giants and Keppel Discovery Wetlands will be closed from 7pm to 7am to maintain a conducive habitat for wildlife.
SINGAPORE BOTANIC GARDENS
1 Cluny Road
Singapore 259569
Opening Hours
5am - 12am Daily
Website: www.sbg.org.sg
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SingaporeBotanicGardens
Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/xNxS3h68Dd9Pp3Bk6
