Date: Contact us to book a date for this tour.
Difficulty: Accessible for those of all ages and abilities.
Participants: 1-4
Maximum days: 3
What is it?
The newest addition to our South-East Asia wildlife experiences, the Singapore herping tour is a dynamic night walk with a surprising variety of options, including humid rainforest, coastal mangroves and even freshwater swamp forest edges. One can book between one to three nights of exciting herping with our local expert guides, and are guaranteed to encounter some fantastic animals. This tour is suitable for both experienced herpers, families, beginners and other inquisitive naturalists.
What can we find?
With over 60 species of snake recorded from the island, the potential finds each night are seemingly limitless. A staple find of all Singapore night hikes is the iconic Wagler’s pit viper (Tropidolaemus wagler), while Mangrove cat snake (Boiga melanota), Kopstein’s bronzeback (Dendrelaphis kopsteini) and reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus) are also frequently encountered in the city’s forested areas. There are so many tropical gems and rarities which are possible, as well as certified ‘showstopper’ species like the blue coral snake (Calliophis bivirgata) and king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah).
Away from the evergreen rainforests, one can also visit coastal mangrove systems where another unique diversity of snakes occur. Here, mangrove pit viper (Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus) are common, along with a selection of uncommon species such as Cantor’s mangrove snake (Cantoria violacea) and the marine file snake (Acrochordus granulatus).
On top of snakes, the cinnamon frog (Nictyxalus pictus) and black-eyed litter frog (Leptobrachium nigrops) are two highlights, while the earless agamid (Aphaniotis fusca) is a small yet intriguing lizard target.
How does it work?
Our guide will send you a specific meeting location which is easily accessible by car or public transport. We will meet at an agreed time. After a brief introductory talk and safety briefing, we will venture into the forest. We aim to finish around midnight, but can finish earlier at your request. Once the night is finished, we will part ways from the original meeting location and you will make your own way ‘home’.
The Guides:
Our team of guides for this herping experience is led by Robbin Tan (who took all the images featured on this page), as well as Ethan Lai and Gabrielle Poh. They are all local to Singapore and vastly knowledgeable on the wildlife of the area, with experience guiding individuals and groups.
The experiences available on this tour include:
- A nighttime walk in secondary rainforest
- A daytime walk in a mangrove ecosystem
- A nighttime walk near freshwater swamp forest
Contact us for all relevant information, we will answer any questions.
