Asia Beauty Spot – Asia Scenery

Step into the nature reserves and journey back in time to the days before Sir Stamford Raffles arrived, when much of the island was covered with lowland, tropical forest. Though much of Singapore’s original vegetation had been cleared for logging and cultivation, the forest at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve has remained relatively undisturbed. Likewise, patches of primary rainforest can be seen around the MacRitchie area and Nee Soon Swamp at the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.

These nature reserves bounded 4 reservoirs – namely MacRitchie Reservoir, Lower Peirce Reservoir, Upper Peirce Reservoir and Upper Seletar Reservoir. The nature reserves act as water catchment for the reservoirs, in addition, the nature reserves also ensure the quality of water in the reservoirs.

Other than being storehouses of water, today, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Central Catchment Nature Reserve are homes to more than 840 flowering plants and over 500 species of animals (including butterflies). With such an astonishing variety of plants, animals and insect life, the nature reserves are indeed treasure houses of Singapore’s biodiversity.

Covering an area of approximately 3,043 hectares, both the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Central Catchment Nature Reserve are managed by the Central Nature Reserve Branch of the National Parks Board.

As nature reserves, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Central Catchment Nature Reserves are protected by the Parks & Trees Act 2005 for the conservation of our native biodiversity. Certain activities are prohibited within the nature reserves, especially activities that cause a lot of impacts on the native flora and fauna – hiking in groups of more than 30 without a permit, releasing of animals, feeding of animals, removing of native flora and fauna from the nature reserves, cycling, walking off the designated trails are just some of these activities.

The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is one of the last spots of Asia primary rain forest. It gives home to hundreds of plants, trees and animals and spreads over a waste territory of 164ha. The center of the reserve is Singapore highest hill (163m!). At the entrance of the park you will most probably encounter some long-tailed macaques begging for food. With a bit more of chance you could also observe one of the large monitor lizards or a flying lemur.

The origin of its name is puzzling, Bukit Timah means ’tin hill’ in Malay but the area was never a tin-producing one. It was better known to early colonials as a tiger-infested area which few dared to visit. The reserve is a popular place for visitors having a stopover in Singapore to experience an “untouched” nature spot.

Courtesy of Singapore National Parks Board