I'm happy to share that Singapore preserves few places for the nature lovers.
Those places are know as MacRitchie Reservoir and Bukit Tima Nautre Reserve.
Both parks are located at the North Central side of the island and are placed next to each other so, for those looking to explore alternative routes and jungle walks, the one could be reached from another :).
This map represents the MacRitchie to Bukit Timah jungle walk link:
This one represents around MacRitchie Reservoir route :) jungle trail and boardwalk combined
Both routes are around 12km long and maintained in jungle environment :) So, for that reason these make great local getaways from Singaporean urban jungle to the nature one :)
To say is that before the early 19th century, most of the Singapore main island was covered by primary forest. Soon after the British established a settlement in Singapore in 1819 and commercial activity took root, there was a demand for fresh water. However, it was decades before the settlement's first fresh water supply was established.
Therefore, MacRitchie Reservoir (Chinese: 麦里芝蓄水池, Pinyin: Maìlǐzhī Xùshuǐchí) is Singapore's oldest reservoir. The reservoir was completed in 1868 by impounding water from an earth embankment, and was then known as the Impounding Reservoir or Thomson Reservoir.
The development of the MacRitchie Reservoir brought the forest devastation around the area to a halt. The forest surrounding the reservoir has been protected as a water catchment reserve.
There are boardwalks skirting the edge of the scenic MacRitchie Reservoir and walking trails through the forest. Interpretative signboards along the boardwalks allow for a self-guided tour along the fringes of the MacRitchie jungle forest.
The boardwalk around the perimeter of the MacRitchie Reservoir brings the visitor through interesting secondary forest in the Central Catchment nature area which confines with Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.
The boardwalk which hugs the reservoir also allows for easy exploration of freshwater wildlife.
In addition to the boardwalk, another popular attraction is the HSBC TreeTop Walk, a 250 m aerial free standing suspension bridge spanning Bukit Peirce and Bukit Kalang which are the two highest points in MacRitchie. The bridge was completed in July 2004, and the TreeTop Walk was officially launched on 5 November 2004. The structure, which is 25 m at its highest point, offers visitors a panoramic view of Upper Peirce Reservoir and the surrounding lush rainforest. Jelutong Tower also offers a view of the Singapore Island Country Club golf course and the MacRitchie Reservoir.
Continuing from the TreeTop Walk the trail allows a detour to Bukit Tima Nature Reserve.
The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is a small 1.64 square kilometre (400 acre) nature reserve near the geographic centre of the city-state of Singapore, located on the slopes of Bukit Timah Hill, Singapore's highest hill standing at a height of 163.63 metres, and parts of the surrounding area. The nature reserve is about 12 kilometres from the Downtown Core, Singapore's central business district.
The primary activities at Bukit Timah are strolling, running and hiking. There are specially-allocated mountain-bike trails. The Reserve is popular among athletes training for mountain-climbing. There are a number of hiking trails.
Bukit Timah is know for its variety of plants and animals as well :)
Starting from September 2014, Bukit Timah Reserve shall be under restoration. NParks said that it has found damage to the forests and an erosion of the slopes and trails over the years. The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve was visited by 400,000 people last year of 2013 - five times more than 20 years ago.
Hope you'll have a chance to go and visit MacRithcie and Bukit Timah :)
Have a good day :)
Eva
Footnotes:
photos taken by Eva Kucich
MapMyWalk maps generated by Eva Kucich
sources taken in consideration and for additional information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bukit_Timah_Nature_Reserve
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacRitchie_Reservoir
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/bukit-timah-nature/1132596.html
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