Central Catchment

Central Catchment Nature Reserve

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Some trails and features around MacRitchie in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve will be temporarily closed to facilitate the semi finals of the international XPRIZE Rainforest competition on the following dates: 27-28 May, 3-12 June 2023. Click here for more info.

Acting as a large green lung situated right in the centre of Singapore is the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. The largest of the nature reserves in Singapore, the Central Catchment Nature Reserve occupies over 2,000 hectares of forest cover and is home to some of the richest forests in terms of biodiversity.

Dipterocarp forests, which are species-rich primary lowland forests, were once abundant in Singapore before human settlements developed. Today, less than 0.5% of the original primary forest cover remains and it can only be found in small patches within the Central Catchment Nature Reserve and the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. An even rarer forest type in Singapore is the primary freshwater swamp forest, with the most significant remaining patch being the Nee Soon Swamp Forest in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.

The existing habitats are home to a magnificent diversity of plants. Examples include the Keruing (Dipterocarpus spp.) and Meranti (Shorea spp.) as well as the critically endangered Raffles Banded Langur (Presbytis femoralis) and the Sunda Pangolin (Manis javanica).

Come and experience their beauty on the carefully planned nature trails. The MacRitchie Trails are a 20-kilometre network of trails and boardwalks winding through the forest around the MacRitchie Reservoir. Key attractions of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve include the TreeTop Walk, a 250-metre suspension bridge that connects the two highest points in MacRitchie and the Jelutong Tower, a 7-deck observation tower that allows visitors an unimpeded overview of the forest in MacRitchie.

The Central Catchment Nature Reserve and the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve once formed a contiguous forest. That all changed when the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) was constructed in 1986, separating the nature reserves into two fragments. The Eco-Link@BKE, completed in 2013, now connects the two reserves once again to facilitate animal movements and the dispersal of forest plant seeds.

MacRitchie Reservoir Park is located at the southern-eastern end of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, and is highly visited by nature lovers and sports enthusiasts. It serves as a gateway to Singapore’s nature reserves, being a popular starting point for visitors who wish to hike the MacRitchie Trails. For more information on MacRitchie Reservoir Park, visit PUB’s website here.

Abutting the Central Catchment Nature Reserve Lornie Nature Corridor strengthens the ecological resilience of the Reserve by protecting the forest edge against the impacts of drying and wind. This buffer also makes the nature reserve more resilient to the effects of climate change such as extreme weather conditions.

Location

601 Island Club Road (Located close to Singapore Island Country Club, via Venus Drive)

Get Directions

Nature Reserve Information

How to get there: Start from Venus Drive Carpark to TreeTop Walk. Bus Stop ID: 53079, 53071(Upper Thomson Rd)

Nature Reserve Opening Hours: 7am to 7pm (entering or remaining in the nature reserve after 7pm is not allowed)

TreeTop Walk Opening Hours:

Weekdays: 9:00am to 5:00pm

Weekends and Public Holidays: 8:30am to 5:00pm

Closed on Mondays (except Public Holidays) Last entry at 4:45pm

Venus Drive Carpark Opening Hours:

7am to 7pm daily

Accessibility info: Wheelchair accessible in certain areas

Specific Dos and Don't: No pets allowed in Nature Reserve

Safety During Bad Weather

For safety, during and immediately after bad weather, please seek cover at the nearest shelter available and avoid entering forested areas, including nature reserve and nature park. Do note that when planning to go outdoors, you may dial 65427788 for weather forecast.

Notices

Some trails and features around MacRitchie in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve will be temporarily closed to facilitate the semi finals of the international XPRIZE Rainforest competition on the following dates: 27-28 May, 3-12 June 2023. Click here for more info.
The Shinto Shrine (Syonan Jinja) is located within a core nature conservation area of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. This area is closed to the public. There are no designated trails to the Shrine. For their own safety, visitors should stay on the designated trails to avoid becoming lost in the forest. This nature reserve is home to numerous species of endangered native flora and fauna. Human activity in this area can affect animal movement, or result in trampling on endangered plant saplings. Entering or leaving any part of a nature reserve which is closed is an offence under the Parks and Trees Regulations which carries a penalty of a fine of up to $2,000. We seek your co-operation to stay on the designated trails. If you are interested to find out more about the Shinto Shrine, please visit the site marker located at the junction of Adam Road and Sime Road.
Some sections of the Lornie Trail will undergo upgrading works from 22 May 2023 to 1 June 2023 and 13 June 2023 to 24 June 2023. Please stay clear of the barricaded areas along the Trail and proceed with caution. For more information click here.

Organised group activities (including learning journeys and hiking)

For organised group activities to our nature reserves and nature parks, an application is needed. For more information click here.

Notice for Usage of Event Spaces:

The usage of event spaces at MacRitchie Reservoir Park and Lornie Trail (Reservoir Deck, Reservoir Vista and Lawn@Paddle Lodge) is under PUB. Interested parties can find out more here.

Eco-Link@BKE

The Eco-Link@BKE is an ecological bridge that spans the Bukit Timah Expressway, connecting Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Central Catchment Nature Reserve. The first of its kind in Southeast Asia, its main purpose is to restore the ecological connection between two nature reserves, allowing wildlife to expand their habitat, genetic pool and survival chances.

Find out more
Visit the TreeTop Walk

If you are at MacRitichie Reservoir Park, a place to visit is the TreeTop Walk! It is the highlight of several long hiking routes in MacRitchie, bringing you through different stages of mature secondary forest and offers a bird's eye view of the community of plants and animals that live in the forest canopy.

TreeTop Walk
Hiking & Nature Appreciation

Please refer to the Important Notice above for updates regarding our hiking permit application.
Photography

Enter the nature reserves and you will be wowed by the amazing biodiversity within. Stroll along the boardwalks and observe the wildlife with a careful eye and quiet demeanour, and you might just be able to capture a few good shots.
Bird Watching

Birds are hidden treasures of the nature reserve. Armed with a pair of keen eyes and binoculars, you will be pleasantly surprised by the number of species you can spot along the trails. TreeTop Walk and Jelutong Tower are great spots for bird-watching.

Trail Etiquette

On your journey of discovery, remember some simple tips to help make park visits enjoyable for everyone.

Trail Etiquette
MacRitchie Trails

The MacRitchie Trails are a 20-kilometre network of trails and boardwalks winding through the forest around the MacRitchie Reservoir. Key attractions of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve include the TreeTop Walk, a 250-metre suspension bridge that connects the two highest points in MacRitchie and the Jelutong Tower, a 7-deck observation tower that allows visitors an unimpeded overview of the forest in MacRitchie.

Central Catchment Map
A Guide to Walking Trail at the TreeTop Walk

Highlights:
- Bird's-eye view of the forest with its tall and large forest trees that rise above the canopy
- A close encounter with interesting plants along the trail
- Sights of native creatures of the forest like the Clouded Monitor Lizard, Common Sun Skink, and Plantain Squirrel
- Glimpses of native birds like the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Pin-striped Tit-babbler, and Olive-winged Bulbul

Walking time: 3 - 4hrs
A Guide to Chemperai Trails

Highlights:
- Panoramic views of the reservoir against the backdrop of dense rainforest
- Thriving dragonfly and damselfly communities
- An easy trail that skirts the edge of the reservoir

Walking time: 1 hour

MacRitchie – Chemperai Trail
A Guide to Prunus Trail

Highlights:
- Close encounter with interesting trees and plants
- Possible sights of native creatures of the forest
- Beautiful views of the reservoir against the backdrop of dense rainforest

Walking time: 1hr

MacRitchie – Prunus Trail

Volunteering

Keen to be part of our biodiversity conservation efforts? Translate your passion into action and sign up as a Central Nature Reserve volunteer!

SIGN UP AS A VOLUNTEER