Central Catchment Nature Reserve

If you are looking for one of the largest nature reserves in Singapore, then Central Catchment Nature Reserve is the answer. You can visit the spot with your loved ones. While you are here, you can enjoy the beauty of nature while breathing out the stress brought on by your work or school.  

Learn more about Central Catchment Nature Reserve

Central Catchment Nature Reserve Overview and Features

The Central Catchment Nature Reserve is considered the green lung you can find in the heart of Singapore. It is one of the largest nature reserves you can find in the city-island nation. The reserve has more than 2,000 hectares of forest. It also inhabits different species of animals, trees, and plants, which promote economic biodiversity.  

Before humans settled in Singapore, the area was also the home to Dipterocarp forests. Currently, the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and the Central Catchment Nature Reserve are the only two reserves that still have less than 0.5 percent of these lowland forests.

The Central Catchment Nature Reserve also houses the Née Soon Swamp Forest, which still has little remains of the initial freshwater swamp forest.

This forest reserve also covers several species of plants that will satisfy your hungry eyes. The number of plants in this forest reserve is enough to give you fresh and cool air to inhale. Some of these diverse plants include Manis javanica (Sunda Pangolin), Presbytis femoralis (Raffles Banded Langur), which is an endangered plant species, Shirea spp. (Meranti), and Dipterocarpus spp. (Keruing).

If you are fond of hiking, then you will surely love the well-established trails in this forest reserve. You could hike the MacRitchie Trails with your family and friends. This 20-kilometre trail will give your eyes a satisfying landscape view of the forest surrounding the MacRitchie Reservoir.  

There are several attractions you would love to witness when you are in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. These include the TreeTop Walk that features a 250 metres bridge connecting the Jelutong Tower and MacRitchie. The bridge is the perfect spot to view the astonishing look of the nature reserve. So, make sure to bring cameras with you as each view in the area is undeniably Instagrammable.  

FAQ

The said nature reserve occupies an exact number of 2,880 hectares, making it one of the largest nature reserves in Singapore.  

The nature reserve is surrounded by several reservoirs, including Lower Peirce, Upper Peirce, Upper Seletar, and MacRitchie.  

Beyond the reserve's biodiversity, the place also boasts its suspension bridge, which measures 250 meters. This bridge is enough to take you from MacRitchie to Jelutong Tower.

How to Get There?

Now that you have an overview of the things you will see in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, you might be wondering how to get there. Well, different stations will take you to the nature reserve. These include the following: Botanic Gardens (CC19|DT9), Braddell (NS18), Caldecott (CC17), Lornie Rd — Opp Andrew Rd (51111), and Lornie Rd — Aft Lornie Walk (41159). All you need to do is to choose which of these stations is nearest to your location. Beyond that, you can also reach the Central Catchment Nature Reserve by riding an MRT, LRT, or bus. The following are the routes and lines that have nearby stops: 93, 157, 855, 165, 52, and 166.

Where to Park

Before driving your car to the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, make sure that you know the nearest parking area to your destination. If you still do not know where to park, consider parking your car in either MacRitchie Tree Top Carpark or MacRitchie Reservoir Car Park. Both of these car parks accommodate different types of vehicles. They have tight security, which ensures that your car will not be stolen.