Singaporean safaris

The Singapore Zoo and Night Safari are stepping up marketing efforts to promote their venues to the incentive travel sector. The attractions have further expanded their dining and event options for the CEI market. Each year, the Singapore Zoo attracts an average of 1.2 million visitors, the Night Safari 920,000. Singapore Zoo and Night Safari executive director Fanny Lai said: "Last financial year (April 2004-March 2005), the zoo and the Night Safari held 128 meetings and incentive events, which brought 13,000 visitors. This year the Zoo was also host to events organised by the New York City bid committee for the 2012 Olympic Games. "The outlook this year continues to be positive and we expect the Singapore Tourism Board's drive to promote Singapore as a CEI destination to bring in more business for our parks," she said. Event statistics From January to June, the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari held 93 CEI events, which brought in approximately 3,500 visitors. Up to 500 people can be catered for at one time. Singapore Zoo's Pavilion by the Lake, which offers views of Seletar Reservoir and an outdoor ambiance amid nature, is the most popular venue for these events. Based on an open concept of animal habitats amid lush greenery, the attractions offer packages that combine dining and wildlife appreciation. These include Breakfast-in-the-Wild, Jungle Luncheon, Tropical Tea and Dinner Safari with appearances by elephants, pythons and orang-utans, and performances from fireeaters, tribal dancers and musicians. Lai said: "As venues for CEI events, our parks offer a refreshing outdoors ambiance and educational, entertaining experiences with wildlife and nature. We target to attract more incentive travellers as the CEI industry continues to grow in importance." Tropical setting At the Singapore Zoo, event planners can sign up for Lunch with the Lions, a themed dining event for between 15 and 21 people. The experience begins with a tram ride to the Tropical Crops Plantation through the Wild Africa exhibit, along Seletar Reservoir. After a welcome cocktail made from herbs grown at the Tropical Crops Plantation, guests are brought to an air-conditioned viewing gallery, where they view the lions in close proximity through glass panels. Guests are served a buffet lunch and listen to a live commentary on the lions. A guided tour of the Fragile Forest exhibit concludes the event. Another themed event, the Gourmet Safari Express, takes between 15 and 36 guests on a candlelit dinner aboard a tram decorated with a jungle theme. Participants dine al fresco while touring the Night Safari. Another option is a jungle-themed dinner at the Safari Restaurant, with an outdoor terrace that overlooks the African Ankole cattle habitat. This year, Singapore Zoo has also introduced two new venues. Guests can now sip cocktails near the elephants at the Elephants of Asia exhibit and also see the rare white tigers at Tiger Trek. Other popular venues include the Garden Pavilion, next to the 42 primate species at Primate Kingdom. The Forest Lodge offers an air-conditioned venue with tropical architecture, floor-to-ceiling glass and timber panels, and a large koi pond. Tropical setting The Night Safari recently hosted 80 executives from the cruising industry for a dinner at Tiger Trek that was celebrated with tribal dancing, an animal welcome and cocktails. Goldwell/KMS executive secretary Elizabeth Mills said: "All of our delegates thoroughly enjoyed themselves with many photos being taken with elephants and snakes. The chef and banquet staff provided a fantastic dinner and with such variety. "Night Safari was a great spectacle with many of us never having had the opportunity of seeing these exotic animals. I personally enjoyed it so much that I returned with my husband and friends."