Kent Ridge Park
Last Updated on 15 July 2022
Situated above the hustle and bustle of Science Park is the peaceful and serene Kent Ridge Park.
Two free carparks (A and B) can be reached from Vigilante Drive off South Buona Vista Road, and another two (Carparks C and D) can be accessed via Pepys Road. For public transport access, the only bus that services South Buona Vista Road is bus 200, but taking the MRT train (Circle line) to Kent Ridge Station (and enter via Science Park Drive) or Pasir Panjang Station (and enter via Pepys Road or Jalan Mat Jambol/Springwood Height) are possible options.
After a hectic day at work, it is a good idea to go for a run in the park and release all that pent-up stress and negative energy. Being enveloped by the sounds of nature like the chirping birds and screeching cicadas can actually be quite therapeutic.
The many stairs connecting the trails around this hilly park help us get our heart rates up so we can fulfill our daily MVPA quota.
If running or climbing the stairs aren’t enough to get our hearts racing, these fitness stations ought to do the job.
Shelters like these planted all over the park provide a conducive environment for resting or paktoring (networking between a girl and a boy).
With an abundance of sludgy pond water and little human disturbance, the damselflies find it conducive for networking too.
These ponds also provide a nice ambience for a picnic. But don’t linger for too long, otherwise the mosquitoes will enjoy a picnic themselves.
A canopy boardwalk on the eastern side of the park leads us on an exhilarating journey through the tall trees…
…where we could enjoy a bird’s eye view of HortPark…
…and perhaps try a spot of bird viewing.
The Red-whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus) is recognizable by the distinctive red spots on its cheeks, looking like Pikachu. He is an uncommon introduced resident, having been brought in by the song bird trade and is more often seen in a local hawker centre perching in a cage.
Another uncommon introduced resident breeder, the Lineated Barbet (Psilopogon lineatus) thrives in wooded areas such as Kent Ridge Park, and his gentle hooting can usually be heard echoing through the park.
The Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus) is a common resident of the park, and can be seen proudly sashaying his two long tail feathers as he flits from branch to branch.
Also common is the Oriental Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis), who enjoys perching high up on a bare branch and staking out his tasty prey.
The Blue-throated Bee-eater (Merops viridis) is one of two bee-eater species found in Singapore, and a large family of them seemed to have made a home in Kent Ridge Park.
The Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus) is a very common migrant that is seen during the winter migratory months, having flown all the way from as far north as Siberia to enjoy the warm Singapore weather.
Every evening, a large band of White-crested Laughingthrush (Garrulax leucolophus) can be heard, their gregarious laughter resonating through the park, or seen pulling out worms from the ground.
A variety of kingfishers can be seen and heard in the area, including the White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis).
The Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus), one of the commonest eagles in Singapore, can frequently be seen soaring over urban areas and parks.
It will not be surprising to encounter the Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus) here, scouting around the forest floor for juicy worms.
The scenic terrace along the ridge is a good place to take a seat, smell the roses, and enjoy the sunset.
