Taiping Night Safari 31 May 2016

Our initial planning was reaching Taiping earlier, so that we are able to visit the Taiping Zoo during the day time. Due to the jam on the highway, we were no choice but just opted for the Night Safari instead. Thought of never been any Night Safari before and it was just happened.

We were very exciting and looking forward to experience it. The time of this Night Safari was from 8pm onwards. It was just located near the Taiping Lake and it was very easy to be found, as 2009 we did come here before, but both Issac and Annabelle are too young to remember any of those experiences.

Upon reaching there, it had not much crowd and we were full of anticipation. We were taking photos and looking around at the entrance and the souvenirs shop.

From the response from the crowd, it should be very well worth visiting Night Safari while no much people around, as it is still early of the school holidays.

After gone thru the entrance, there was a photo booth there for the visitors to take their family photo if they like too. We did take a photos and the ready printed out photos and frame can be collected at the exit of the zoo later.

All of us just queue up for the mini train ride. We need to wait for about 15 min while waiting for the drivers and the trams.

There were quite a lot of people, thus we were at the 2nd tram. The ride started with huge happy thought. The driver did at the same time explained and introduce each animal.

According to the driver, the Taiping Night Safari is unique because animals which are active at night are displayed using special lighting similar to moonlight. Visitors will be able to experience this environment similar to wildlife habitats where the sounds made by numerous creatures can be heard.

To fully appreciate this experience visitors are required to minimize all sounds, even speech so that the sounds of the night creatures can be heard.

Reduced noise will also help to maintain the peaceful atmosphere of the Night Safari. Torchlights and flash cameras are not allowed to be used in the Night Safari as this will disturb the animals on display.

Then, after one by one, passing each left and right cage…The light of each cage was so dim, we could not even have a good look of what was inside it. What we saw only dark sight, and can hardly see the animals even the driver did pointed out to us.

It did stopped at a few stops, so that let us goes down to have a closer look at the animals. We did stop and see the snakes, and the safari theme where we were able to see giraffe, zebra, deer, etc.

The ride was fast and the path was dark too. Camera cannot even take any picture. After the ride, it stopped someway near the exit. The ride just took about 15 - 20 min. Then, we could take our own walk.

It was a huge disappointment for me. The whole zoo was really dark. The lighting did not encourage us to explore the zoo. It was very dangerous to walk too as we could not see properly.

Although it was Night safari, but for visitor's point of view, it should be well lighted up. The children too were disappointed on this too.

Only after half an hour, we just opted to go back to our hotel. We collected our photo frames and key chains at the exit and we left. The zoo management should upgrade its lighting.

This trip around, it really spoilt the good reputation that I have for the early year visit we had. I think we will be back for the day time zoo next trip.