Established in 1963 Malaysia’s National Zoo also known as Zoo Negara has become a permanent fixture of Kuala Lumpur’s tourist landscape since its inception decades ago. Drawing more than a million visitors every year the National Zoo’s revolutionary concepts have also altered the venue’s popularity among seasoned visitors. Perhaps the locale’s most engaging attraction to date is its Night Safari adventure where guests can explore the 110 acre enclosure in the veil of night and experience an entirely different kind of zoo visit. Home to an impressive collection of wildlife species hailing from all corners of the globe the zoo exhibits a whopping 5100 individual animals, representative of nearly 460 species.
Separated in to 16 regions the open-concept zoo has set up enclosures that are similar to the natural environment or habitat of various species. Some of its must-see points of interest include Pouch Land, the Ape Centre and Bird Aviary while a Bear Complex and a Humboldt Penguins area is also on-site. The Nocturnal Exhibit is especially engaging when explored during the dark hours of the day as the inhabitants of this particular section are docile and inactive during daytime and only come alive once the sun sets. The quietness and prevailing tranquility of the zoo space also makes the numerous voices and noises the animals make clearer to visitors who can listen to a chorus of animal calls during the safari. Visitors are advised to make as little noise as possible so as not to disturb the animals and maximize the authenticity of the experience that is akin to going on a safari in true wilderness. The enclosures are also lit up in a discrete manner so as not to startle the animal inhabitants on display during the night safari. Flash photography and other intrusive behaviors such as shining torchlight on enclosures are prohibited during the safari for the same reasons.
The beauty of the creatures and the enclosures themselves are enhanced at night time with the quiet and peaceful ambiance only momentarily disturbed by animal calls. Offering visitors the chance to witness nocturnal animals in their active periods while gaining a better understanding of the value of the natural environment and its inhabitants the Night Safari also serves as an educational experience for young children and adults alike.
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Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.