Set off on an adventure through Singapore’s hidden retreat

In a country just 30 miles across, what do you do when you need an escape from it all?

Singapore’s version of the Argentinian pampas or U.S. prairies is tucked away in the island's northwest corner, as far as you can get from the bustling city center’s towering skyscrapers and iconic buildings.

Kranji boasts a mix of farms that embrace both the future and Singapore’s rural heritage, offering a fresh surprise at every turn.

Craving anything from orchids to crocodiles, beansprouts to goats? Kranji has it all. The farms, nestled in the jungle and mostly small in size, are perfectly positioned at the edge of this city-state.

In a world where large-scale agriculture chases profit, the farms in Kranji seem like small-scale hobbies—but in reality, most are successful businesses.

Explore: Singapore

Frog expert and her 20,000 edible amphibians

The Jurong Frog Farm is a prime example. Its buildings are a maze of concrete pens, with a farm shop and cafe. Everywhere, walls are adorned with playful frog and tadpole cartoons. In the background, the constant croaking sounds like a dozen washing machines struggling with old bearings.

Chelsea Wan, daughter of the founder, proudly calls herself a 'frogologist.'

Her father, a former oil and gas industry worker, founded the farm in the 1970s after Singapore's government closed down its pig farms. Initially, he only sold his frogs locally. Today, the farm employs 13 people and houses around 20,000 frogs at any given time.

Chelsea explains that the main business revolves around selling to Chinese restaurants, where they prepare classic dishes like clay pot frog porridge and Kung Pao frog – stir-fried in a fiery black sauce. But the farm has also begun supplying trendy fusion and pop-up eateries experimenting with frogs in tapas-style appetizers.

Like many of Kranji’s farms, this frog farm is about more than just meat.

The farm opens its doors to visitors on weekends, where kids can enjoy the slimy thrill of holding a giant American Bullfrog. For the more adventurous, there's a chance to chase after these oversized creatures armed with a net and rubber boots, in a half-hour frog-catching challenge.

A luxury hotel for your pet fish

Other farms have also expanded their offerings.

A few miles south, at Nippon Koi Farm, the business is more than just selling stunning orange, white, and black koi.

The farm provides a ‘Koi Hotel’ where owners can board their prized koi while they’re away. It’s also popular with eager buyers who purchase their ornamental fish before setting up ponds at home.

Managing director Pak Bok Sing points to additional ponds where owners can have their koi cared for by specialists. The idea is to save money by buying smaller fish and watching them grow, rather than spending large amounts on fully matured, premium specimens. A smart approach given the sky-high prices involved.

The Nippon Koi Farm is thriving, exporting fish throughout the region, including emerging markets like Myanmar, Cambodia, and the Middle East.

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Where to eat and what to do in Kranji?

When hunger strikes, Kranji offers plenty of dining choices. Check out the renowned Bollywood Veggies or the bistro at Garden Asia. The Kranji Countryside Association also organizes a quarterly farmers’ market, where you can enjoy a variety of locally grown delicacies.

For those visiting Kranji, there's more than just farms to explore.

For horse enthusiasts, Kranji MRT station is right next to the racecourse, with races held every Friday and Sunday.

Singapore’s primary war memorial, with its vast rows of gravestones, is located nearby. Kranji’s muddy shores were the site of the main Japanese landings during 1942.

At the farthest point of Kranji is the wetland reserve, home to muddy mangroves, small lakes, and scenic walkways where visitors can spot migrating birds and local wildlife, including black-capped kingfishers and even estuarine crocodiles.

This makes for a completely different experience for those seeking a break from the shopping malls and neon lights of modern, urban Singapore.

Whether it’s splurging on a Koi, tasting frog legs, or watching goats being milked, Kranji offers an unbeatable escape right here in Singapore without ever leaving the island.

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How to get there:

Kranji’s official website (kranjicountryside.com) provides useful details on how to reach the area, especially for those without their own car.

The easiest choice is the hop-on-and-off shuttle bus, which departs from Kranji MRT station. For those who can handle the tropical heat and sudden rainstorms, cycling is another option. Taxis can drop you off, but arranging a return trip is tricky.