The Live Turtle Museum reopens its doors on Sunday, 23 August 2026. Now located at 11 Chencharu Close, just behind HomeTeamNS Khatib, the family-friendly animal attraction and its many turtles and tortoises are all set to welcome children and families once again.
The Live Turtle Museum Singapore: Home to Close to 600 Turtles and Tortoises
The only one of its kind in the world, the Live Turtle Museum in Singapore has come on a long journey since it first opened in 2001, moving from Neil Road to Chinese Garden to ORTO (which it had to vacate in 2024)and now finally at its new premises at Ground-up Initiative’s Kampung Kampus in Khatib.
Stepping through the glass doors, you will find yourself at the attraction’s reception area. After paying the admission fee, another set of glass doors leads to the outdoor area where close to 600 animals are kept.
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The Live Turtle Museum’s outdoor area is broadly divided into two parts – one for the turtles and another for the tortoises.
Meet the Turtles
In the turtle section, you can get up close to species such as Pig-Nosed Turtles, Yellow-Spotted River Turtles and Alligator Snapping Turtles, all housed in their own personal tanks under a shelter.
Information panels on each of the tanks let you learn more about each turtle species, its origins and characteristics, making a visit to the Live Turtle Museum educational and informative.
At the rear of the turtle section, there are water-filled pens housing the impressive Malaysian Giant River Turtles and Giant Asian Pond Turtles.
Tortoises Shell-ter
The other section of the museum has a series of pens with tortoises like the Elongated Tortoise and the Red-Footed Tortoise.
Step into an interaction area for close encounters with free-roaming tortoises.
You can purchase leafy greens and even a mix of fruit like cucumbers and tomatoes to feed the animals. This is arguably the best way for kids to interact with the animals, and we highly recommend purchasing them at the reception area.
Don’t forget to say hello to Xiao Hei, the Live Turtle Museum’s Aldabra Giant Tortoise that you may find wandering around the grounds. Xiao Hei is just around 20 years old; her species has been known to live up to 200 years old!
Pond and Garden
In between the turtles and tortoises is the Live Turtle Museum’s pond, which is open to the sky.
The pond is home to Red-eared Slider Turtles, and you can also purchase pellets to feed them from the wooden bridge (which reminded us of the bridge at the museum’s previous Chinese Garden location).
A wooden swing set provides a spot to relax and simply enjoy the animals.
Turtle Memorabilia and Collection
Also amazing to view is the museum’s collection of turtle and tortoise memorabilia.
There are more than 3,000 turtle-themed artefacts collected from around the world, presented along with labels telling which country they are from, showing how turtles are such universally loved animals.
You can also purchase modelling clay for kids to make their own turtles in a kids activity corner.
More About the Live Turtle Museum at Kampung Kampus, Khatib
The Live Turtle Museum is run by Connie Tan and her son Jedd and is as much about one family’s legacy as it is about a real love for these gentle giants.
It began with Connie and her father’s love for all things to do with turtles. Her father would collect turtle memorabilia on his travels, while Connie kept them as pets. This love for the reptiles has now passed on to the next generation, with her son Jedd also involved in the running of the Live Turtle Museum.
As Connie, who has been busy pursuing a PhD in animal management, said in a 2024 interview with Little Day Out, “There is nowhere else in Singapore one can go to learn about so many different types of turtles and tortoises, so I’ll do what it takes for as long as I need to keep the museum going.”
We certainly hope that the museum will keep going for as long as possible, as it is a unique place where generations of families and children can have wonderful encounters with animals.
Where: 11 Chencharu Close, Singapore 769287
Opening Hours:
Daily (except Tuesdays)
10 am to 6 pm; last entry at 5.40 pm
Open on all public holidays
Admission Fees:
Pink/Blue IC Holders
3 to 6 years old – $7
P1 onwards – $11
60 years and above – $7
Standard/General
3 to 6 years old – $12
P1 onwards – $16
Closest MRT Station: Khatib MRT Station
Parking: HomeTeamNS Khatib or open-air car park at 809 Yishun Ring Rd, Singapore 760809
Website: The Live Turtle Museum
If you are visiting the Live Turtle Museum, you may also be interested in visiting the Yishun N8 Park and its playground next door.
