Universal Studios Singapore is to finally open its water ride based on the popular Madagascar cartoon franchise today (16 May).

Madagascar: A Crate Adventure will include characters from the film series, and will become among the longest rides in Universal Studios Singapore.

The nine-minute indoor flume ride, manufactured by German manufacturer Hafema, takes guests on a river boat adventure with Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe and Gloria the Hippo.

The ride was initially scheduled to open when the park first launched in March 2010, but a number of technical difficulties resulted in the ride being delayed by more than a year.