{"id":62398,"date":"2026-06-21T03:34:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T19:34:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=62398"},"modified":"2026-06-21T03:34:01","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T19:34:01","slug":"how-to-experience-the-mandai-wildlife-reserve-and-stay-at-the-new-jungle-resort","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=62398","title":{"rendered":"How to experience the Mandai Wildlife Reserve and stay at the new jungle resort"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<header class=\"sc-ad76bc40-0 fNDZoQ\">\n<div class=\"sc-5cbbddda-0 hjlPcO\">\n<div data-testid=\"article-author\" class=\"sc-5cbbddda-1 hPBdKJ\">\n<div>\n<p><span class=\"sc-5cbbddda-4 borCAt\">Emily Taylor<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"article-datetime\" class=\"sc-5cbbddda-5 hxoHkT\"><span class=\"sc-a243f860-0 gjmXPs\"><time data-testid=\"storytile-timestamp\" datetime=\"2026-06-21T05:00:00+10:00\">June 21, 2026<!-- --> \u2014 5:00am<\/time><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-7132c98c-0 efdRpd noPrint\" data-testid=\"article-actions\">\n<div class=\"sc-7132c98c-1 iddmiW\">\n<div class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-0 kbEYga\"><button aria-checked=\"false\" aria-label=\"Save article to read later\" role=\"switch\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-1 kmQlMe\"><default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" height=\"24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" class=\"sc-d1b14060-0 TUyao\"><default:path d=\"M5.75 4C5.75 3.86193 5.86193 3.75 6 3.75H18C18.1381 3.75 18.25 3.86193 18.25 4L18.25 19.7709L12.8004 16.9682C12.2981 16.7099 11.7019 16.7099 11.1996 16.9682L5.75 19.7709L5.75 4Z\"\/><\/default:svg><span class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-2 gaKrMl\">Save<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"sc-ba6ddcd9-0 kskMyR sc-d1b14060-3 cpmcTK\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p class=\"sc-d1b14060-4 JmUoF\">You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n<p>Remove items from your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/goodfood\/saved\" class=\"sc-3f16ee48-12 sc-d1b14060-2 jyLmZI iQLtAb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><button aria-label=\"Set font size to normal\" aria-pressed=\"true\" class=\"sc-f7fd8257-1 yiNod\">A<\/button><button aria-label=\"Set font size to larger\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"sc-f7fd8257-1 frqtnv\">A<\/button><button aria-label=\"Set font size to very large\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"sc-f7fd8257-1 frqrHP\">A<\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<aside class=\"sc-6f94ac39-6 esmrVF\">\n<aside class=\"sc-f0ba6a13-0 czfWeb\"\/><\/aside>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\">\n<p>My son issued the decree a few months before he turned five: he wanted to celebrate \u201cin another country\u201d. He wasn\u2019t entirely sure where but knew it should involve animals and a plane ride. I nodded, not wanting to spook him with overt enthusiasm, and began making travel plans.<\/p>\n<p>Some weeks later, our family of four touched down in Singapore, a destination I\u2019d previously considered mainly for its excellent airport, a frequent staging post on trips further afield. But beyond the city\u2019s gleaming skyscrapers and busy theme parks, a different landscape unfolds: mangrove wetlands, nature reserves, tropical rainforest. And, as of last November, a rather good new hotel.<\/p>\n<p>The opening of <a class=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.banyantree.com\/singapore\/mandai-rainforest-resort-by-banyan-tree\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Mandai Rainforest Resort<\/a> was a milestone for the Singapore-headquartered Banyan Group, its 100th global operation but the first in its home town. It\u2019s also the first to offer a wildlife destination within a capital city, and the jungle location makes a compelling case for Singapore as the stay, rather than the stopover.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"sc-4820f69c-1 ZrhPA\"><button aria-label=\"enlarge image\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-5 dyWwUw\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 ikzfwY\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.117%2C$multiply_0.9841%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_6%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/c565ef894b1799829cc14406fd8eca85ee73de43, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.117%2C$multiply_1.9683%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_6%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/c565ef894b1799829cc14406fd8eca85ee73de43 2x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.117%2C$multiply_1.0159%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_6%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/c565ef894b1799829cc14406fd8eca85ee73de43, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.117%2C$multiply_2.0317%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_6%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/c565ef894b1799829cc14406fd8eca85ee73de43 2x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Treehouses float above the canopy at Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.117%2C$multiply_0.7725%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_6%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/c565ef894b1799829cc14406fd8eca85ee73de43\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.117%2C$multiply_0.7725%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_6%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/c565ef894b1799829cc14406fd8eca85ee73de43, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.117%2C$multiply_1.545%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_6%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/c565ef894b1799829cc14406fd8eca85ee73de43 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 ldCIuB\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 38 38\" height=\"38px\" width=\"38px\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-4 iMiYlW\"><default:g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 22.029383, 7.619553)\"><default:path d=\"M1 8l6.36396103-6.36396103M8 7V1H2\"\/><\/default:g><default:g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 7.0731, 21.523087)\"><default:path d=\"M8 1L1.63603897 7.36396103M1 2v6h6\"\/><\/default:g><\/default:svg><\/button><figcaption data-testid=\"figure-caption\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-0 SuAZY\"><span>Treehouses float above the canopy at Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>On the morning of the birthday in question, we arrived early at <a class=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mandai.com\/en\/singapore-zoo.html\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Singapore Zoo<\/a>, a handy five minutes on foot from our hotel room, for Breakfast in the Wild. Here, a macaw presided over the pancakes and a giant black-and-white lizard, named Oreo for obvious reasons, surveyed the chaos with unblinking authority. Three orangutans clambered across from their enclosure, curious but impeccably well-mannered. (I have attended enough parties for five-year-olds to note that these animal attendees were much better behaved than most small human guests.)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\">\n<p>The breakfast is one of myriad immersive experiences across the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, which enjoyed its own grand opening in May following a 10-year transformation. The 126-hectare precinct now encompasses the zoo, the famous Night Safari, three more wildlife parks and numerous nature-based attractions that promote conservation and connection to the natural world.<\/p>\n<p>The new resort streamlines access to all of it. The rainforest setting has been considered in every aspect of the build, a showcase of biophilic design. Treehouse rooms are shaped like giant seed pods, glass-walled suites invite the green canopy inside and hotel corridors open to the elements. It\u2019s as if the 338-room structure has been there for decades, rather than months, thanks to the retention of mature trees and the jungle vines that tumble from every balcony.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-testid=\"pull-quote\" class=\"sc-e5732b89-0 lhVspT\">\n<p>My newly minted five-year-old declared it his best birthday ever, though he also said the same about a barbecue in the park last year.<\/p>\n<p><cite class=\"sc-e5732b89-1 hcWGZY\">EMILY TAYLOR<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Our Family Sanctuary room shows that the hotel inherently understands family travel, with a king bed on one side and a wooden loft bed, roomy enough for two little ones, on the other making bedtimes manageable. A child-sized nook beneath the bunk came furnished with pebble-shaped floor cushions and tasteful jungle wallpaper, while a rattan blind, concealed in the ceiling, descends to engineer some privacy after kids are asleep.<\/p>\n<p>The birthday boy was most enchanted by the rooftop garden and its expansive infinity pool. It\u2019s an extraordinary spot to watch the sun rise \u2013 something you inevitably do when travelling with little kids. We played I spy across the reservoir in that atmospheric dawn haze specific to tropical destinations, and are fairly certain we spied the languid progress of a rather large crocodile. (The resort staff looked horrified and delighted in equal measure when I enquired whether large, languid crocodiles were common in the area. By all official accounts they are not, but our unconfirmed sighting made the nature-immersion ethos all the more exciting.)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\">\n<p>While the resort is child-friendly, it is not only for families. Accommodation at the pointy end is proper luxury and, should you wish to escape other people\u2019s offspring (or, indeed, your own), there\u2019s an on-site fine diner with a strict dress code and 10-plus age requirement.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"sc-c8170ed7-0 kBAoLZ noPrint\" data-testid=\"related-story\">\n<h2 data-testid=\"related-story-heading\" class=\"sc-c8170ed7-1 iHMtRN\">Related Article<\/h2>\n<div class=\"sc-679b6ed4-0 VKgwt\" data-an-position=\"1\" imagepositions=\"top\" data-testid=\"story-tile\">\n<figure imagesizes=\"[object Object]\" class=\"sc-8825a2fb-0 kZkxVd\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/lifestyle\/life-and-relationships\/sleep-like-a-king-for-less-than-150-a-night-on-one-of-bali-s-most-underrated-islands-20260409-p5zmfm.html\" tabindex=\"-1\" class=\"sc-cba76dee-0 hdiTqm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 ikzfwY\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.1477%2C$multiply_0.2805%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/da3878cd00cb43dfee14fc1d8bd16bd441573414, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.1477%2C$multiply_0.5609%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/da3878cd00cb43dfee14fc1d8bd16bd441573414 2x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.1477%2C$multiply_0.2842%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/da3878cd00cb43dfee14fc1d8bd16bd441573414, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.1477%2C$multiply_0.5685%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/da3878cd00cb43dfee14fc1d8bd16bd441573414 2x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\" \" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.1477%2C$multiply_0.5127%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/da3878cd00cb43dfee14fc1d8bd16bd441573414\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.1477%2C$multiply_0.5127%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/da3878cd00cb43dfee14fc1d8bd16bd441573414, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.1477%2C$multiply_1.0255%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/da3878cd00cb43dfee14fc1d8bd16bd441573414 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 ioInpc\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>As fancy restaurants weren\u2019t on our holiday bingo card, we found plenty of options at Food Republic, the precinct\u2019s new hawker centre. Cheap and cheerful, it caters for the adventurous and the fussy alike. We ate from stalls serving fresh-cooked noodles, delicate satay and flaky roti prata.<\/p>\n<p>The celebratory birthday dinner was followed by a visit to the Night Safari. Singapore\u2019s renowned after-dark wildlife park is just next door to the resort, so when everyone is slightly hysterical after nocturnal tram rides past vocal lions, surprisingly active elephants and a white tiger materialising from the shadows, you can stroll home to bed along the prettily lit walkways.<\/p>\n<p>Falling asleep to the rhythm of the rainforest felt a bit like camping, if you like your camping with a minibar, a good pillow and a high thread count. The jungle cadence is startling in volume if you\u2019re not expecting it, but the sound of frogs and cicadas going about their nocturnal business heightened the sensation of being somewhere remote.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\">\n<p>My newly minted five-year-old declared it his best birthday ever, though he also said the same about a barbecue in the park last year. What I will say is that I didn\u2019t bake a single cake, there were no pi\u00f1ata-related injuries and nobody cried \u2013 not even me. We emerged from the jungle more refreshed than we\u2019ve ever felt after staging a celebration. And that crocodile will go down in family lore as one of the more unexpected gatecrashers at a kid\u2019s party.<\/p>\n<p><b>Get the best of <em>Sunday Life<\/em> magazine delivered to your inbox every Sunday morning. Sign up here for our <a class=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/link\/follow-20170101-p5jutx\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">free newsletter<\/a>.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"article-footer\" class=\"sc-780f6c39-0 fWnQtB\">\n<div class=\"sc-780f6c39-1 bhFzjY noPrint\">\n<div class=\"sc-780f6c39-2 ksUUFP\">\n<div class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-0 kbEYga sc-780f6c39-3 fMMhlQ\"><button aria-checked=\"false\" aria-label=\"Save article to read later\" role=\"switch\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-1 kmQlMe\"><default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" height=\"24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" class=\"sc-d1b14060-0 TUyao\"><default:path d=\"M5.75 4C5.75 3.86193 5.86193 3.75 6 3.75H18C18.1381 3.75 18.25 3.86193 18.25 4L18.25 19.7709L12.8004 16.9682C12.2981 16.7099 11.7019 16.7099 11.1996 16.9682L5.75 19.7709L5.75 4Z\"\/><\/default:svg><span class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-2 gaKrMl\">Save<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"sc-ba6ddcd9-0 yEdFV sc-d1b14060-3 cpmcTK\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p class=\"sc-d1b14060-4 JmUoF\">You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n<p>Remove items from your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/goodfood\/saved\" class=\"sc-3f16ee48-12 sc-d1b14060-2 jyLmZI iQLtAb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"sc-3dbe4134-0 iIZygf sc-df8e6ee0-0 noPrint noPrint\" data-an-name=\"From our partners\" data-an-cu-group=\"everything\" data-an-cu-name=\"From our partners\" data-an-cu-position=\"4\" data-testid=\"from-our-partners-strap\">\n<header class=\"sc-84567ec1-0 hpMljf\">\n<h2 data-pb-type=\"hi\" class=\"sc-84567ec1-1 weWOF\"><span>From our partners<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<center><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/lifestyle\/life-and-relationships\/i-thought-i-knew-what-a-birthday-trip-to-the-zoo-looked-like-this-one-was-next-level-20260605-p60479.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><br \/>\n<center\/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Emily Taylor June 21, 2026 \u2014 5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":62399,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-62398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=62398"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62398\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/62399"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=62398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=62398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=62398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}