Singapore’s Mandai Wildlife Reserve to open Asia’s inaugural ‘ZooSchool’ and forest-themed event space
‘ZooSchool’, a partnership between Mandai Wildlife Group and NTUC First Campus, is set to open in June 2025 – delivering immersive nature-inspired wildlife education programmes across the wildlife parks at the Mandai Wildlife Reserve for children from preschool to 12 years old.
The programmes are designed to appeal to children’s sense of adventure and motivation for outdoor play and physical exploration. They will acquire essential survival skills such as basic first aid, knot tying and navigation – all while having fun and discovering the wonders of nature.
ZooSchool will be located in the same building as Curiosity Cove and launches with three-day holiday programmes for the June holidays, allowing young explorers to enjoy curated outings in Singapore Zoo and Bird Paradise. Additional programmes, including those tailored for preschools, will be introduced in the coming months.
Other exciting new experiences are coming to the eastern cluster of the Mandai Wildlife Reserve in the second half of 2025 with highlights including Colugo Camp – an all-new overnight stay experience; more dining options such as Dining Alley featuring a mix of homegrown brands and international cuisines; Green Canvas - a venue for meetings and exhibitions;as well as two nature- themed indoor attractions, Exploria and Curiosity Cove.
Mike Barclay, Group Chief Executive, Mandai Wildlife Group shared “we kicked off the year with the opening of the Mandai Boardwalk, which has attracted over 200,000 visitors in just four months. We now look forward to adding more exciting features to the Mandai Wildlife Reserve in the months ahead, including a dedicated education facility for children, dedicated campsite with immersive tours, engaging event spaces and vibrant new dining options.”
As part of the ongoing development at Mandai Wildlife East, the Colugo Camp will open in the third quarter of the year. Available for year-round bookings, the permanent site features 20 safari tents with stunning views, supported by communal dining and shower facilities. Each tent accommodates up to four people for an all-inclusive camping experience which includes meals and guided explorations within the wildlife parks. Colugo Camp will continue to be complemented by seasonal glamping favourites - Glamping in the Wild at the Singapore Zoo and Glamping with the Penguins at Bird Paradise. All camping experiences include curated programmes to ensure that every stay will be both fun and educational.
For those seeking a unique venue for corporate gatherings, Green Canvas, adjacent to the newly opened Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree, is a versatile forest-themed event space spanning 2,800sqm. Its 1,420sqm Exhibition Hall is ideal for traveling exhibitions, trade shows, product launches and more, accommodating more than 500 guests in various event configurations. The venue also features a 187-seater auditorium and flexible meeting rooms for smaller discussions and presentations, making it the perfect place for hosting multi-day conferences in a distinctive wildlife and nature destination.
In addition to these exciting offerings, Mandai Wildlife East will soon host a cluster of new restaurants operated by renown brands at the Dining Alley. Opening progressively from May 2025, they will include New York’s iconic wood-fired pizza Roberta’s Pizza, Japan’s Sushiro with its first Digiro concept (a virtual conveyor belt) in Singapore and Watami Group’s unique Dining and Bar concept. Joining them are award-winning homegrown brands - Song Fa Bak Kut Teh, Xiang Xiang Hunan Cuisine, and many more. Some of the restaurants benefit from attractive views across the new wetland courtyard public space. In addition, The Courtyard is a new restaurant that is open in the evenings and offers Asian and Indian buffets. It will also progressively offer all-day dining, with its à la carte menu in the coming months.
Mandai Wildlife Group is dedicated to caring for the planet and protecting animals and nature. Conservation education is intrinsic in all interactions with the Group, to inspire action for a healthier world.
The public can register their interest and receive updates on Colugo Camping
More information on Green Canvas venue for corporate gatherings
Images from top. Inside Singapore’s wildlife parks, ZooSchool’s young explorers will engage with veterinarians, animal care experts and sustainability champions about animal behaviour, wildlife conservation and the importance of protecting biodiversity; A learning space in the ZooSchool with NTUC First Campus; Colugo Camp is the first of two campsites to open at the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, adding to the suite of overnight stays; Green Canvas, adjacent to the newly opened Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree, is a versatile forest-themed event space; Visitors to Mandai Wildlife East will be greeted by a terraced wetland courtyard. All images. Credit: Mandai Wildlife Group.
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