A night on the wild side in Singapore’s urban jungle

After four days of enjoying the hustle, bustle and bright lights of Orchard Road, I’ve escaped the urban jungle for a night on the wild side in Singapore’s rainforest.

Opened in April, the Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree sits within the greater Mandai Wildlife Reserve, home to Singapore Zoo, Bird Paradise, Night Safari, River Wonders, and Rainforest Wild Asia.

There’s greenery as far as the eye can see, and the resort’s design has been inspired by biophilic principles and the creeping liana vine.

Given Singapore’s humidity, cookies and dispensers of chilled lime and guava water are a welcome sight in the open-plan lobby, where guests can rest on benches made from upcycled trees.

With less than 24 hours to explore, I take some quick photos, then head to the sanctuary of the Banyan Tree Spa.

All spa staff must undertake 650 hours of Banyan Tree training before they are allowed to touch a guest, which is reassuring given I have emerged from some previous holiday massages worse than I went in.

The sleep-inducing gentle touch massage ($253 plus taxes) includes a personalised blend of lavender, geranium and thyme oils based on my questionnaire responses.

Then it’s time to snap myself awake for a hotel tour, taking note of warnings about roaming macaques. I never see any monkeys or wild boars, but am mindful of giant snails and frogs at night in the open, low-light walkways.

The 50m rooftop infinity pool is a tranquil spot to start or end the day, especially for sunrise and sunset photography.

Macaques have taken to stealing limes from the rooftop garden, where edible plants are destined for the “trust the chef” menu at Forage, one of two in-house restaurants.

I’m sharing a third-storey sanctuary twin with my sister. There’s decent storage, USB A and C charging points, and uninterrupted views of the Upper Seletar Reservoir — even from the shower. In place of a balcony, we have an extended sitting area.

If you are prone to mosquito bites like me, it’s best not to open the retractable screen, and wear plenty of bug spray. Guests can request mosquito patches, and the resort is using mosquito coils and its dragonfly pond as repellents.

The well-stocked bathroom amenities box even has a hairbrush, while the powerful little JVD Auva hairdryer is the best I have used.

Top-of-the-range rooms come in the shape of seed pod-inspired treehouses with private patios and exclusive access to a nest-inspired swimming pool.

Spacious family rooms offer a king bed and a big bunk bed that can sleep two children if they’re happy to share.

Resort decor and colours have been inspired by nature, with room artwork changing from floor to floor to reflect the layers of rainforest that can be seen outside.

Banyan Group was founded on principles of wellbeing and sustainability, and Mandai is the first resort in Singapore to achieve the Green Mark Super Low Energy certification from the Building and Construction Authority in Singapore.

Ambient room temperatures can’t be set below 24C, “to mirror the cool atmospheric temperatures of the rainforests in the tropics”.

To combat the humidity, I guiltily crank up the ceiling fan and hope my interactive energy-use screen stays in the green zone. At least I can separate my rubbish into a dedicated recycling bin in the room.

Before dinner, I take part in a meditative sound bath session that is so relaxing, some guests are snoring.

The session gives me time to think about my favourite Singaporean pastime, eating. It’s time for a speedy dinner at Planter’s Shed international buffet ($82 per adult plus taxes), where the yakiniku marinated Angus beef ribeye is my favourite dish. There are plenty of cakes and a chocolate fountain, but I only have eyes for the local pandan kueh.

Stays at the resort can be tailored to include exclusive wildlife experiences, so we are off to the Night Safari to find out more about preservation and conservation efforts. The Mandai Wildlife Reserve treats and rehabilitates more than 1000 animals a year.

We are grateful to a restaurant staff member who finds us looking at a confusing sign and walks with us to the entry.

On the guided Pangolin Trail, we spot white pelicans and giant anteaters, and learn how Sunda pangolin are at risk of poaching and becoming roadkill.

Afterwards, we hop aboard the safari bus, keeping our eyes peeled for all creatures great and small, from otters to elephants.

We’ve done so much walking there’s no need or time to visit the hotel gym, or the 3.3km Mandai Boardwalk with stunning views across the Upper Seletar Reservoir.

On our final day in Singapore, I sneak a look at the Planter’s Shed breakfast buffet, which has a dedicated children’s meal corner, as well as free-flowing champagne and mimosas. Breakfast is included for many bookings, or costs $62 plus taxes for adults, ($31 for children aged six to 12, and free for children under six).

Our package includes front-row seats to Breakfast in the Wild at Singapore Zoo. It has been almost 20 years since I last visited, and these days, orangutans thankfully no longer pose with visitors. Instead, they are free to swing down for a look and to leave when they please. Putra, a male Sumatran orangutan, is the great-grandson of the cafe’s namesake, the late matriarch Ah Meng.

Mandai Rainforest Resort is an easy walk from Singapore Zoo, making it a sensible base for families who want to experience a nature and adventure-based holiday.

The resort has a kids’ club and nature playground, with a Zoo School and additional restaurants under construction nearby.

Being so new, and with many entry and exit points for the attractions, our taxi had trouble finding the resort, so allow plenty of time to get to the airport, or ask the friendly staff for assistance.

+ Sue Yeap was a guest of Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree. They have not influenced this story or read it before publication.

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Mandai Rainforest Resort is about 25 minutes from Orchard Road, and 30 from Changi Airport. Room rates start from $488 a night plus taxes. mandai.com/en/mandai-rainforest-resort.html