Inside Exploria: Uncovering Earth’s Hidden Realms at Mandai

Step inside Mandai’s newest Exploria attraction for your first look at one of Southeast Asia’s largest indoor nature-themed multimedia experiences.

Discover Exploria – Southeast Asia’s largest indoor nature-themed attraction

Mandai Wildlife Reserve is globally recognised as the home to iconic destinations like the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari. From the avian wonders of Bird Paradise to new adventures at Rainforest Wild ASIA, these parks offer unparalleled encounters with the living, breathing inhabitants of our planet.

Today, a new dimension of discovery emerges with Exploria – as a high-tech mirror to its neighboring wildlife parks. Located in the Mandai Wildlife EAST precinct, Exploria presents a multi-sensory journey across five immersive worlds, spaces that are too extreme, too microscopic, or too distant for the human eye to reach. Using spatial projection mapping and interactive multimedia, it brings to life the realms that we rarely see.

Get your tickets to Exploria at Mandai – Opens 3 March 2026

Mandai Exploria Review

Exploria offers a refreshing departure from the wildlife parks at Mandai, providing a comfortable indoor experience that spans 10,000 square metres. Within its rooms are different kinds of “reactive multimedia” – while perhaps not groundbreaking in isolation, these interactive elements are cleverly integrated into a tight, cohesive narrative that elevates Exploria far above your run-of-the-mill “immersive experience” you see popping up everywhere. At its core, the conservation message remains as strong and central as any other Mandai experience.

However, the sheer volume of content in Exploria can feel incredibly dense. Some interactive animations create a bit of “dwell time” – the overall pacing can occasionally feel draggy. You need to be a patient visitor to get your money’s worth; while you can walk through in less, you should spare at least 2-3 hours to fully complete the experience across all five worlds.

Practically speaking, this requires careful scheduling. Pairing Exploria with another Mandai wildlife attraction might be an exhausting feat for most. It is also important to note that there is no F&B within the attraction, so eating before you tap in is a must. It’s great that the Dining Alley of the Mandai Wildlife EAST precinct is right next door.

Ultimately, the addition of Exploria strengthens Mandai’s position as a premier multi-day destination. With the multi-day park passes already encouraging longer stays, the on-site resort and camping options feel more tempting than ever for those wanting to see it all without rushing.

For locals, Mandai has also launched the Friends of Mandai ULTIMATE membership, which offers annual access to all 5 wildlife parks and 2 indoor attractions.

Note: Experience in this article is based on the media preview.

Exploria – Highlights and Photo Tour

As you step through the doors, the first thing you’ll do is collect your RFID wristband. This wearable serves as your digital key to the attraction, enabling you to create a unique avatar and play throughout the five worlds of Exploria.

After scanning your wristband at the gantry, your experience kicks off at a vibrant interactive wall where you can “Awaken the Wild”. Tap on the plus motifs to trigger a call from the wild that echoes with light effects, bringing you closer to the heart of Exploria.

Our Interconnected World

Welcome to the central hub of Exploria, Our Interconnected World. The 4-metre tall globe shines with dazzling light. With every interaction in Exploria, pulses of light are sent to the globe, which responds in real-time to the collective participation of everyone in the attraction.

The globe is also part of the Biopool, where you can scan your RFID wristband and create your unique avatar. You can also track your Exploria game progress here and find what digital badges and vouchers you’ve collected. If you wish to save your progress and “load” your game save in a future visit, you will need to continue with email registration here.

You can also track your progress using your own smartphone, but it would only work around the park as it requires connecting to the in-park WiFi to access.

Another highlight of this hub is The Planet Awakens, a spectacle of light and sound that ignites the hub with synchronised projections and special effects, preparing you for the five hidden realms that await. This show happens about once every 2 hours, so don’t miss it!

Micro Worlds

Micro Worlds magnifies ecosystems that are tiny or way too small to see.

Using interactive glass orbs and projection domes, you can peer into an interactive collection of microbial and invertebrate life – from insect colonies, fungi, and bacteria. The space highlights how these crucial yet unseen systems quietly sustain the balance of life on Eart

The hanging orbs also look like part of an installation – which looked very exaggerated during the attraction’s “random” Disruptive Moments. These are in-park events that spotlight conservation messages, but in an unexpected way. In Micro Worlds, the entire room turned red and looked as if it got hacked.

Also spread across the various worlds are Memory Hooks where you can take fun photographs from new perspectives.

Realm of the Giants

Shifting from the minute to monumental, prehistoric life returns in Realm of the Giants. A sculpted landscape showcases dinosaurs and ancient sea creatures that once ruled the planet. Beyond the static display, AR windows bring these ancient wonders into real-life landscapes, complete with the floor shaking, and deep sound effects that heighten the sense of scale.

These sculptures cleverly mask the literal centerpiece of this Realm: The Giants Show, a 360-degree standing theatre experience. I was quite surprised at how the standing area is elevated several floors to unveil its true screen.

The show will surround you in a whirlwind of motion, light, and sound, as you are swept through 500 million years of life, from the rise of the earliest giants to their eventual extinction.

Booking of timeslots may be required during peak periods, and there might be a queue line for the show. It’s definitely worth the wait!

Extreme Frontiers

In Extreme Frontiers, you can get a visceral glimpse into habitats that few will ever witness firsthand, such as demoiselle cranes migrating at high altitudes or polar bears navigating melting Arctic ice. Through these simulations, experience how animals thermoregulate and adapt to survive extreme climate shifts.

One of the most sensory-intensive features is the desert simulator, a room heated to a sweltering 40°C with strong winds to recreate the arid habitat of the Namaqua chameleon.

Another chamber lets you feel the vibrations deep below in underground tunnels of urban cities.

The most popular simulator is the Arctic, a mirror room filled with mesmerising auroras, and kept to a chilly 5-degrees.

Infinite Wonderland

Infinite Wonderland brings to life the biodiversity found within rainforests and coral reefs. This zone is divided into several specialised rooms, each offering a unique perspective.

The rumble of the Monsoon would already draw you (or scare you away) into walking through a simulated storm. This highly immersive space features mist, wind, and thunderstorm effects that provide a dramatic backdrop for your videos, though the simulated intensity may leave your hair a bit messy.

Fortunately, the rest of the Wonderland is quite peaceful and dry.

At Sounds of the Forest, hanging foliage simulates the rainforest canopy. You’ll need to use your wristband to collect a sound, and bring it to a tree’s scanning point to fully discover the auditory landscape.

Inside Hunting Ground, a three-screen immersive video showcases the raw speed of a tiger hunt. The chase is so fast that it moves quickly across all three screens, keeping you on edge to anticipate where the final “hunt” will take place.

One of the most fun activities at Exploria is Masters of Disguise, which highlights the concealed wildlife that emerges from dense foliage. Using your RFID wristband, you must actively hunt for animals that are experts at camouflage, “unlocking” them from their hiding spots.

In the last zone of the Infinite Wonderland, you can step inside a kaleidoscopic ocean reef area to learn about the delicate species that inhabit coral reefs.

World of Darkness

“Descending” into the World of Darkness, the experience shifts to uncovering the secrets of life that thrive without light in subterranean caves and the crushing depths of the deep ocean. (Actually, this is on the upper level of Exploria)

This realm is designed as a labyrinth of mysterious passageways where reactive screens hide creatures. You’ll have to pay close attention to find them along your route.

After the (hopefully not so harrowing) adventures in the caverns, you emerge to a transition area which spotlights aquatic creatures, leading you to the ocean.

This mirrored walkway is stunning for photos, but also features several displays to learn about sea creatures: from the dazzling, vibrant bioluminescent wonders like sea jellies and vampire squid, to the eyeless yeti crabs and blind cave fish – species that have evolved beyond the need for sight.

Once you’re back at the main hub area, you can feel free to revisit any of the 5 realms again, or check your Exploria game progress at the Biopool.

When you’re ready to move on, head to the Exit and review your game results.

Exploria Shop

And of course there is always a shop at the exit!

To celebrate the opening of Exploria, Singapore-based toy designer Mighty Jaxx and Mandai Wildlife Group launched an exclusive merchandise range. The standout of the range is the Exploria Plush Pendant Blind Box, with designs inspired by the attraction’s five immersive worlds.

Not a fan of plush pendants? There’s also notebooks, towels, pins and magnets.

The Exploria Plush Pendant Blind Box goes for $19 each, but you can add on $12 more for a Charms bundle (2 food charms and 1 environmental charm), and make the plush pendant truly your own!

Dinosaur fans take note! Lots of cool toys and souvenirs to be found around the Exploria Shop.

And there’s of course, a range of Mandai collectibles too!

Get your tickets to Exploria – Opening 3 March 2026

This attraction is located at Mandai Wildlife EAST, near Singapore Zoo and River Wonders. It’s conveniently located next to the Dining Alley.

Exploria opens from 3 March 2026. Pre-Sale tickets are now available from the links here.

For more information, visit Mandai Exploria website.