A night in the jungle at Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree - review

Eschew Singapore’s city hotels for a room in the rainforest. By Carolynne Dear

Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree (review) - the resort's distinctive 'seed pod' accommodation

As a family I thought we’d experienced it all in Singapore, from the slick, sky-scraping hotels of the city to the beach resorts of Sentosa, the thrill of the theme parks and the manicured greenery of Gardens by the Bay. But the city has one more trick up its sleeve, the wildlife haven that is the Mandai Wildlife Reserve in the city’s North Region. Home to five wildlife parks including the five-decades-old Singapore Zoo, the area recently welcomed a luxury Banyan Tree resort. 

Incredibly, given Banyan Group is a Singaporean company, Mandai Rainforest Resort is the first Banyan property to open in the city. A beautiful space, it's also incredibly handy if you're ticking off the wildlife parks as they are a good hour-and-a-half drive from the city. Being able to stay locally immediately relaxes the whole process.

The resort has been a decade in the making and was conceived through a government-led competition. The winning design entry was made by local firm WOW Architects who proposed a regenerative resort that would mesh harmoniously with the surrounding nature reserve. In a world of green-washing, it’s refreshing to come across what is a truly environmental hotel. The four-and-a-half hectare resort is located on the banks of the Upper Seletar reservoir and has been modelled from what were the back-of-house facilities for Singapore Zoo. Engineering consultants Arup were approached to create a sustainable resort and they have worked closely with the architects and interior designers to produce what is Singapore’s first regenerative and super-low energy hotel, effectively setting a benchmark in the city.

The hotel building winds through the foliage touching as lightly as possible on its surrounding environment. Native tree species have been conserved or replanted with the aim that the resort coexists with the flora and fauna; in places the building has been ‘lifted’ to allow wildlife to move across the site. Arriving in Mandai is a little like escaping through the back of the wardrobe into a leafy, rainforested version of Narnia, about as far from Downtown as you can get without hopping on a flight. I exited my taxi into the vast, unenclosed lobby, trailing plants drifting in the breeze around me as I checked-in. 

Environmentally-friendly accommodation

Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree - rooms enjoy calming views of the Upper Seletar Reservoir

I was hosted in a Sanctuary King room on the fifth floor, which afforded glorious views of the reservoir. I opened the door into a bright, light-filled space. At the touch of a button, the huge floor-to-ceiling windows could be fully opened up, while another button conjured up a mosquito grill. At night, there was an option for a  black-out shutter. Gazing out over the water, I was delighted to witness unexpected entertainment provided by the Singapore Army from nearby Seletar Camp on helicopter manoeuvres over the forest. 

The 338 rooms have been designed with mixed-mode ventilation. Lobbies and corridors are naturally ventilated and the twisting shape of the building has been refined to mitigate heat gain, as well as wind around the largest of the trees on the site. Rainwater is captured for in-room flushing systems and plant irrigation across the resort, reducing reliance on potable water. Further energy savings are made through in-room motion and heat sensors - when unoccupied the air conditioning shuts down and the lights are turned off, and when the guest returns, a comfortable temperature is restored and lights are set to welcome mode.

The mechanical in-room air conditioning can only be set as low as 24-degrees - this jolted me a little at first but my room turned out to be perfectly comfortable with a combination of the ceiling fan and a mosquito-screened open window; waking up to a gentle breeze floating in from the reservoir the following morning was delicious. 

In an effort to bring the outdoors in, each room is cleverly decorated with a rainforest mural by Singaporean artist Donna Ong. Ground floor rooms enjoy a representation of the forest floor while up on level five, I had a colourful depiction of the forest canopy. 

A family escape

Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree - kids will love the bunk rooms with play nook

While I would highly recommend the Sanctuary King, the generously-sized family rooms with bunks and a play nook are a great option if you’re staying with young children. And if you’ve managed to escape à deux, be sure to consider one of the 24 treehouses on the banks of the reservoir.  These elevated accommodations have been designed after a seed pod and command terrific water views from their relatively secluded position. Inside, the spacious bedroom and bathroom open onto a generous terrace area with plenty of room to lounge; instead of a balcony rail breaking up the view, safety is preserved with a subtle drape of netting. Treehouse guests also have access to a private pool housed in one of the pods and with the same water views.

Back in the hotel building, children will be wowed by an impressive kids’ club that leads out to an expansive outdoor playground. The giant play equipment is designed as cannonball fruits, buttress roots and rainforest leaves that kids can climb, slide down and explore. The club room is filled with books and games and there is a scheduled, nature-based activity programme. 

Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree - the rooftop pool enjoys water views and ice cream 'happy hour'

At the top of the hotel is a rooftop Discovery Garden which stretches the length of the building. There are seating and viewing areas right the way along, allowing for guests to relax and soak up the views. The produce grown in the vegetable gardens here is used in the hotel dining room, Forage. The stunning infinity pool is also to be found on the roof. This was one of my favourite aspects of the resort; the pool is a good length for swimming and you can waste huge chunks of time leaning on the infinity edge gazing out to the reservoir. For children, there’s a splash pool and a shallow area. Ice creams are served from a small cart and in the afternoon youngsters can take advantage of ice cream ‘happy hour’.

Easy dining for kids and adults

Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree - there's plenty of choice (and a chocolate fountain) at Planter's Shed

For dinner I tried the main restaurant, Planter’s Shed, which serves buffet-style dining. This space is well kitted out for children, with a Kids’ Corner offering fresh mini sandwiches, cakes and pizza slices. Highchairs are readily available. There was a good range of everything you might expect from an international hotel buffet, from salads and sushi to curries, skewers, pastas and meat dishes and plenty of puds; young diners will undoubtedly make a beeline for the chocolate fountain. 

Unfortunately fine-dining Forage was booked out for a private function during my stay, although it’s worth bearing in mind that it has no child-friendly options and is not recommended for children under ten years of age.

The breakfast buffet back at Planter’s the following morning was equally tasty, with all the usual western and Asian dishes and a live egg station. Again, there was a Kids’ Corner with cereals, pancakes and other breakfast treats. 

Exploring the wildlife parks

Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree - don't miss an evening at Night Safari

As charming as the hotel is, most visitors at Mandai Rainforest Resort are there for the wildlife parks. Much recent development means the Mandai Wildlife Reserve is now home to no fewer than five different parks, including Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, River Wonders, Bird Paradise and Rainforest Wild Adventure. The hotel is just a stroll from the attractions and a hotel buggy can also be summoned. I headed to the Night Zoo one evening and enjoyed a fun Creatures of the Night presentation in the amphitheatre, followed by a wander around the zoo attempting to view some of the 900 nocturnal animals.

There are four marked walking trails but if you’re juggling tired youngsters, you can hop on one of the many Safari Adventure Trams that loop the park from 7pm onwards. Last year Curiosity Cove, a huge indoor, nature-inspired playscape joined the five parks, yet another fun destination and perfect if there’s a rain shower or to expend more energy. Mandai Rainforest Resort guests can also take advantage of special rates for park entry as well as family friendly experiences such as the Wild Zoo Day Camp and other wildlife encounters.

Spa treats

Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree - don't miss the opportunity for a Banyan Tree Spa treatment

No stay at a Banyan resort is complete without a trip to the Banyan Tree Spa and I booked in for a little R&R on my final day. The treatment pods are reached via a boardwalk from the spa reception and have been cleverly designed to resemble the Sunda pangolin, wooden ‘scales’ creating a protective armour around these little sanctuaries of calm. I enjoyed a relaxing massage and the spa also offers a clever mix ‘n’ match, ‘Tailored to your Senses’ option where you can curate your own experience combining options like back massage, body massage, foot massage, body scrub and body conditioner. I spent a pleasant morning and left feeling reassuringly pampered.

All good things must come to an end and it was finally time to step back through the wardrobe with the help of a Grab taxi and return to the hustle and bustle of ‘real’ Singapore. Whether you’re looking for a fun family destination or respite from city life, I cannot recommend Mandai Rainforest Resort highly enough.

Asia Family Traveller was a guest of Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree. This feature was originally published in the Summer 2026 issue of Asia Family Traveller magazine; check it out here.