A Stunning New Eco Resort Has Opened Inside Mandai Wildlife Reserve

Singapore just scored a special new stay that's actually inside the rainforest. Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree has officially opened within the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, marking the hospitality group’s global 100th property and its long-awaited homecoming to Singapore. 

Image credit: Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree | Supplied

The design is exactly what you’d expect from Banyan Tree’s biophilic DNA. Elevated structures preserve the natural terrain while mature trees, including a 12-metre Rain Tree (Samanea saman) and an Indian Beech tree (Millettia pinnata), which have been intentionally retained to frame the arrival experience. The standout treehouses, designed to resemble the seed pods of the Purple Millettia (Adinobotrys atropurpureus), sit suspended among the canopy with views across Upper Seletar Reservoir. The nearby five-storey main building houses guestrooms and suites rising vertically through the forestscape.

Image credit: Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree | Supplied

Inside, rooms spotlight the rainforest’s layers through artwork by Singaporean artist Donna Ong, alongside antique wildlife lithographs featuring species like the lesser mousedeer, white-collared kingfisher, Sumatran flying dragon, and grey-headed fish eagle. Sustainability isn’t performative—it’s built into every corner. Rooms feature full-length windows for natural ventilation, rainwater-harvesting systems for flushing, and interactive displays reminding guests when their energy consumption spikes. The resort is officially Singapore’s first Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy (SLE) certified resort.

The nature-immersive theme continues across the resort. Forage, the signature restaurant, delivers Harvest-to-Table dining using produce from its rooftop edible garden and local sustainable growers. It overlooks Upper Seletar Reservoir and links directly to an observation deck that doubles as a birdwatching hotspot with more than 30 species recorded. The rooftop pool, Discovery Forest, and edible garden—with more than 15 native herbs like Torch Ginger, Roselle, Lemongrass and Asam Gelugor—complete the greenery-soaked experience.

Image credit: Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree | Supplied

Families and wellness seekers get their own dedicated spaces too. The Meranti Ballroom features a centrepiece inspired by the rare Bridal Veil Stinkhorn mushroom, while the Banyan Tree Spa incorporates three pavilions designed after the scales of the native Sunda pangolin. The rainforest playground—shaped around cannonball fruit structures, buttress roots and giant leaf springers—was created for natural, unstructured forest play, with the centrepiece sculpted by Italian artist Maximilian using Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete.

Located within immediate reach of the Mandai wildlife parks are Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, River Wonders, Bird Paradise, Rainforest Wild Asia and the newly opened Curiosity Cove. Guests staying at the resort also unlock special rates and experiences, from children’s Wild Zoo Day Camps to wellbeing sessions and immersive wildlife encounters. It’s a stay that feels close to nature because it actually is, and finally brings Banyan Tree’s homecoming full circle.

Looking for more? Check out:

• Banyan Group Celebrates Its 100th Resort With A Wild Homecoming At Mandai Rainforest Resort
• You Can Now Camp At The Zoo: Inside Mandai’s New Colugo Camp
• The Best Things To Do With Kids In Singapore

Main image credit: Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree | Supplied