Forget waiting for the 2028 Olympics — Mandai Wildlife Reserve in Singapore is staging its own games this festive season. Zoolympix: Stars of Mandai Festive Challenge runs from 7 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, giving families an active, screen-free way to fill the end-of-year school break.
The setup is straightforward: ten wildlife-themed challenges, all based at the Zoolympix Village on the Mandai Wildlife EAST Lawn, open daily from 10am to 7pm with last admission at 6.30pm. Each challenge borrows from the signature skills of the reserve's animal stars — two ambassadors represent each of the five parks that make up Mandai (Singapore Zoo, Bird Paradise, River Wonders, Night Safari and Rainforest Wild Adventure).
A few give you a flavour of what to expect. The Agility challenge has kids hauling durians across a faux forest canopy in the style of Ah Meng, the zoo's famous orangutan. A penguin-inspired task asks participants to waddle to the finish line in oversized flippers while balancing an egg on their feet, à la Arlo the king penguin. Another sends challengers dashing through a rain zone hunting for the favourite foods of Bayu the Malayan tapir. Every challenge comes in two difficulty tiers — one for ages 3 to 7, another for ages 8 and up — so siblings of different ages can compete on level terms.
There's a trophy at stake, sort of. Completing a challenge earns a stamp on your activity card, and all ten stamps get you an exclusive Zoolympian medal. Since everyone who finishes is technically on the podium, there's a Zoolympix Podium set up for celebratory photos. Bring the completed card to The Mandai Shop, River Wonders Shop or Night Safari Shop and a Zoolympian Trophy Plush drops from $12 to $9.
Beyond the main course, the village has a Partner Zone with booths from AIA, Anywheel, POSB and Families for Life, and each of the five parks hosts one bonus Zoolympix Outpost with extra activities, photo ops and a chance to meet the animal stars themselves. Christmas decorations, festive crafts and handmade ornament sessions at Curiosity Cove round out the seasonal atmosphere.
Pricing and perks: the Zoolympix Village costs $15 per person, while Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents who sign up for the free WildPass get village access plus a $10 retail and F&B voucher with selected admission tickets. Friends of Mandai members can grab village tickets for $8 (usual price $20) during Members' Wild Weekend on 14–15 November, with a members-only gift included.
Why it matters: if you're travelling to Singapore with young kids over the December holidays, this bundles physical activity, light conservation education and festive cheer into one outing — and it slots neatly into a day at any of the five Mandai parks. Find it at 80 Mandai Lake Road, at the Mandai Wildlife EAST Lawn.
