Wondering what glamping in Mandai at Colugo Camp is like? We have never gone glamping, and had only camped in Pulau Ubin a few times.
Truth be told, I don’t particularly enjoy camping since it can be uncomfortable and almost impossible for a good night’s rest given the sleep conditions. Perhaps glamping in Mandai is a more luxe version of camping we might like?
Family Review of Colugo Camp in Mandai
Read on for our verdict at Mandai Wildlife Reserves’ new glamping experience – whether we survived “in the wild” without our usual pillows and if it was worth it “sleeping in a tent”.
UE SQUARE’S COSMIC SPACE EXPEDITION: Have An Out-Of-This-World Adventure!
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Where is Colugo Camp?
Sited right next to Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan, Colugo Camp is located close to Mandai Wildlife East’s eateries.
Campers should park at the main carpark for Mandai Wildlife East, Singapore Zoo, River Wonders and Night Safari.
The Rare View of Singapore
I was blown away by the view Colugo Camp has to offer. The view was previously inaccessible to most besides visitors to the wildlife parks and perhaps only to NS men with their military exercises in the vicinity.
You can now enjoy a full day and night’s worth of Upper Seletar Reservoir, a view of Singapore that’s wild, tranquil and definitely not your usual Singapore.
As we arrived for check-in, the bustle from the other parts of Mandai could no longer be heard as camp was tucked away surrounded by nature.
There was lovely landscaping surrounding the tents with flowering bushes and even benches around to enjoy quiet moments while bees and birds flutter by.
Our 4-Person Safari Tent
All Safari tents at Colugo Camp face Upper Seletar Reservoir. This meant all campers can enjoy the unblocked views of the waters, foliage and even wildlife passing through and living in the forests.
This was also perfect for catching the daily sunsets!
Our tent was a cosy 4-person tent with a queen-sized bed and a bunk bed. Yes beds, might I add firm mattresses ideal for aching backs. The kids were delighted with their beds which came with animal-print duvet covers.
Of course they fought over who was going to sleep on the upper bunk. For the adults, we had a comfortable bed to ourselves.
There was a ceiling fan, a standing fan and a portable air cooler that made the room very comfortable.
Besides some seating, there was a work desk with a mirror and a desk lamp, a bedside table with portable lightings. The wooden flooring gave it a rustic feel and definitely a cool glamping setup.
We could also roll up the side window flaps and front door flaps to make it more airy and bright.
There were deck chairs placed outside our tents so we could sit outside to enjoy the breeze and view while chatting.
There were also wall partitions between tents. This ensured privacy and also some soundproofing. For those who prefer a closer distance to the washrooms and showers, do request for tents nearer to the shared amenities. However, this might mean a higher noise level.
For light sleepers like me, I had trouble sleeping as there were young children using the washrooms past 11 pm and playing nearby. Or just bring earplugs!
Walking out to the washroom at night was quite easy, the lighting was bright yet dim enough to show the way.
The Safari Tent could block out much of the light from the outside with multiple layers that kept away the rain, sunlight, heat and some sound.
Worried about sharing the bathroom with strangers? The five family rooms and cubicles in the common washrooms are well-kept and clean to use!
For families with younger children, the family rooms are perfect since they have a cubicle, a shower area, a bench, towel hooks and a lower sink for younger ones. Simply lock the room and the family can have some privacy showering.
I must add that the showers are very warm! This is a luxury especially after a sweaty time out at the wildlife parks. Basic items such as conditioning shampoo and body soap is provided, so are hair dryers in the shared washrooms.
A packing list is also sent to every guest pre-arrival so everyone is well-prepared. Campers can also loan hairdyers and adapters from the camp facilitators.
Meals at the Communal Dining Hall
Forget about your own meal preparation! Each stay at Colugo Camp comes with dinner, supper and breakfast.
The communal dining hall sits right next to the open spaces and this is where meals are served.
We enjoyed the spread for both dinner and breakfast. There is a good selection of Asian and Western dishes, even desserts!
We were drawn to how beautifully the dining hall was designed with the option to open up the doors so we could dine while enjoying the views of the reservoir. It’s like dining al fresco style right next to the great outdoors while admiring the colours of the skies and the foliage.
Awesome Colugo Camp Facilitators
The standout experience for my family was the tours and interactions with the Colugo Camp facilitators!
Colugo Camp fees includes guided tours to three wildlife parks: Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and River Wonders – and we highly recommend going for the guided tours! The facilitators are onsite to share their knowledge with guests and it makes the experience so much more enriching!
Having the facilitators there during camp also made the experience like a community activity. They bantered with the kids and cracked jokes, and also regaled us with facts about the wildlife we see.
For instance, there is a wood dove that was a resident called Fat John. We spotted him one evening! Some guests also saw Sambar deer grazing below the tent. We even got a troop of long-tailed macaques visiting one morning, which the facilitators had to chase away as they had brazenly snuck into some unlocked tents.
I also appreciated how Kyler, one of our facilitators, pointed out Straw-headed Bulbuls which gave us our morning call and Yellow-vented Bulbuls – an endangered species of birds often seen in the area.
She also shared what the calls of the young of the white-bellied sea eagle sounds like, we could see the raptors fishing and flying to their nests at the reservoir. We should have brought our binoculars! Protip: Pack your binos for a closer look at the wildlife!
It was truly a wildlife-centric experience that was truly wild – unplanned with plenty of welcome surprises!
Tours to Singapore Zoo, Night Safari & River Wonders
As mentioned, Colugo Camp rates include entry and tours to Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and River Wonders. This is a major perk for those who want to visit the three parks and prefer a guided tour.
There is also an option to go free and easy, however entry timings are according to the camp schedules with the earliest zoo entry at 3.15 pm after checking in. Hence, we do recommend checking in early to drop those bags and have more time for exploration!
One of the highlights of Colugo Camp must be the exclusive tram and show seating for Night Safari!
Guests could gain entry to the Creatures of the Night Show via a special entrance and get reserved seating without having to queue! We also had a special tram to take, with commentary by our facilitator Kyler.
The next morning, we had the privilege special early admission (9.30 am!) to River Wonders before the crowd descended on the wildlife park. Because of that, we got to see the popular stars like Kai Kai and Jia Jia contentedly having their bamboo breakfast as well as the manatees feeding.
I learnt so much, even after so many visits to the wildlife parks – our facilitators were amazing in sharing their passion for animals and sharing so many fun facts about specific animals in the parks.
I was tickled by how male Indian Gharials look attractive, and how Chawang the bull elephant shows his displeasure at the sight of buggies.
For guests who want to visit other wildlife parks, there is a 20% discount off tickets! We did wish there was more time to visit parks like Rainforest Wild Asia and Bird Paradise.
A Comfortable Hotel Stay or An Enriching Glamping Experience?
Many of us could be deciding between the Mandai Rainforest Resort versus Colugo Camp. To me, the view and the facilitator experience at Colugo Camp was unbeatable.
If you must compare the view of guests at the resort next door, premium rate of the rooms with the same reservoir view starts from 526++ for two per night while Colugo Camp rates start at $550 for two pax with meals and park admission or tours included.
Colugo Camp is also more suitable for families who like the great outdoors and appreciate the “wildness” of their environment.
We did not encounter any mosquitos or bugs during our stay at Colugo Camp. This was a major surprise to us since we were so close to nature, perhaps the breeziness helped!
Nonetheless we were also prepared with repellent sprays to avoid getting bitten. Our stay was very comfortable with planned visits to the wildlife parks which meant a fruitful time for families looking for an enriching time out and about.
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Rates at Colugo Camp
2D1N stays at Colugo Camp starts from $550 for 2 pax, $700 for 3 pax and $800 for 4 pax. Stays can be extended by adding extra nights at the same rate. Friends of Mandai can get 15% discounts while WildPass holders can get 10% discounts.
Each Safari tent houses a max of 4 persons, guests can opt for add-ons like admissions to other parks, wine and cheese basket, and tent decorations for special occasions.
Book your Mandai glamping experience here.
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