Curiosity Cove invites families with kids between the ages of 3 to 12 to step into an indoor playscape where different nature-inspired environments encourage kids to play and be curious, while exploring the diversity of the natural world and developing an empathy for nature.
More than just an indoor playground, Curiosity Cove at Mandai makes use of hands-on and digital play elements to immerses kids into the worlds of different animals across a four different zones.
Curiosity Cove at Mandai Wildlife East
Curiosity Cove is located at Mandai Wildlife East, the publicly accessible area located next to Singapore Zoo and River Wonders. The indoor playground occupies its own building, which can be found just beside the passageway that leads to the Mandai Boardwalk.
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Inside the building, Curiosity Cove spans across 4,600 square metres with plenty of possibilities for kids to imagine that they are part of nature and see the world through the eyes of animals – developing a deeper sense of empathy as they move, sense and adapt while playing.
The various experiences are anchored by science and nature. However, the play elements and environments are hyper-realistic, meaning that the nuances, textures and sounds have been amplified.
Curiosity Cove is a place where kids can learn about the animal residents of the various environments.
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Throughout Curiosity Cove, kids will come across clues of the animals’ presence – such as with footprints and tracks. These are meant to pique the curiosity of kids as they explore the 32 play features throughout Curiosity Cove, which include touch points and listening points.
Curiosity Cove is intended to be a first step for kids to learn and develop empathy for nature and animals, and in this way, complement the outdoor experiences at the outdoor wildlife parks.
Inside Curiosity Cove: Four Hyper-Natural Zones
There are four nature-themed zones at Curiosity Cove where kids can climb, crawl, touch and explore.
These zones have been inspired by real-world eco-systems and range from the Forestlands filled with arboreal flora and fauna to the Wetlands where a river teeming with life flows.
The experiences include a series of multimedia-enriched sensory adventures. These have been designed to engage kids’ cognitive, social, motor and locomotor skills as they discover the planet’s biodiversity.
Forestlands
When you step into Curiosity Cove, you will find yourself in the midst of the lush greenery of the Forestlands zone. Based on a rain forest, there are different areas to explore around Forestlands.
Under the tall trees of the magical forest, kids can climb into tree stumps and explore various nooks and crannies, like rocks and leaves, to discover how the animals like that the Paradise Tree Snake, Tarsier and Barbet Birds living there.
Kids can also pretend to be Baya Weaver birds at a play area designed to look like birds nests. Connected by a net, the birds nests offer a place for kids to hideaway or fly from nest to nest.
Want to take play to new heights? Kids climb up from the forest floor and into the canopy of the trees at the Orangutan Sleeping Platform to experience life from the perspective of the arboreal apes.
From the heights of the rainforest, take a look at the life that is so tiny that it is easy to miss with the naked eye at Microscopic Canopy. This is an interactive room where micro-sized life are amplified.
There are also other play elements such as a spider’s web climbing net and bouncy pads inspired by frogs here at Forestlands – inviting kids to move and play.
The Singing Tree, inspired by the Banyan tree, brings the whole forest together with its nature song.
Wetlands
The Wetlands are represented by the River of Life that winds its way past all the other zones throughout Curiosity Cove.
One special area is Reef Retreat. Step into this area and learn what life underwater is like through the interactive wall display that feature marine creatures swimming about.
Kids can also interact with the physical “coral” and see what marine life can be found in the watery eco-system.
Grasslands
Head to the Grasslands to encounter the animals found in the African Savannah.
The highlight here is the Watering Hole, an interactive digital floor installation. Kids can place their hands and see what animal they transform into in the reflection. Or they can skip over the digital logs that form a path across the watering hole – just be sure to watch out for the alligator swimming along in the water!
Also hidden in the grass are African animals like lions. It is a chance for kids to learn about camouflage.
Then head into Nature’s Theatre Cave, an interactive spot where towering giraffes pass in the distance while a herd of elephants and rhinoceros’s make their way to and fro from the Watering Hole in this multimedia interactive screen.
Kids can also pretend to be ibexes as they climb up a craggy slope and slip down on a slide.
Drylands
Eventually, the River of Life dries up at the Drylands, which is based on the Saharan Desert. However, even in this harsh environment life can still exist.
Here, kids can bounce across the lizard rocks imitating the Shovel-Snouted Lizard.
At the Underground Galleries, kids get to shine a light at life below the surface.
They can also climb into the belly of a snake.
Or enter into a bat cave and discover how sound can be used to light up the darkness.
Performances & Educational Programmes at Curiosity Cove
Children can also participate in an energetic Curiosity Cove dance in the Grasslands zone, alongside Ranger Buddies mascots Sally the Hornbill and Tucker the Otter, a highlight of every 2-hour play session!
Starting March 2026, families can also go on specially curated learning journeys. The tailored educational programmes include Curious Creatures: Who Lives Here?, which explores how body coverings help animals to survive in different habitats or Curious Creatures: Who’s Chasing Who? focusing on predator-prey relationships and animal movement, and the 2D1N Curious Creatures Camp!
Other Spaces at Curiosity Cove
In addition to the four zones, Curiosity Cove also has a Toddler Zone filled with bright and colourful eggs for a fun and whimsical playscape for younger ones.
There are also two Calm Zones set up for kids who need a quiet spot for a while. Sensory kits in that area are also available on request.
There are also two nursing rooms located within Curiosity Cove.
Thinking of having a birthday party at Curiosity Cove? There are two packages available as well as party room.
Entry and Pricing to Curiosity Cove
Admission to Curiosity Cove is based on two-hour time slots. There are four entry time slots each day:
- 10 am to 12 pm
- 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm
- 3 pm to 5 pm
- 5.30 pm to 6.30 pm
The price for entry for one child and one complimentary adult is $48. There are also Play Date bundles as well as a Destination Pass.
Friends of Mandai Starter and Friends of Mandai Premium members will also be able to enjoy a set number of visits to Curiosity Cove during their membership validity period.
Friends of Mandai Starter members get to enjoy up to three visits to Curiosity Cove during their membership validity.
Friends of Mandai Premium members can enjoy up to six visits during their membership validity.
Curiosity Cove Location & Opening Date
Curiosity Cove is located at Mandai Wildlife EAST, 80 Mandai Lake Rd, Singapore 729826
Curiosity Cove opens to the public on 21 November 2025.
What Else is at the Curiosity Cove Building?
In addition to the indoor playscape, the Curiosity Cove building also houses McDonald’s Mandai Wildlife Reserve, which also a large party room. Find out more about McDonald’s Mandai Wildlife Reserve.
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