Baby Okapi at Rainforest Wild Adventure: A Family Visit Plan

Southeast Asia's first okapi calf lives at Rainforest Wild Adventure, in the Hidden Forest of the park's EAST zone at 80 Mandai Lake Road. Mandai says the calf was born on 27 July to first-time parents Kisala and Xandor and is "slowly finding his feet" as he explores. Your best chance of seeing the okapis is the daily Okapi Ranger Talk at 10.30am and 3pm.

Full-park admission for Singapore residents is S$45 for adults and S$32 for children aged 3 to 12 on weekdays, and S$50 and S$35 on weekends and public holidays; children under 3 enter free with a ticket-holding adult. The EAST zone is fully sheltered with a stroller-friendly elevated walkway, which makes it one of the easier wildlife outings for young children. A sighting is never certain, though: okapis are shy, and Mandai calls every encounter in this park a chance encounter.

Where is the baby okapi, and when can you see it?

The okapis live in the Hidden Forest, a zone inspired by the Congo rainforest. Mandai's okapi page carries the line "Our Herd is Growing! We recently welcomed a new Okapi calf to the Hidden Forest." Mandai's Rainforest Wild Adventure planning guide describes the Okapi Trek, a 260-metre forested descent from Lemur Land, as the walk where the okapi "may appear among the trees".

Time your visit to a ranger talk. The Kisala page lists the Okapi Ranger Talk daily at 10.30am and 3pm in the Hidden Forest, and the planning guide says rangers "significantly improve your chances" of spotting free-roaming animals. Set expectations with children beforehand: Mandai says all animal encounters in the park are chance encounters that vary with time and conditions, and the calf is still getting used to his surroundings.

How much do Rainforest Wild Adventure tickets cost?

Mandai's ticket prices page, checked on 16 October 2026, lists full-park admission, which covers both the EAST and WEST zones:

• Singapore residents, weekdays (Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays): S$45 adult, S$32 child (3 to 12) or local student, S$25 senior (60 and above), with up to five Adventure+ activities included.
• Singapore residents, weekends and public holidays: S$50 adult, S$35 child or local student, S$25 senior, with up to three Adventure+ activities.
• Non-residents: S$55 adult and S$39 child on any day.
• Under 3: free with an accompanying adult aged over 21 who holds a ticket.

Mandai's main Rainforest Wild Adventure page ties the resident rate to its WildPass, which the planning guide describes as complimentary. Residents can also buy a single-zone ticket (S$35 adult, S$25 child or student, S$18 senior, with up to three Adventure+ activities on weekdays and two on weekends), which is enough for the okapi but leaves out WEST.

As an illustration, two adults and a six-year-old pay S$122 for full-park admission on a weekday (2 x S$45 + S$32) or S$135 on a weekend (2 x S$50 + S$35). The Canopy Glider is the only activity that needs booking, through the Mandai app. If you plan several Mandai visits a year, our guide to whether a family attraction pass is worth buying helps you do the sums.

Is Rainforest Wild Adventure EAST good for young children?

On Mandai's description, yes, and better than the WEST zone for little legs. The planning guide recommends families with young children or older relatives start at EAST, because its elevated walkway is fully sheltered and accessible for strollers and wheelchairs and the trails are unhurried. Along it you pass pygmy hippos, the ravine habitats and Lemur Land, a free-ranging space where lemurs and birds move around visitors without barriers.

For a gentle thrill, the guide describes the Canopy Glider as a seated cable ride "accessible enough for most age groups". Check each activity's own age and height rules on Mandai's site before promising a ride; we have not listed them here. Covered shoes are compulsory for adventure activities, according to the Rainforest Wild Adventure page.

Is it a good outing on a hazy day?

It is one of the better options, with a caveat. The planning guide says the EAST zone is "fully sheltered throughout", while WEST is a fully outdoor experience. Sheltered is not the same as indoors with filtered air, and the park's own page points visitors to haze.gov.sg for advisories. NEA's 16 October advice for children was to minimise outdoor activity; our haze and school closure guide explains how to read the forecast. On a day with a High PM2.5 reading, an indoor option such as those in our Exploria and Curiosity Cove guide may suit better.

A half-day okapi plan for families

This plan is ours, built on Mandai's published times and distances. It assumes a weekday morning and a child aged 4 to 10.

1. 9.15am: arrive at the EAST entrance, 80 Mandai Lake Road. The M2 Khatib shuttle bus links Khatib MRT station to the reserve every 15 to 20 minutes, says the planning guide.
2. 9.30am: walk the elevated walkway while it is cooler, and stop at Lemur Land.
3. 10.15am: head down the 260-metre Okapi Trek to the Hidden Forest.
4. 10.30am: Okapi Ranger Talk in the Hidden Forest.
5. 11.15am: snack at Rangers' Pitstop, then one Adventure+ activity if your child is keen.
6. 12.30pm: leave, or take the free M1 shuttle (or the 800-metre walk) to the WEST zone if energy holds.

For an afternoon visit, swap in the 3pm talk and arrive by 2pm. Children who find crowds hard may prefer a quieter weekday; our lower-sensory outing guide has a planning method.

Okapi facts for the walk there

From Mandai's okapi page, to share with your child:

• Despite the zebra-like stripes, okapis are the only living relatives of giraffes.
• They live in the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and were unknown to science until 1901.
• Their long, flexible tongue helps them grasp leaves and groom.
• They walk almost a kilometre a day for food and digest almost 30kg of plant matter daily.
• They are endangered; Mandai supports the Okapi Conservation Project.

What else to know before you go

The Rainforest Wild Adventure page lists two temporary closures: the Tiger Waterfall habitat from 5 October to 2 November 2026 (tigers can still be seen on two other treks) and the Canopy Jump from 12 October to 1 November 2026. Mandai's events page also listed a one-weekend Okapi Discovery Booth in the Hidden Forest for 17 and 18 October 2026; check it for any repeat. Bring a refillable bottle; there are water refill stations across both zones. More family outings are in our days out topic.

Common questions