A Wildly Horse-picious Lunar New Year at the Mandai Wildlife Reserve
Gallop into the Year of the Horse and ring in the Lunar New Year at the Mandai Wildlife Reserve from 17 February to 3 March 2026 with a festive line-up of activities across Mandai Wildlife East and Mandai Wildlife West. Guests will be welcomed by vibrant displays and interactive photo-worthy installations, including calligraphy topiaries spelling “马” (horse), bringing the Year of the Horse to life. From auspicious gold coins to specially themed animal enrichment, and engaging digital trails, there are plenty of activities to bring joy, luck and blessings for the year ahead.
Image 1: Grevy’s zebras enjoy Lunar New Year-themed enrichment with carrot ice balls, inspired by mandarin oranges, and ‘firecrackers’ as symbols of celebration and good fortune.
Image 2: Meet the smallest breed of horses in the world, falabellas up close in the newly launched Hello from the Wild: Horse. Learn all about their gentle and curious demeanours from their keepers at Singapore Zoo’s KidzWorld.
Photo credit: Mandai Wildlife Group
Be among the first 188 visitors each day at Curiosity Cove, the newly opened indoor playscape, or any of the five wildlife parks – Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, River Wonders, Bird Paradise and Rainforest Wild Asia – to receive a limited-edition gold coin embossed with the year’s zodiac animal. This exclusive collectible makes a special keepsake for the festive season.
Animal ambassadors take centre stage during presentations, unveiling festive greetings and “selecting” lucky numbers, adding a playful touch to the celebrations. Across the precinct’s five wildlife parks, visitors can also observe animals participating in festive-themed enrichment activities. At Singapore Zoo’s Wild Africa, watch the Grevy’s zebras, the largest and most threatened species of zebras in the wild, as they explore themed enrichment activities designed to engage their senses while encouraging natural foraging behaviours. Be sure to say hello to the female zebra foal who is just three months old and already winning the hearts of visitors! This “stripe of good fortune” is a joyful reminder of the new beginnings the season represents, and a timely symbol of balance, harmony and luck.
Breakfast in the Wild, Singapore Zoo’s iconic experience, continues to delight guests with hearty meals and encounters with animal ambassadors such as the orangutan, African penguin and the Bengal eagle owl. This Lunar New Year, the experience gets a festive twist with special appearances from the loveable falabellas – the world’s smallest breed of horses – captivating guests with their gentle charm. To mark the Year of the Horse, Singapore Zoo is also launching a brand-new experience, Hello from the Wild: Horse. Guided by animal keepers, guests can enjoy an up-close interactive encounter with a pony and falabellas, learning about these gentle and curious animals.
Continue the fun and embark on the Horse-picious digital trails on the Mandai App to unlock clues, discover fun facts and reveal each park’s star animal. Completing the trail earns a limited-edition keychain as a memento of the visit to the Mandai Wildlife Reserve. Young visitors can also join Ranger Buddies characters Al and Min for a “Huat’s Up Ranger Buddies” celebration, featuring craft workshops at Curiosity Cove and discounts when they purchase mission kits at Singapore Zoo!
After exploring the parks, visitors can browse retail outlets across the Mandai Wildlife Reserve for festive apparel and accessories – from tangerine bags, purses to red packets made from plantable paper that grow into flowers and herbs.
With wildlife encounters, engaging trails, seasonal shopping, and family-friendly programmes, the Mandai Wildlife Reserve offers a memorable way for families to welcome the Lunar New Year and create lasting traditions together. Local residents with WildPass enjoy all-year-round discounted access to the five parks and Curiosity Cove, from S$31.50. WildPass holders receive free entry for themselves when accompanied by one paying adult during their birthday month, providing a memorable way to celebrate a special day surrounded by wildlife and family fun.
For more information on the Horse-picious New Year, visit www.wildcny.sg
Image 3: Spot the striking Malayan tapir with its distinctive black and white coloured pattern at Rainforest Wild Asia’s Watering Hole as it enjoys Lunar New Year goodies shaped like a horse! Photo credit: Mandai Wildlife Group
Image 4: Be among the first 188 visitors at each of the wildlife parks and Curiosity Cove to receive a collectible gold coin embossed with this year’s zodiac animal, the horse. Photo credit: Mandai Wildlife Group
Image 5: Lunar New Year-themed exclusive merchandise available at retail stores across the Mandai Wildlife Reserve. Photo credit: Mandai Wildlife Group
KEY ACTIVITIES & PROMOTIONS AT A GLANCE: GALLOP INTO A HORSE-PICIOUS NEW YEAR! (17 FEB – 3 MAR 2026)
For more information on the activities, please visit: www.wildcny.sg
Activities |
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Public Spaces – Mandai Wildlife East and Mandai Wildlife West |
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Lion Dance Performances Experience the vibrant energy of lion dance performances across the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, symbolising prosperity, good fortune and celebration while enlivening the festive spirit. |
Date: 17, 18, 21, 22, 28 Feb & 1 Mar 2026 Time: 9.30am Venue: Entrance of Bird Paradise, Mandai Wildlife West Time: 11am Venue: Open area outside multi-story car park, Mandai Wildlife East |
Singapore Zoo |
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Festive Animal Presentations Welcome the Lunar New Year with our animal ambassadors! At Splash Safari and Into the Wild animal presentations, meet our playful animals like sea lions and many more at Singapore Zoo’s Shaw Amphitheatre as they bring festive greetings to guests. |
Date: 17 Feb – 3 Mar 2026 Splash Safari Time: 10.30am & 5pm, daily Venue: Shaw Amphitheatre, Singapore Zoo Into the Wild Time: 12pm & 2.30pm, daily Venue: Shaw Amphitheatre, Singapore Zoo |
Hello from the Wild: Horse Meet the gentle and curious pony and falabellas – the world’s smallest breed of horses – at Singapore Zoo’s KidzWorld. The 20-minute guided session features up-close interactions and opportunities to gently groom the falabellas and participate in target training activities with the pony. Led by their keepers, the experience offers insight into the animals’ unique personalities and characteristics.
*Guests are advised to wear covered shoes for this programme and must be at least 1.2 metres in height. Price does not include park admission.
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Date: 15 Feb 2026 onwards, on Tuesdays and Sundays Time: 10.30am – 10.50am (20 mins) Venue: KidzWorld, Singapore Zoo Capacity: Up to 8 pax Price:
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Festive Star Animal Enrichment – Grevy’s ebra Watch our Grevy’s zebras explore festive enrichment, including hanging treats, firecracker-inspired devices and more. Be sure to look out for our newest zebra foal at Wild Africa. For an up-close encounter with our zebras, join the feeding sessions at $8 per food portion. Proceeds go towards supporting the care of our animals and conservation efforts in the region. |
Date: 17 Feb – 3 Mar 2026 Time: 10.15am & 2.15pm, daily Venue: Wild Africa, Singapore Zoo |
Festive Pack Walk* Wrap up your day at KidzWorld with a festive Pack Walk, where more adorable falabellas join in the fun in celebration of the Lunar New Year. *Weather permitting |
Date: 17 Feb – 3 Mar 2026 Time: 4.15pm Venue: Animal Buddies (stage), KidzWorld, Singapore Zoo |
River Wonders |
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Festive Animal Presentation Meet our African grey parrot as it reveals lucky numbers for the year. |
Date: 17 Feb – 3 Mar 2026 Once Upon a River Time: 11.30am, 2.30pm & 4.30pm, daily Venue: Boat Plaza, River Wonders |
Festive Star Animal Enrichment – Brazilian tapir Set sail on a boat adventure and keep an eye out for the Brazilian tapirs as they forage for food from their festive-themed enrichment such as large red packets, lanterns and firecracker-inspired devices. |
Date: 17 Feb – 3 Mar 2026 Time: 2pm, daily Venue: Amazon River Quest, River Wonders |
Night Safari |
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Festive Star Animal Enrichment – Indian rhino Watch our majestic Indian rhinos graze as they explore Lunar New Year-themed enrichment, grazing on treats from large red packets and bamboo ‘firecrackers’ hung from trees. These enrichment activities are designed to bring out these gentle giants’ explorative instincts! |
Date: 17 Feb – 3 Mar 2026 Time: 7pm – 12, daily Venue: Indian Rhino Exhibit, Night Safari |
Bird Paradise |
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Festive Animal Presentation Celebrate a wild Lunar New Year with our feathered friends! Enjoy a delightful moment as a sulphur-crested cockatoo presents an auspicious red packet to a lucky guest, and watch our vibrant macaws gather mandarin oranges and more! |
Date: 17 Feb – 3 Mar 2026 Wings of the World Time: 12.30pm & 5pm, daily Venue: Sky Amphitheatre, Bird Paradise |
Festive Star Animal Enrichment – wattled crane Observe how our wattled cranes express natural abilities through sensory enrichment with a Lunar New Year twist. Be amazed by how they retrieve food hidden inside ‘firecracker’ tubes and large wooden Chinese characters at Rwanda Nyungwe Forest Heart of Africa. |
Date: 17 Feb – 3 Mar 2026 Time: 10am – 1pm, daily Venue: Rwanda Nyungwe Forest Heart of Africa, Bird Paradise |
Rainforest Wild Asia |
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Festive Star Animal Enrichment – Malayan tapir Spot the striking Malayan tapirs with their distinctive black-and-white patterns, which can make them look like a boulder! These fast, agile swimmers use their trunk to snorkel and rely on it to explore objects around them or bring food to their mouths! Watch how they interact with festive Lunar New Year enrichment at their habitat at the Watering Hole. |
Date: 17 Feb – 3 Mar 2026 Time: 10.30am & 3.30pm, daily Venue: Watering Hole, Rainforest Wild Asia |
Promotions |
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Mandai App: A Horse-picious Digital Trail Embark on digital trails to uncover the Lunar New Year star animals of each wildlife park. Unlock clues as you explore and solve them on the Mandai App – gather all five clues to reveal the park’s star animal and redeem an exclusive Lunar New Year-themed keychain*. *Limited to the first 150 redemptions per day. |
Date: 17 Feb – 23 Feb 2026 Venue: Singapore Zoo, River Wonders, Night Safari, Bird Paradise and Rainforest Wild Asia |
