First look: New S$550/night glamping stay near S'pore Zoo, with guided tours, buffet dinners & more

There's a new glamping option in town, and it's in the Mandai Wildlife Reserve.

The adorably-named "Colugo Camp" offers safari-style camping near the Singapore Zoo.

The catch? Prices start at S$550 per night.

More astute readers might've noticed that it's actually more expensive than the lowest-priced rooms at the Banyan Tree-operated Mandai Rainforest Resort, which start at S$305.

But why? We went for an exclusive preview of the camp to find out.

Animals galore

The first thing to note is that Colugo Camp isn't just a glamping resort.

It comes with an all-inclusive 2D1N itinerary, that encompasses all three parks in Mandai Wildlife East (admission included, of course).

So yes, you'll be seeing a lot of animals.

After checking in at 3pm, we were brought to the Singapore Zoo for the first part of the experience.

This segment was free-and-easy. But our guide did accompany us into the zoo, answering questions and pointing out interesting exhibits.

It felt a bit like a school excursion.

After a break and dinner, we were brought right back out for an evening at the Night Safari.

If you haven't been in a while — it is very, very crowded. Particularly since it was a Friday night.

Slots for the Creatures of the Night show fill up fast, and when we arrived, there was a 40 minute wait for the tram.

Fortunately, as Colugo Camp participants, we got reserved seating at the show and a private tram with live commentary.

We were really lucky and saw a few animals up close, such as the tapirs.

One was napping right next to the trail.

We were also allowed to explore the park after, but since we had yet another experience the next morning — an early-entry guided tour of River Wonders — I decided to head back early.

More on that later.

Glamping, not camping

Contrary to its name, Colugo Camp is most definitively a glamping experience.

The tent itself was snug and charmingly decorated, outfitted with fans, air-conditioning, and a desk.

There was a small outdoor seating area, overlooking the gorgeous Upper Seletar Reservoir.

They're also quite solidly weather-proof. A rainstorm unexpectedly hit at around 6am, but it was dry and cozy in the little tent.

The least glamorous part of Colugo Camp was probably the toilet situation (i.e., they're shared).

Nevertheless, they were clean and attractive. There were also enough shower cubicles that it didn't feel unpleasantly crowded.

Better than plenty of gym showers out there, in my opinion.

Nonstop food

One thing I can say about the camp: despite the packed schedule, I never went hungry.

That's because they kept feeding us.

The package covers all meals. That includes a dinner buffet and supper on the first day, and a breakfast buffet on the second.

While not particularly fancy fare, the food was wholesome, varied, and tasty.

Before the Night Safari visit on the first day, we were ushered to the dining hall for dinner.

The extensive spread included local favourites like mee goreng, cold appetisers like smoked salmon, and of course desserts.

Barely two hours later, we were given supper: a can of cold Milo and a sandwich.

And the next morning, it was back to the dining hall for a full breakfast buffet.

Needless to say, you probably won't need to pack any snacks.

Learning about animals

As an annual pass-holder, I've been to the different parks a bunch of times.

Which is why the real highlight for me was the guided tour.

While River Wonders has always been my least-favourite park — fish aren't my thing, to be honest — having a staff member there to answer questions and regale us with fun facts truly brought the experience to the next level.

For instance, did you know that manatees weigh around 2,000kg? I didn't.

The included early entry also meant we didn't have to squeeze with other guests, particular at popular exhibits like the panda pavilion.

By the end of the tour, the crowds had increased substantially.

That aside, the truth is that the whole experience was basically a guided tour.

At the Singapore Zoo, they fielded questions about the pygmy hippo and helpfully suggested alternative routes in case of rain.

And at the Night Safari, our guide accompanied us onto our private tram, pointing out the often-hidden animals and dropping more fun facts.

It was all very educational. I loved it.

Worth it?

As I mentioned before, prices start at S$550 for two people.

For three campers, it will cost S$700, and S$800 for four.

Friends of Mandai get a 15 per cent discount, and WildPass holders get 10 per cent off.

Is it cheap? Most definitely not. Even at the best-value package (S$800 plus 15 per cent off), it's still S$170 per person per night.

In Singapore, this could probably get you a pretty good hotel room.

But it'd be a mistake to compare Colugo Camp with other types of accommodation.

Considering the food, the activities, the perks, and the guides, I'd say it'd definitely be worth it for a family with young children, or an animal-loving group of friends.

Just make sure you pace yourself so you don't miss out.

Colugo Camp opens to the public on Aug. 8. More information here.

Top image by Ilyda Chua and Mandai Wildlife Reserve