Thinking of what to do this NDP weekend? Here's how you can battle zombies & visit the S’pore Zoo at 20% off

With National Day falling on a Sunday this year, Singaporeans get a three-day weekend from Aug. 8 to 10. Hooray!

If you are still deciding how to spend your time, the Mandai Wildlife Reserve might have just made that decision easier.

Beyond its usual line-up of wildlife parks, Mandai is currently hosting the Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue, the first real-life Minecraft adventure in Southeast Asia, from now till Sept. 13.

And if you are planning to make a full day of it, here is some good news: you can bundle your Minecraft Experience ticket with other Mandai attractions and save up to 20 per cent, making this NDP long weekend a good time to finally check everything off your list.

Here's a guide to the Minecraft Experience, along with three other Mandai attractions you can pair it with.

1. Minecraft Experience: Village Rescue

Before you meet Mandai's real-life animal residents, come face-to-face with some of the world's most iconic blocky creatures.

Step into the pixelated world of Minecraft at the Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue, an immersive adventure at the Green Canvas, Exhibition Hall 1 & 2. Tickets are priced at S$46 for adults and S$40 for children.

This National Day, enjoy a special promotion with tickets at just two for S$61. The offer is not valid on the long weekend, but you can redeem it for visits on any other available date.

Whether you're dodging hostile mobs lurking in dark caves or meeting friendly favourites like sheep, pigs and other familiar companions, the experience brings the beloved game to life in a way that makes you feel as though you've stepped straight into the Overworld.

The hour-long adventure begins with guests receiving an Orb of Interaction, a handheld cube that lets them interact with the world around them. Guided by Tobin and Dayo, aspiring adventurers enter The Forest, where they'll learn the basics of surviving in Minecraft by chopping wood, gathering resources and fighting off mobs.

Guests journey through three Minecraft biomes to gather resources, battle mobs in a mineshaft, conquer the Nether and defeat Blazes before returning to the village to brew a potion and discover how many villagers they saved.

As you venture through each biome, you'll come across some of Minecraft's cutest animal mobs, including the adorable panda pictured above.

After encountering Minecraft's familiar creatures in the immersive experience, visitors can continue the adventure by meeting their real-world counterparts across the wildlife parks.

2. Singapore Zoo

And with National Day just around the corner, it's the perfect time to say hello to some of the zoo's very own locally-born stars.

And of course, Ah Meng Jr., granddaughter of the legendary Ah Meng, the beloved Sumatran orangutan who greeted world leaders and millions of visitors over the years.

You'll also have the chance to meet Ayaan, the newest male Sumatran orangutan born in March. His birth marks an important milestone in years-long conservation efforts to preserve a valuable genetic line that might otherwise have been lost.

This National Day, some of Mandai's stars will also join celebrations with special presentations from Aug. 1 to Aug. 31.

Expect flag displays, birthday-themed festivities and uniquely Singaporean touches as different animals take centre stage at various locations across the park throughout the month.

Take part in the “Frame Your Wild” activity and redeem an exclusive Stars of Mandai sticker sheet featuring animals proudly born in Singapore.

And on Aug. 9 itself, keep the celebrations going with a free National Day Watch Party at Mandai Wildlife EAST. Dress in your best red and white, gather with family and friends, and catch a live stream of the nation's biggest celebration surrounded by nature and wildlife.

3. Night Safari

Prefer your wildlife encounters after dark? The Night Safari, the world's first nocturnal zoo, offers guided tram rides and walking trails through several geographical regions, where nocturnal animals such as leopards, tapirs and flying foxes are most active.

For a limited time, join the keepers for a special edition of the “Pangolin Keeper Talk” and stand a chance to spot Mandai’s first pangolin pup in a decade.

4. Exploria

Exploria takes visitors through five immersive worlds, each combining large-scale projections, interactive technology and sensory effects to bring parts of the natural world most of us rarely encounter directly to life.

It offers a gamified interactive experience, with visitors being given an RFID wristband that allows them to unlock information, collect badges and rack up points as they explore, that combines conservation education with hands-on, family-friendly play — a good option if you'd like to balance out a day of outdoor exploring.

5. Glamping in the Wild

For an even more immersive wildlife experience, check into Glamping in the Wild — Reservoir Retreat at the Mandai Wildlife Reserve.

Set against scenic reservoir views, the all-inclusive stay includes admission to the wildlife parks, curated dining, exclusive animal encounters, all while enjoying a relaxing stay surrounded by nature.

Bundle tickets

Ready to plan your visit?

You can save up to 20 per cent on your ticket when you bundle Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue with Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, Exploria, or Glamping in the wild.

What if you’re bringing the whole gang along? You can save further with the Family & Friends Bundle (minimum three pax) at S$42 per person, or the Group Bundle (minimum seven pax) at S$41 per person — worth considering if you're planning to make this an extended family or friend-group outing over the long weekend.

WildPass holders and Friends of Mandai members can also enjoy exclusive discounts.

Whether you are a longtime Minecraft player or have never touched the game, this NDP long weekend might just be the perfect excuse to head down to Mandai Wildlife Reserve and see how the two worlds — pixelated and real — come together.

Grab your bundled tickets here.

This branded article by Mandai Wildlife Group made this writer want to start fighting mobs.