Exploria & Toy Doctor at Mandai Wildlife Reserve Singapore – a preview with the Fujifilm X70

Introduction

There are some places you visit for the wlidlife, and then there are places that slowly reveal themselves as something more: a larger ecosystem of learning, family memories, play, and wonder.

Mandai Wildlife Reserve has increasingly felt like that to me with its evolution over the years, with the last big launch being Rainforest WILD ASIA Singapore (my write-up of the preview is here)

The official Exploria at Mandai Wildlife website is here.

Beyond the expectations of what we get at wildlife parks, there is now a growing sense that a day at Mandai can stretch in different directions depending on who you are with and what kind of day you need.

Some days call for long walks and animal encounters. Some days call for an indoor reset, a quieter pace, or something that still holds the attention of both children and adults in different ways.

That is what caught my eye about Exploria and Toy Doctor.

On the surface, they are very different. Exploria promises an immersive, multimedia, nature-themed experience built around interconnected worlds and interactive play. Toy Doctor, in contrast, feels intimate in that it is a space run by experts Mr Isaac Kong and Ms Pamela Theng centred on plush care, restoration, and the emotional stories attached to beloved toys.

Without ado, let’s start the exploration

Exploria – exploring & learning our interconnected 5 worlds

What I like about Exploria, at least from the way Mandai presents it, is that it does not sound like a simple “indoor attraction” tacked onto a wildlife precinct.

It sounds like an attempt to build an experience around wonder and yes, Mandai succeeded in providing a sense of awe with the Exploria venue.

Mandai describes Exploria as one of Southeast Asia’s largest indoor, nature-themed multimedia attractions, where guests journey through immersive digital expeditions into worlds that are often hidden from everyday view from prehistoric giants to microscopic life and extreme environments. A broad canvas if executed well, could be the sort of place that invites repeat visits because different details land each time.

There is something quietly meaningful about starting there. In a time where attractions can sometimes become a blur of visual spectacle, this feels like an anchor, a reminder that nature is not experienced in isolated fragments.

The part that resonates most with me is the conceptual centre: “Our Interconnected World.”, and that is what everyone sees first when you start your exploration journey after stepping through the gantry.

Learning is not by books here, but through interactions. In fact built into the Bitdeer AI Extreme Frontiers exhibit are physical rooms that allows one to feel the different climates and environments going from the Arctic to the Desert.

Exploria reminds us that: “Everything is connected. Everything affects something else”.

From the Central Atrium, visitors branch into five interactive worlds connected by the Biopool, which introduces a gamified layer through RFID wristbands, point collection, media interactives, and unlockable rewards. For children, this will likely feel like a mission. For parents, it may be a welcome structure that helps maintain momentum through a large indoor space. For many families, that combination matters more than we admit.

In fact, this was a rare occurance where my girls were really reading, watching every exhibit, engaged in learning effectively through play.

I can already imagine how this changes the rhythm of a visit. Instead of passively moving from screen to screen, children are given a role to play. They are invited to notice, to tap in, to continue, to complete. It is a design choice that encourages participation rather than just consumption.

Mandai also highlights two major show experiences: The Giants Show and The Planet Awakens Show. On paper, these sound like the narrative peaks that give shape to the overall visit. If the attraction is the journey, these may be the moments that gather the energy of the room and turn it into something memorable.

The huge globe in the center is not just a display piece, but instead an integral part of The Planet Awakens show.

Tip: DO NOT MISS The Giants Show inside the Realm of the Giants exhibit

Practically speaking, Exploria also reads like a very useful addition to the Mandai ecosystem. It can be an indoor refuge from the heat, a destination for a shorter family outing, or a carefully timed stop between outdoor park segments when younger children need a different pace. And that may be one of its strongest selling points: not only what it is, but where it fits.

Yes, you actually need a torch to explore the World of Darkness exhibit. The shot below was done using camera flash, if not the environment was basically near pitch dark in some areas within this exhibit.

The 5 Worlds aren’t similarly sized, and be ready to spend a good 3 to 5 hours if one aims to covers every single exhibit.

The Infinite Wonderland exhibit allows you to explore Earth’s most biodiverse realms, going through rainforest layers from the forest floor to the treetops and uncover the rich web of life that connects all of us.

If all goes well, Exploria may become one of those places where families arrive expecting “something fun indoors” and leave having had a surprisingly thoughtful experience.

There is also a collector’s note that will interest some visitors, Exploria works with Mighty Jaxx for a collaboration for merchandise tied to Exploria’s five worlds. A small detail perhaps, but it adds to the sense that Exploria is being built with a fuller identity, not just as a one-off installation.

In fact, your avatar is not only fully customisable and it seems that it can be saved for further exploration and progress in future visits.

Toy Doctor

If Exploria is built around immersion and scale, Toy Doctor feels like the opposite in the best possible way.

Run by two experts, Mr Isaac Kong and Ms Pamela Theng, Toy Doctor is backed by years of experience since 1996.

And perhaps because of that, while Toy Doctor may not be for everyone but it is the attraction that lingers in the heart.

The official Toy Doctor site is here.

Toy Doctor provide a wide suite of Plushie related activities, spread across the three categories of Toy treatments, Plush Rejuvenation workshops and Experiential activities.

For example, the girls attended the Inside Out Challenge, a hands-on activity designed to teach young participants about the materials used to stuff plush toys and how to properly care for them.

Beyond the Experiential activities the section I was most drawn to was actually the Toy Treatments, not just because the concept is charming, but because I arrived with something deeply personal in hand: my out of production 20 plus years old NICI Jolly Mah.

It is one of those soft toys that has quietly followed me through different seasons of life. Time has left its marks on it, as time always does: wear, age, and the gentle signs of being kept, moved, held, and remembered. To anyone else, it may look like an old plush. To me, it carries memory.

Mandai describes Toy Doctor as Southeast Asia’s first integrated plush care centre, offering toy restoration, workshops and role-play experiences. On paper, that already sounds special. But when you bring along a toy that has been with you for over two decades, the experience becomes more than a novelty. It becomes an act of care, almost a quiet way of honouring the past.

What I appreciate most is the spirit behind it: not replacement, but restoration.

There is something deeply moving about entrusting an old companion to people who understand that plush toys are not just “things.” They hold stories. They hold comfort. They hold a version of ourselves from another time. In that sense, Toy Doctor is not just about repairs. It is about preserving connection.

I have since sent in my NICI Jolly Mah for restoration, and I am genuinely hopeful.

And perhaps that is what makes Toy Doctor so compelling. In a world that often encourages us to discard and move on, this little space reminds us that some things are worth mending, especially the ones that have stayed with us the longest.

We started the day at 10:45 am and ended the day around 4:00 pm including a quick 15 mins lunch, and we covered probably at most three-quarters of Exploria and only attempted two activities from Toy Doctor.

It has been quite a while that the two girls mentioned that there’s not enough time to cover the attraction, and that to me speaks volumes about Exploria and Toy Doctor at Mandai Wildlife Reserve.

Thank you for reading.

Disclaimers:

1. All product photos and samples here were photographed by me. I believe any reviewer with pride should produce their own photos. 

2. All images were shot with my personal set of the Fujifilm X70

3. I was invited by Mandai Wildlife Group to a preview of Exploria and Toy Doctor, with complimentary tickets provided. I did not receive or accept any payment in any form for writing this preview.

4. I write as a passion and a hobby, and I appreciate that photography brands are kind enough to respect and work with me.

5. The best way to support me is to share the review, or you can always help support me by contributing to my fees to WordPress for the domain using the Paypal button at the bottom of the page.