iP2 Group and Walltopia have expanded their strategic partnership with a market-ready mini theme park format designed for compact urban leisure spaces.
The turnkey product is based on iP2’s ZAFARI intellectual property and has been developed for sites of 500 to 1,000 sq m. It is aimed at property developers, mall owners and entertainment operators seeking a differentiated family entertainment concept that can fit within smaller footprints while offering stronger theming than a generic play centre.
For the location-based entertainment sector, the collaboration addresses a clear market need. Urban retail and mixed-use assets are increasingly looking for compact attractions that can drive footfall, support dwell time and justify premium pricing. At the same time, operators want formats that reduce development complexity and can be delivered with greater cost and programme certainty.
ZAFARI Provides The Creative Framework
The mini theme park uses the ZAFARI IP, a jungle-based world with colourful characters and an active exploration format. iP2 is already developing three ZAFARI venues in the Middle East, giving the concept an existing commercial foundation.
Within the compact model, the ZAFARI world is combined with Walltopia’s climbing attractions, ropes courses, slides, interactive play elements and multi-level structures. The result is a high-energy indoor entertainment product that uses physical activity as the main experience driver.
Characters including Zoomba and Pokey are planned for meet-and-greets and live interaction, adding a performance element to the attraction. iP2’s digital missions also form part of the offer, encouraging children to move through the venue, discover clues, earn badges and unlock rewards. This gamified structure is designed to support repeat visits by giving guests reasons to return and continue the story.
Turnkey Model Reduces Delivery Complexity
A key feature of the iP2 and Walltopia offer is its “park in a box” structure. Branded entertainment projects often require owners to coordinate several separate parties, from IP holders and attraction suppliers to food and beverage consultants, media teams and retail partners.
The ZAFARI mini theme park format brings these elements into a single pre-planned package. iP2 manages the IP, concept design, guest flow, digital engagement tools, attraction media and character integration. Walltopia leads the physical attraction design, engineering, manufacturing, installation, themed production and certification.
The physical attractions will be developed in line with EN and ASTM safety standards, supported by Walltopia’s ISO 9001-certified manufacturing. For investors and operators, this approach can make planning more predictable by reducing the number of interfaces during design, build and pre-opening.
The model also includes a pre-opening operations toolkit with standard operating procedures, staffing schedules and marketing visuals for local launch activity. This is important for operators entering family entertainment for the first time or for landlords seeking a replicable leisure concept across several sites.
F&B And Retail Built Into The Revenue Model
The format includes a fully designed ZAFARI mini café, allowing operators to add food and beverage revenue without sourcing a separate hospitality design partner. This supports dwell time and gives parents a clearer role within the visit.
Retail has also been planned from the start. iP2 and partner B2M have created a ZAFARI merchandise line including plush toys, apparel, accessories, activity sets, storybooks and interactive play items. By embedding retail into the concept, the model gives franchisees a ready-made secondary spend programme linked directly to the IP and digital missions.
Relevance For Developers And Operators
As retail destinations shift towards experience-led uses, compact branded attractions are becoming more important within tenant mix planning. The ZAFARI format gives mall owners and entertainment providers a packaged solution that combines IP, active play, digital engagement, food and beverage, merchandise and operations.
For Experience UK’s audience, the partnership is relevant because it shows how themed entertainment products are being designed for scalability, not just spectacle. By combining iP2’s IP development with Walltopia’s attraction manufacturing and delivery capability, the companies are presenting a practical model for urban family entertainment in smaller spaces.
The concept will be presented at IAAPA Expo Europe 2026 at ExCeL London, where iP2 and Walltopia will meet operators and developers exploring compact LBE formats.
