The Jungle Explorer line of LEGO sets is a great way to pick up some amazing new animals and some well designed vehicles, all at a reasonable price when LEGO is considered. With 10 different animals, 6 vehicles and 6 minifigures across four sets there is a lot going on in this summer wave of LEGO City sets. Lets explore the details of all four of these sets in this mega review and determine whether these sets are worth picking up will warm the shelves.

As this set moves away from the traditional architecture and adult targetted sets I normally review I will be looking at the sets as a complete structure and how they complement each other, focusing on the sets’ appeal at the intended 6+ age group, not just from an adults’ perspective. I will be breaking up this review into a section for each set and a combined

About the sets

The Jungle Explorer line of LEGO sets releases as part of the summer wave of LEGO city sets and consists of four sets, #60437 Jungle Explorer Helicopter at Base Camp, #60426 Jungle Explorer Off-Road Truck, #60425 Jungle Explorer Water Plane and #60424 Jungle Explorer ATV Red Panda Mission.

The sets are released to the European market on the 1st of June 2024, with North America seeing the sets released on the same date with the exception of the largest set coming out a whopping two months later on the 1st of August 2024. Seeing such a big difference sparks curiosity, with me wondering whether this was demand or production based. With the sets being intended for ages 6+, with the largest set #60437 Jungle Explorer Helicopter at Base Camp being for ages 8+ it is important to remember that this set is designed for children not adults.

Jungle Explorer ATV Red Panda Mission

The smallest of the sets doesn’t mean its the worst. #60424 Jungle Explorer ATV Red Panda Mission is priced at $10.99 (£8.99/€9.99) and comes at a price per piece of 11.9c (9.8p/10.9c). While not significant, this set highlights LEGO’s price rises fairly well as a set that would normally be priced at $9.99 is instead sold for $1 more in the American market. When compared to some of the larger sets that usually have a Euro to Dollar parity we see this 10% difference creep in.

The first thing that I saw when building this set was the inclusion of the iconic Johnny Thunder. Making his first appearance in 1998 as part of the ever popular Adventurers line, as well as a series of other LEGO sets it is great to see this modern rendition of the minifigure return in this set. This set includes one minifigure, a small vehicle in the form of an ATV, a habitat for the red panda and a newly molded red panda.

While small this set is a great entry point to the Jungle Explorer wave of sets and packs a good punch.

Although small the ATV is built with great details, utilizing a mixture of larger parts for the frame and smaller parts for details. The base colors of 106Bright OrangeOrange, 140Earth BlueDark Blue and 1White form the basis of the color palette that will be used for the rest of the set. The ATV itself is simple yet compact and has great mobility allowing for a fun play feature as it rolls around your tables or floors. Although small it packs a punch.

The small ATV highlights the color scheme that will be used for all of the vehicles in this wave.

Aside from Johnny Thunder, the Panda is the likely star of this set. Using a new mold this is a great affordable way to pick up this adorable animal, I only wish this set contained two of them as that is the count we have seen for other small animals released recently at this price point. The habitat itself does what it needs to do to create a small space for the Red Panda but is not notable enough to discuss. The designers ensured to keep the piece count low to allow the focus to sit on the rest of the build.

The red panda is the highlight of this set.

All things considered, this is a great set and a wonderful way to pick up an iconic figure, a cool animal and even a vehicle at a very reasonable price. I give #60424 Jungle Explorer ATV Red Panda Mission a 3/5 (Good) rating.

Jungle Explorer Water Plane

The second smallest set of the series #60425 Jungle Explorer Water Plane is priced at $22.99 (£19.99/€22.99) and comes with 177 pieces. On a price per piece this comes worse than the former set with a price per piece of 13.0c (11.3p/13.0c). Continuing the trend we saw with the first set we have a small animal habitat and a vehicle being the main builds for the set, only this time each being larger.

The set itself comes with two minifigures, a sea pane, a small swamp build for the crocodiles and four animals.

For double the price we get quadruple the animals.

The sea plane once again sees the use of 106Bright OrangeOrange, 140Earth BlueDark Blue and 1White to highlight the themes’ main colors. Through use of 2×2 Tile, Triangular the designers allowed the colors of the cockpit to transition into each other with a fun nice angled pattern. The build itself is rather dense and has enough room to fit two minifigures, both of which can be placed into the plane by lifting off the roof. Unfortunately due to how the wings are held in place by the roof, should the roof be removed the wings can fall off the side, something that can be resolved relatively easily. With this being a small build it fits easily in ones hand and allows for some fun play through it being swooshable. The use of a 3L Bar in 26Black to add supports for the wings not only allows for some great color contrast but also adds detail to the plane to add a little more realism.

The water plane is compact and sturdy.

As we get bigger and bigger sets the designers have more ability to build out the animal habitats, and this is evident in the swamp like habitat for the crocodiles. The combination of earthy colors in 138Sand YellowDark Tan and 330Olive Green create a very swampy feel, something reinforced through it being a biome where crocodiles live. Blending against this rocks are formed in 199Dark Stone GreyDark Bluish Gray and 194Medium Stone GreyLight Bluish Gray colors through use of various sized slopes to build irregularity. Through Studs Not On Top building techniques we even see rocks built on its side to get rid of the regularity that smooth bricks bring. Living in this swampy habitat are two crocodiles. While the crocodiles in 330Olive Green use an existing mold, this is the first time they are seen in this new color so getting two is appreciated. In this set is also a recolor of the baby crocodile in 151Sand Green, something that is also exclusive to this set. While there are many new recolors included with the animals, one that is not recolored is the frog. LEGO’s inclusion of frogs in sets has been an inside joke, however, in this context its presence makes sense. While the habitat itself is spaced it fit two crocodiles, this set contains two. While I will never say no to more animals I feel the inclusion of the second crocodile does not add much to this set, I would have rather seen a lower price or more details to the build.

Unlike the red panda’s habitat, this build has substance.

While the set itself is a fun build it also doesn’t blow me away and is a set that is fun when you have it, but are not missing out if you don’t. Of all the animals in this wave the ones included in this set are the weakest. Considering the set as a while, I give #60425 Jungle Explorer Water Plane a 3/5 (Good) rating.

Jungle Explorer Off-Road Truck

As we move into the larger sets of this wave we see more and more details becoming visible. Including 314 pieces #60426 Jungle Explorer Off-Road Truck comes to shelves with a price of $34.99 (£24.99/€29.99) and a price per piece of 11.1c (8.0p/9.6c). The pricing of this set is another example of the price rise we have seen in LEGO, with it almost seeming as if LEGO is pricing in inevitable sales into their prices, with US prices being over 10% higher. Prices aside, the set itself is still one that feels like it comes with a lot for its price point, including three minifigures, a reasonably sized vehicle, two animals and a large habitat.

Of the minifigures included in this we once again see Johnny Thunder included. I am glad this minifigure is included in smaller sets and is not just locked behind the larger set as this iconic minifigure should be attainable by even the most casual of fans.

This build has everything, from a detailed habitat, to great figures and a awesome vehicle.

While likely repetitive at this point we see a lot of the same techniques and colors of the other vehicles used in the truck with 106Bright OrangeOrange, 140Earth BlueDark Blue and 1White being the predominant colors yet again. The same blend in colors through angles is achieved, only this time with there being added stickers to add even more details. Through use of large wheels the truck feels rigid and sturdy, elevating the vehicle above the ground. While likely a nominal inclusion, the use of a storage chest with a 2×4 Treasure Chest Lid, Flat w/ 2-Studs in 316Titanium MetallicPearl Dark Gray makes for a great storage container. By having it be built on its side the container can be opened up to create a small table like space highlighting the multi purpose look it attempts to create. While not good for the environment, the inclusion of the front exhaust fumes captures the off road and rigid look of the truck, while adding a little depth to the sides so that the vehicle does not look blocky front on.

Every part of the truck is packed with details.

When you open up the truck you can see that there are more details within. The remote wildlife camera that is attached to the bed of the truck relays a live feed into the monitor within the truck, allowing whoever is viewing from a safe space to see the tiger. Through use of ball joints the the camera can be angled however desired, or can instead be folded up to sit in the truck bed. The truck itself has enough space to seat two minifigures, leaving the third in this set to have to sit in the bed of the vehicle. The designers put a lot of attention into the details of this set, for example through the inclusion of the railing in 26Black through use of the simple 6L Bar w/ Stop Ring. The designers could have just left the surface of this edge flat, but through the use of just two additional pieces we not only get added colors but also texture with the bars being rounded and smaller when compared to traditional bricks.

The camera allows people to see the tiger from a safe distance.

While the truck sets a high bar the habitat goes a step further and captures the space beautifully. The use of slopes and arches in 199Dark Stone GreyDark Bluish Gray and 194Medium Stone GreyLight Bluish Gray as with the swamp capture the rocky space elegantly, once again ensuring that we have a natural feel to it. To break up the uniformity of colors and shapes both 1089Warm TanMedium Tan and 151Sand Green flat and rounded plates are layered between the bricks in a calculated but random manner. The habitat that is built looks to be the opening of a cave. While the back remains open, this is a great example of how we have to use our creativity otherwise a large number of pieces would be used driving price up or requiring detail cuts elsewhere. Sitting besides the opening is a simple 192Reddish Brown tree that is built using common techniques, utilizing a 1×5×4 Bow to capture the curvature of branches. Included in this set are two animals, the first of which is the tiger. It surprises me that LEGO has not released a tiger before this set, with its vibrant colors and new molds standing out a lot more compared to the other big cats we have seen included in the past. This wave of sets continue to blow the animals created out of the water and I hope LEGO finds a reason to include these animals in other sets in the future. The second animal in this set is another frog, while again nothing to write home about it is still an animal so is worth calling out.

Another frog makes an appearance in this habitat.

From great minifigure selection, an awesome new tiger to a fleshed out habitat, this set has all you want for a reasonable price. While Johnny Thunder can be purchased in a cheaper set, the inclusion of this iconic character in this set is welcome. I give #60425 Jungle Explorer Water Plane a 4/5 (Excellent) rating.

Jungle Explorer Helicopter at Base Camp

The biggest of the sets and the headliner is #60437 Jungle Explorer Helicopter at Base Camp. With 881 pieces and priced at $99.99(£89.99/€99.99) this set comes at a price per piece of 11.3c(10.2p/11.3c). While a little higher on the price side it is point out that this set includes five minifigures, some very large pieces to build the helicopter and three gorillas which include two new molds, something that contributes to the higher price point.

This set does not mess around when it comes to size.

Although this set focuses heavily on aerial vehicles with the helicopter there is a small airboat included in this build that fits perfectly with the #60425 Jungle Explorer Water Plane should you pick up both sets. This small build does not use many pieces and looks similar to airboats we have seen in past city sets, instead with the main differentiator being the color match to the rest of the Jungle Explorer sets. Although small and not adding a ton to me, it is still a nice addition as gives you more vehicles to build out your scene.

A small airboat fits into the theme of the sets.

Probably the most basic of all the vehicles is the motorbike. With this being the first motorbike I have built I was intrigued to learn that the motorbike itself is made up of multiple pieces, with the 140Earth BlueDark Blue exterior sliding onto the chassis. With the exterior details having exposed studs it allows the builder to build small detailing that you can attach to the bike to enhance it, as is done with this set. A great way to build some details on a small vehicle. Unfortunately the vehicle does not stand upright on its own, requiring it to lean against something or be held by a minifigure to stay upright.

You can never get enough of the motorbike piece.

In my opinion the weakest build is the base camp. When I hear base camp I think of a grand structure where the characters can call home, but what we get instead is a small, fitting entirely on a 8×8 Plate w/ Grille. The build itself is rather simple, with the highlight being the computer which uses a Book Cover with a sticker as the monitor. While the build is nothing to write home about, it is designed to slot into the hanger of the helicopter, and is likely why the designers tried to restrict it to the small size it is.

The base camp feels rather lacking.

The helicopter itself is the highlight of the set, once again utilizing the 106Bright OrangeOrange, 140Earth BlueDark Blue and 1White colors in abundance. The helicopter itself is built up mostly using technic pieces, this allowing it to have a rigid yet sturdy structure and to allow for the mechanism that allows the propellers to spin. Sitting at the back of the helicopter is a dial that when turned spins that propellers at a alarmly fast rate. The technic structure of the helicopter is hidden very well hidden, with the designers using smooth pieces such as slopes to not only allow for a nice studless finish, but also to build out the rounded shape of the helicopter. A bunch of creative uses of unconvential parts is adopted, most of which are used only for a small detail of the part. For example on the roof of the helicopter 8L Coaster Track, Straight are used to create a 26Black railing detail effect. The central transport hold in the helicopter is sized to allow the base camp we talked about earlier to fit in, alternatively can also be used to store vehicles or minifigures. The side of the helicopter has a supporting barrier that can be raised or lowered to ensure that whatever is put inside is held in place snugly without it falling out. While it blends in seamlessly, there are a number of stickers utilized in the build to capture details, but they are not notable enough to call out for either positive or negative reasons. Although a large vehicle it is still very easy to hold in your hands and is a 8/10 on a swooshable scale, with the spinning propellers adding to the fun. At the end of the day this set is a childs toy and the helicopter is a great build for its playability.

The propellers can be spun using a dial at the back of the vehicle.

The back of the helicopter can be opened and and has a large amount of space in the cargo hold to fit animals and small vehicles alike. All of the smaller vehicles including the air boat, ATV and motorbike can fit in the back, along with one of each animal. This multi purpose space is a great way to pack some of the vehicles in when done playing to take up less space.

There is a lot of space in the cargo for animals and vehicles.

The cockpit sitting at the front of the helicopter is very large and takes up a third of the structure. Maybe it is the star wars in me but when the cover is removed it reminds me of the cockpit of the Millenium Falcon in the Star Wars franchise. Although Han Solo and Chewbacca will not be piloting this Helicopter there is a ton of space for four minifigures and accessories to fit in. Although there is a lot of space, unfortunately due to the inclusion of five minifigures in this set it means that one minifigure will not be able to sit in the cockpit as it flies. The cockpit itself is entirely brick built, not utilizing any pre-built cockpits. This allows the designers to create a very unique shape and round it off beautifully. The lack of exposed studs and the curves blend well with the rest of the heclicopter, and in my opinion allows this section to be the highlight of the vehicle.

There is room for four minifigures seated in the cockpit.

While each of the other sets comes with one habitat section, this comes with three. The main habitat although large in my opinion is not the best. With the tiger den in #60426 Jungle Explorer Off-Road Truck in my opinion being a better habitat build. The structure itself continues to utilize the jagged edges of slopes to build out a rocky structure with plants growing atop it. While not disappointing, the main habitat does what it needs to do to provide detailing and a space for the gorillas to rest. In my opinion the two side builds are stronger than the main build when looked at it from the front, with the use of colors and the new fruit piece doing the heavy lifting for the main build. While the build itself is average, what does stand out is the phenomenal gorilla molds. This set could have contained just one adult gorilla and I am sure many would be satisfied, but by including two of these new molds those buying this set solely for the gorilla will be satisifed. Not only does this set include adult gorillas but there is also a brand new baby gorilla mold included as well. The animals included in this habitat make up for any of the shortcomings of the build, and when looking at it all together your eyes immediately draw to the gorillas. The designers ensured that in the habitat they utilized as few colors that blend closely with the black of the gorilla, thus allowing the gorilla to stand out and catch your attention immediately.

The gorillas are the highlight of this wave.

The designers ensured that details are seen from all angles. If you turn this build around you can see a lot of effort was put into ensuring the the back is presentable, with each of the build being displayable from all angles. I love when people create plants using non foliage pieces, and this is done in the using a Crown, 5-Points in 1White to represent petals. This plant sits underneath the platform and grows out of water in the alcove beneath.

Details can be found at all angles.

A new fruit piece is included in this set, this piece closely resembles a mango and comes in a beautiful 226Cool YellowBright Light Yellow color. With this piece having a exposed bar at the top, it allows it to be attached to other pieces and even held by clips. In this set it hangs from the trees.

A new fruit piece is included in this set, these closely resemble mangos.

The small stream habitat highlights how a lot can be done with very few pieces. The biggest piece included is 6x2x2 Curved w/ Bar in 42Transparent Light BlueTrans-Light Blue that is used to represent flowing water in a stream. The majority of the pieces in this subsection use simple studs or tiles, but through use of varying colors and patterns actually makes for a great scene. When compared to the habitat built in #60424 Jungle Explorer ATV Red Panda Mission we can see that small builds don’t necessarily have to be parts fodder and can capture a lot of details.

The side builds add neat transitions between the habitats.

From the gorillas to the minifigures and helicopter the set itself is fun to put together and has some great playability. Despite this however when compared to other sets outside of this line it is a set that is either very desirable or missable. Although I had fun putting it together, had I not received this set as a review copy I would be hard-pressed to rush to pick it up, instead relying on bricklink or bricks and pieces to buy the animals at a more afforadable price. This set is still a steep ask with it coming at $99.99, although when compared to licensed sets in this price point you get more for your buck. For the rating of #60437 Jungle Explorer Helicopter at Base Camp I was between two ratings, and ultimately decided that a respectable 3/5 (Good) rating was what it deserves, especially when compared to other sets at the higher ratings. While this is still a great set, I am sure if you are on the fence for price reasons we will see this set hit at least 20% off at most reputable retailers so you can pick it up when the price is more palatable.

Combination

When all sets are put together you can see how the designers built this wave of set as a collection of sets, each complementing the other sets beautifully. When you start by just looking at the vehicles you can see the color palette that been referenced in this review numerous times come through in full force. This shows the designers took care to ensure that each vehicle looks like they come from the same source. The vehicles included in this set cover the entire spectrum, whhether it is land, water or air, allowing the builder to buy whatever set fits their preferred vehicle niche the best. One of the highlights of this wave is that the majority of the minifigures can be acquired through purchase of the smaller sets, with likely the most desirable figure, Johnny Thunder, coming in the cheapest set. This means that should you not wish to buy #60437 Jungle Explorer Helicopter at Base Camp you can still get five out of the six minifigures.

A variety of vehicles are included across the sets.

The clips on the back of each habitat section allow them to be displayed in a myriad of different ways to show off the sets. The designers took care to ensure that the colors and pieces allow for a seamless transition, ensuring that they don’t look out of place when connected.

When connected together you can see how the habitats blend into each other.

All of the habitats can also be arrange in a circle if you would like them all facing outwards. The scene can be configured however you desire.

The habitats can be connected in a variety of different ways.

Each of the four sets comes with a printed 2×2 Tile, each depicting a fragment of a map based on the Jungle Explorer’s journey. Each map piece when connected together forms a path that highlights the animals that are included in this wave of sets. Interestingly there are some landmarks in this map, such as the volcano, which do not exist, which could be foreshadowing a future set. The addition of each of these tiles serves as a collectible, nudging people to buy all four sets to complete their map.

Each set comes with its own piece of the map.

Minifigures

There are six different minifigures included across the four sets, with 11 minifigures total including duplicates across the four sets. As the Jungle Explorer subtheme focuses heavily on photography and medicine, these minifigures embody the researches well. The designers did a great job ensuring that there is a good gender split across the minifigures with there being 3 male and 3 female characters. The standout minifigure included is Johnny Thunder, a minifigure that was first seen in the Adventurers theme back in 1998. As this is a minifigure we have seen before it is important to highlight that LEGO’s shift away from violence and weapons is evident, with this minifigure no longer brandishing a pistol on his torso. Each of the minifigures has beautiful torso printing, with three of them having leg printing that shows pockets. Each of the leg prints are the same but it is a great versatile print that I am sure will see use in mocs. With each character having flair, you can see their personalities come through from their facial expressions, attire and even hair. My favorite of the figures is the second minifigure in the image below, solely due to LEGO’s decision to give him 323AquaLight Aqua hands to show him wearing nitrile gloves, highlighting his role in handling the animals.

A selection of six great minifigures are included in this wave.

Animals

This set comes with a whopping 11 different animal molds and colors, with some animals seeing repetition across the two sets. The tiger, red panda, and both baby and adult gorilla use new molds that I hope we will see again, with the crocodile and baby crocodile leveraging existing molds in different colors. The animals are likely the highlight of this wave for most people buying the sets so it is great to see a variety of them. I do wish however that we saw one more red panda, but fortunately with it coming in the cheapest set, should one wish to have more they can either purchase another copy of the set or pick up the red panda on bricklink or bricks and pieces for a reasonable price. While the spider, frogs and butterfly are not new animals, they are still great inclusions, as the smaller animals help build the scene. While not easily posed this set also comes with a fish that is part of the stream in #60437 Jungle Explorer Helicopter at Base Camp.

Ten different animals are included in this wave. (Photo: Tom Alphin)

While the designers could have just included one gorilla it is great that we saw two adult gorillas included. These gorillas are posable and even have the ability to hold pieces due to their left hand having a built in clip. The new fruit piece included in this set fits into the gorilla’s hand perfectly, allowing you to pose the gorilla as if it is eating the fruit.

The adult gorilla is able to hold items in its hands.

Conclusion

While the sets themselves were not sets I would have rushed to the stores to get I also acknowledge that I am not the target audience. The sets themselves however are all good, with a large variety of builds and a great selection of animals and minifigures highlighting the set. While price was brought up in the review these did not make much of an impact on my assessment as at this point it is just assumed that LEGO prices are higher, in alignment with the price rises we see in the rest of our day to day lives. With this in mind this wave of sets will likely end up going on sale and you can likely pick them up for at least 20% off on most common retailers (bar the official LEGO store) not too long after release. These fun sets fortunately don’t come at too high of a price tag, and while you can pick up all for under $200, just spending a fraction of that can allow you to have some great sets.

Summer 2024 Jungle Explorer sets.

Each of the sets reviewed in this article and my ratings for them can be found below. If I had to pick just one set, I would recommend #60426 Jungle Explorer Off-Road Truck because it offers the most bang for your bucks.

• #60437 Jungle Explorer Helicopter at Base Camp – 3/5 Stars (Good) rating
• #60426 Jungle Explorer Off-Road Truck – 4/5 Stars (Recommended) rating
• #60425 Jungle Explorer Water Plane – 3/5 Stars (Good) rating
• #60424 Jungle Explorer ATV Red Panda Mission – 3/5 Stars (Good) rating