<p>Play behaviour in adult animals is often overlooked, particularly in free-ranging populations where it occurs less frequently than in juveniles. We investigated play behaviour and its associated behavioural sequences in urban-dwelling colonies of adult yellow mongooses (<i>Cynictis penicillata</i>), a species in which play has not previously been described. Using direct observations and continuous video footage, we quantified the occurrence and types of play, identified accompanying play signals and analysed the behaviours preceding and following play bouts. Play was consistently present across colonies, with social play being more frequent than either locomotor or object play. Play sessions typically began with identifiable play invitations, including play bows, which were often followed by nape bites. Behavioural sequences were analysed to describe the typical flow of actions in play events and revealed consistent patterns within and across colonies. Vigilance behaviour was more commonly observed following play bouts, suggesting a potential shift in attentional state. Our study provides one of the first detailed accounts of play in this species and contributes to a growing body of descriptive work on adult play in carnivores. These findings expand our understanding of the social behaviour of yellow mongooses and offer a baseline for future comparative studies.</p>