Wild Cebu Safari Adventure

“All around you are spirits, child. They live in the earth, the water, the sky. If you listen, they will guide you.”

-Grandmother Willow

We share the Earth with different plants and animals but, as humans, we very rarely even notice how these animals are around us, except for dogs and cats, maybe.

As kids, we grew up browsing through Biology books where pictures of animals we have no chance of seeing in person are printed. Well, this is something my friends don’t want their kids to experience so even if it is a bit on the hefty side, they raised money to bring their kids to Cebu Safari and Adventure Park.

QUICK FACTS:

Location: Toril, Carmen, Cebu

Transport options:

-          Buses are plying the Cebu-Carmen route daily. From the public market, you can hop on a habal-habal to get to the park.

-          Alternatively, you can ask to be dropped off the plaza fronting the municipal hall where a shuttle service to the park is available at P100 per head.

-          Use a private vehicle which is the most convenient option you have.

Entrance Fee:

-          Kids 3ft and above/ Adults – P800

-          Kids 3ft below – P400

-          Babies – Free

-          Discounted rates only apply to school kids who made prior arrangements (school field trips, etc)

Important note before you go:

The Cebu Safari and Adventure Park admin is limiting the entry of visitors to 2,000 people at most. Visitors must email their sales office at least a week before the trip.

Since we travelled with kids, we chose a more convenient transport option which is to rent a van (yes, mayaman si mayor). The park has a huge parking area but given the influx of visitors with their own vehicles, finding a parking space may be a little challenging if you come later in the day.

Though reservations are made prior, the payment will be made on your actual visit. Children’s height will also be measured (walang kawala).

Leave food and water inside your vehicle because they are not allowed inside. If you brought it with you, some courtesy stations can store them.

Guests need to go through a short orientation before they are allowed inside the park. The personnel will discuss the dos and don’ts inside the park, and some interesting details like:

-          The park’s total land area is 100 hectares.

-          It is owned by the Lhuillier family.

-          There are ten thousand orchids in Michel’s Garden.

-          The property was once an orchidarium.

-          It will feature some rides in the near future.

The moment you get your map, you may feel giddy about seeing some animals like a lion or a cheetah but, you will learn during the orientation that the nocturnal animals are not available for viewing.

The park is divided into 12 different sections:

1.       Welcome Pavilion

2.       Basecamp

3.       Michel’s Garden

4.       Michel’s Pavilion

5.       Tiger Turf

6.       Orangutown

7.       Safari Outpost

8.       Safari Stadium

9.       Canopy Trail

10.    Macaw Aviary

11.    African Savanna

12.    Aviary Dome

Crocodiles

We first visited the crocodiles near the African Savanna. There are over 20 crocodiles in this area. Guests can also pay P50 for some chicken slices to feed them with.

Just nearby are otters and box turtles.

A few meters away are cheetahs (which we weren’t able to see) and a huge Sulcatta tortoise.

What’s the difference between a turtle and a tortoise?

While all tortoises are turtles, not all turtles are tortoises. That is, they belong to the same family. Unlike most turtles though, tortoises are exclusively land creatures so they will drown in water. (I must be a tortoise.)

African Savanna

The African Savanna is probably the biggest of all the sections primarily because the animals need a large space to roam around. Here you will find wildebeests, blesboks, impalas, greater kudus, and zebras.

Instead of guests walking around to meet them, they are allowed to roam freely. Guests need to ride a tram while a guide shares information about the animals they meet along the way.

Lunch

The P800 entrance fee is inclusive of a set lunch with one round drinks and unlimited rice. With all due fairness, the food is good enough to fill you up and the humba tastes so good, too.

Here’s a tip: Do not eat your lunch at 12 because there is a great chance most of the guests will be eating around this time. Even if we decided to eat lunch at around 11:00AM, most of the dining stations were already full.

Basecamp and Aviary Dome

Since most of the dining areas near the African Savanna are already full, we were dropped at the Basecamp which is near the Aviary Dome. While eating, we also got the chance to see kangaroos, wallabies, and emus.

Just a kangaroo chilling.

Noisy parrot.

After lunch, we decided to check the birds at the aviary. Inside were a lot of red parrots, pigeons, and lories. The parrots were seriously loud.

While you’re at it, also have your photo taken at the Safari’s fountain.

Tiger Turf

This place is so magical we just have to visit it twice. We first saw the white Bengal tiger named Derek. He is huge and he would walk to and fro by the glass wall. I felt he is a bit lonely. The guide told me that he has a mate named Angel who is currently pregnant.

Later around 2:00PM, we dropped by again to see the orange Bengal tigers.

We were told that the white and orange ones can’t be shown together since they are very territorial and have the tendency to fight.

The guide said the tigers can eat 5 kilos of chicken meat daily.

Safari Outpost

We skipped the bird show because we want to savor the experience. We went to the Safari Outpost instead for the giraffes.

They are larger than life. At a little over a year old, they are already this tall. The girl’s name is Lolla while I forgot the boy’s name. The guide told us that there are several other giraffes but they are still being conditioned.

Giraffes are herbivores and are not really aggressive so the trams freely pass near them. The guide told us however that there are times when they become irate and that’s when they step in.

Just a few meters from the giraffes are the meerkats, swans, ducks, pelicans, and geese.

We also dropped by the Canopy Trail for some cute photos.

Primates

There are some macaques near Orangutown.

As primates are very close to humans, you will feel at home. Just kidding.

Seriously though, the orangutan was sad.

What's the difference between monkeys and apes? 

Though people may think there's none, the most obvious difference would be that monkeys have tails and apes don't. Their bodies are also different as monkeys have shorter bodies and limbs since they use their tails for swinging from branch to branch. Apes, on the other hand, have longer limbs and have an upright posture. Humans are apes.

More Animals

While there are trams, the guides will encourage you to walk around so that you will see more of the animals. When we walked around after seeing the giraffes, we went to the Macaw Aviary where other bird species are also thriving. They include the flamingo-looking scarlet ibis, blue and gold macaws, and green-winged macaws.

I really would have named them Bella and Elizabeth. #Swan

We also met rheas, llamas, and capybaras.

Michel’s Garden

Though tired, we never skipped the beautiful garden where thousands of orchids are planted. It was a lovely place perfect for photos.

Finally, we decided to go home.

The kids enjoyed their experience seeing the animals. The adults, I bet, enjoyed more. Haha

My safari experience was fun but a huge part of me feels sad about how things are for the animals. Sure, they are being cared for but won't it be a better experience if they are free to live where they can truly thrive and interact with other species? 

Safaris and zoos are places where animals are kept and nurtured so people can see them. These are also man's futile efforts to help conserve them especially the endangered ones. But still, if these animals could speak, they would very much like to be left where they truly belong - IN THE WILD.

And while we, as the superior species, believe that we are above them, we may realize that we share the Earth with animals made and loved by God.