Thank you to the management of South Bacolod General Hospital and Medical Center, Inc. (SBGHMCI) for being generous with their people. Without them, the first-ever out-of-town SBGHMCI Teambuilding, held in Cebu City, would not have been possible.
As part of our itinerary, we explored the massive and hilly Carmen town in the northern part of Cebu to experience what it’s like interacting with wild animals and connecting with nature at the Cebu Safari and Adventure Park.
I believe this is the biggest zoo in the Philippines so far, occupying more than a thousand hectares of land, and it is home not only to birds, mammals, and reptiles but also to endangered species of orchids, cacti, and other plants.
We traveled almost two hours from our hotel in Lapu-Lapu City, the Palmbeach Resort and Spa, before reaching the Safari Fountain entrance.
It helped that we had reserved our slots in advance via the online payment system; otherwise, we would have had to queue up to get our entrance passes, which would have taken a lot of time and likely prevented us from covering as many attractions as possible.
After the usual entrance security check, receiving an ID bracelet, and getting an info sheet, we headed to the Base Camp to wait for the tram car that would take us to other places in the man-made forest.
Dome
This is an enclosed, dome-shaped structure that provides shelter and enough space for colorful parrots, pigeons, and lories to fly freely.
There were tall trees and plenty of branches, which serve as resting places for these birds.
Macaw Aviary
Home to various colorful macaws, with blue, gold, and green as the dominant colors, the Macaw Aviary serves as a breeding ground for these birds, ensuring they do not become extinct in the future.
A couple of brilliant-red Scarlet Ibises share this space with the macaws.
Safari Outpost
This is an open-field area that resembles the natural habitat of its inhabitants, such as reticulated and Rothschild’s giraffes, meerkats, swans, ducks, pelicans, geese, crowned cranes, hyenas, and Bactrian camels.
The Safari Restaurant and Tram Stop are located in this area.
Tiger Turf
A combination of large rocks, a small lake, and bushy wild plants in a very wide open area (but enclosed for public safety) serves as the resting place for around four tigers and two cubs.
I was informed that feeding times are random, and the meat is deliberately hidden from the tigers’ view to simulate food hunting.
Deer District
In this part of the safari, we saw blackbucks, deer, Javan rusas, Visayan warty pigs, kangaroos, wallabies, regal peafowls, emus, gibbons, rheas, and capybaras.
Orangutown
This massive, hilly terrain is home to other mammals such as gibbons, lemurs, orangutans, and Celebes macaques. Just like with the lions, management makes efforts to breed the animals in a natural environment.
Other Animals
In their respective enclosures, we saw cheetahs, African lions, the large Sulcata tortoise, serval cats, otters, box turtles, nearly a hundred crocodiles, and long reticulated pythons.
African Savanna
This is the only guided tour among the many attractions in the zoo. We rode the tram car and passed through a savanna-like environment, where we saw zebras, wildebeests, greater kudus, blesboks, elands, impalas, waterbucks, and gemsboks, mostly in pairs.
They didn’t seem to mind each other’s presence, as they were more focused on filling their stomachs while roaming around the area.
Bird Show
At around 1:45 PM, we were treated to a one-hour bird show. There were different kinds of performances, such as birds flying in the same direction, doing simple addition, and identifying pictures, among others.
Some birds landed on the hands of audience members, while others took a 500-peso bill from a guest’s hand.
Flora Walking Trail
Located on the opposite side of the forest, this area features nearly a million varieties of orchids, all beautifully arranged as if you are in the middle of a castle made of plants and flowers.
If you enjoy taking pictures for your social media accounts, then this place is perfect for you.
Final Thoughts
Indeed, Cebu Safari and Adventure Park boasts more than a thousand animals from almost 120 different species, making it the largest in Southeast Asia.
Our visit was an educational and enriching experience. We learned many facts about the animals, their mating habits, monogamous species, and more.
It made us realize that we should care for the environment, as climate change can affect animal behavior and breeding patterns.
Where to stay in Cebu: Palmbeach Resort and Spa (Mactan Island, Cebu, Philippines) / Our Home in Lapu-Lapu City.
Have you been to Cebu Safari and Adventure Park or any other zoo in the world? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
I’d be happy to exchange ideas with you, especially regarding caring for animals and the environment.
I’ve heard a lot about Cebu from one of my friends but I had no idea it would be that beautiful wow! A must see for sure.
The place looks absolutely gorgeous and love the animals. I always support organizations or places that educate people more on taking care of our environment and it’s animals!
Wow! What a magnificent place to visit! The flora walking trail looks beautiful.
I have never heard of Cebu! This is the first! I’m gonna add it to my list!