Spending A Day At Cebu Safari and Adventure Park

by Renelaine Bontol Pfister

There are plenty of beautiful beaches and resorts, malls and restaurants in Cebu City, Philippines where I am from.

But recently when I visited my family, one of the highlights of my trip was visiting a world-class attraction tucked in the mountains of Carmen, north of Cebu.

It’s called Cebu Safari and Adventure Park.

It is an animal and plant sanctuary, a 170-hectare property that houses over a thousand animals and a million variations of orchids, open for the public to enjoy. It is owned by Michel Lhuillier and his business partner, Eduard J. Loop.

Cebu Safari has lions, hyenas and giraffes among its featured animals, and you can hop on a vehicle and ride around the property to enjoy them.

My 5-year-old niece Renee and I attended the giraffe feeding activity so we could see the giraffes up close. We were so close that when we posed for pictures, I felt the giraffe’s head graze my face. It was a thrilling moment.

My family and I also signed up for the Night Safari, which my brother and his family hadn’t experienced on their previous visits.

Some animals like lions and hyenas are nocturnal and are more active at night, therefore giving a different experience for the observers.

One of the lions followed our vehicle, so closely that if we poked our fingers out of the vehicle’s cage, we could have touched it. We listened to the guide and did not attempt it.

Other mammals include tigers and otters, meerkats, orangutans, and even a local: the Visayan Warty pig. But I was most impressed by the rare white tiger—they don’t have the pigment that orange Bengal tigers have.

Only a glass window separates the animals from the visitors, giving us an intimate view of their magnificence.

Cebu Safari also features reptiles like the crocodile, caiman, and Burmese python—the latter unmoving in its glass case.

For the first time, I heard a crocodile growl and it was one of the scariest sounds I’ve ever heard. It’s what I imagine a dragon might sound like.

It started snapping its jaws at another crocodile and I was glad I was on solid ground above and away from the monster.

There are a couple of bird exhibits that you can walk through to admire the birds up close.

I laughed at the sign outside the bird exhibit: “Don’t look up with your mouth open.”

The Victoria Crowned pigeon is the most striking to me among the birds. It is teal in color, with a feathery crown and red eyes.

There are also playful, naughty birds who are not shy and perch on your head, shoulder, arms, etc. The dangerous Southern Cassowary runs around below a suspended trail. You wouldn’t want to be near it anyway.

I enjoyed watching the bird show like I was a little kid. The best part for me was not even the smart birds solving math problems, but the ducks and geese waddling and rushing out from one side of the stage to the other at the beginning of the show. Unbearably cute to watch.

If you are not so much into animals and are a plant lover, you will not be disappointed.

There is a walking trail featuring Lhuillier’s 40-year orchid collection, as well as Gardens of the World, which feature flora from all over the world.

You can see thousands of orchids and enjoy details like a life-sized Cinderella carriage, giant heart-shaped topiaries and giant owl wooden figures you can step into.

We stayed overnight and rented a cabin with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a spacious living room/kitchen/dining area.

There is an infinity pool near the cabins which overlooks the chasm of the mountains. The view was breathtaking.

From there you can see the adventure area: the Giant Swing, the Sky Bike and the zipline. 

Cebu Safari is great for people of all ages.

You could walk around the park but for those who have trouble getting around, they have several minibuses and pick-up points throughout the park.

The staff is exceptionally friendly and accommodating. They place a high priority on safety.

Furthermore, they’re not just about showing the plants and animals to the public. They are also committed to the conservation of avian wildlife. They have a Breeding and Research Center that aims to accomplish this.

The staff is hard at work on the landscape and gardening and continued improvements of the place. There is promise of much more to see. I look forward to my next visit.