There was a busy procession of cars on the national highway as we headed up north to the Cebu Safari and Adventure Park. After all, people were busy with their Tuesday morning commute.

It was a bit different for our group that morning, though. As we turned on a narrow road off the main highway in Carmen, the concrete buildings and storefronts soon gave way to trees, farm lands and the occasional cold spring.

We passed some abandoned chicken coops, and the day’s host Honey Loop pointed out that this marked the beginning of the Lhuillier’s property. It turned out to be expansive, with a number of livestock and produce planted on the land. Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Jaime Picornell shares, “He actually wanted to be a farmer when he was young,” referring to Michel Lhuillier.

With that history in mind, it seemed only natural that Michel would venture into something like the Cebu Safari and Adventure Park. Actually, the buzz of his personal animal collection had been circulating social groups in Cebu for years. When the opening of a fully developed safari in the north was announced, it inevitably caused some excitement.

The main rotunda of the Cebu Safari is punctuated with a fountain that features sculptures of the various species of wildlife on the grounds.

In the Making

That, then, leads us to today. Philippine Star columnist and frequent Zee contributor had organized the trip. A selected group from the media and travel agencies were treated to an exclusive preview of the safari.

Hosting us was her son Eduard Loop, the Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of the Cebu Safari. “Yes, it was his dream to be a farmer,” he confirms when we ask him later about Jaime Picornell’s anecdote. “But his father told him that there’s no money in farming,” he adds with a laugh.

The cheetahs move fluidly as they make their way through the enclosure, looking for shade from the hot day.

Of course, the eventual success of Michel’s business ventures later allowed him to chase this dream. He started acquiring properties and explored some farming options. Eventually, his love for animals also started claiming his time and attention.

“We made a masterplan about eight or ten years ago,” Eduard shares, revealing just how long this project has been in the making. “It’s now under the corporation, under the M. Lhuillier Group of Companies. But in the beginning, he did it on his own.”

Borne of this passion for nature and animals, the Cebu Safari and Adventure Park spans 170 hectares, and is currently home to 111 species of wildlife. “We have a few more coming in by the end of April,” Eduard adds. “There’s some white lions, flamingos, four more giraffes, and some other African animals.”

Exploring the Park

We were dropped off by the bus at the Welcome Pavilion, where refreshments were served. The park’s mascots–Bayani, the Philippine saltwater crocodile; Andres, the Visayan warty pig; and Amihan, the African Crown Crane–greeted the group with a dance number.

After a brief talk on the park’s rules and guidelines, we were divided into groups and ushered into trams for a tour of the grounds. 

The zebra-print trams look at home in the greenery, while actual zebras dine on the shrubbery.

First up was the African Savanna. The tram drove through the rugged terrain, while zebras, wildebeests, waterbucks and other animals grazed as if on their native plains. “This is actually just the first portion,” Eduard told us later. “We’re building something in the back, so the actual ride will be longer. There’s going to be a river.”

A short drive away was the Crocodile Area, where the large creatures lounged around their pool of water. In a separate enclosure to the side, otters and turtles waded in their own ponds. Just outside, the pythons were out to interact with the braver guests.

Even More Animals

Various animal enclosures are distributed throughout the property. The cheetahs, for one, lounged in the shade as we observed them through a thick glass window. The spotted hyenas were out of sight, being nocturnal. We were encouraged to interact with the giraffes though, who weren’t shy about grabbing the branches of trees we offered them.

With their own habitat of rock formations and shrubbery, the meerkats don’t seem shy about the cameras around them.

The meerkats seemed to be naturally curious of cameras, posing as we approached them. The Canopy Trail cuts through the area for the flightless birds, where swans, pelicans and crowned cranes took periodic dips in their ponds. 

The bird show came after lunch, in the training area while the amphitheater is under construction. Eagles, toucans, owls and a number of other avian species performed a series of tricks for the audience.

Afterwards, it was time to visit the Macaw Aviary, where you could get a closer look at the colorful birds. A path from there led to the capybaras, llamas, and emus. Across the path were the Visayan warty pigs, deers, and the black bucks. At the end was the Tiger Turf, arguably one of the most beautiful parts of the tour. The large cats frolicked in their space, eventually playing in their own watering hole to escape the heat.

The Tiger Turf was definitely a favorite stop of the tour. The Safari currently has Bengal and Siberian tigers, which they release alternately throughout the day.

A number of other areas were still under construction, For one, the lions’ area will have caged vehicles driving through the enclosure to offer a closer look. We didn’t mind though–we were glad to have a reason to come back.

The Adventure Park

Of course, the animal attractions aren’t the only things the Cebu Safari has to offer. “We plan to put up a 60-room hotel, but that’ll probably be done by 2020,” Eduard shares. “For 2018, we will have four adventure rides. There’s a 1.3-kilometer zipline, and a bicycle zipline. There’s an obstacle course for team-building activities. And there’s a giant swing, with a 35-meter drop.”

The Canopy Trail is a picturesque trail that leads from the flightless birds’ area to the Macaw Aviary. Eduard shares that Michel had insisted they don’t cut down the large trees on the land.

A lunch buffet is currently included in the introductory rate of P800, and they will soon have more to offer in terms of dining options. La Vie Parisienne will have outlets throughout the property, including their popular pizza and gelato.

Giving Back

With so much to offer, the Cebu Safari is definitely one of the most exciting places to visit this year–but it’s not just all fun. Eduard reveals that they are also dedicated to giving back to their community.

“85% of the workers are from Carmen,” Eduard reveals. “As much as possible, we try to employ locally. We have training programs for them.” The training programs include the Life Science Group, with consultants from Australia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Czech Republic. “They take care of our animal husbandry side, because our local vets have never had the experience to deal with these kinds of animals.”

Lola is one of the two giraffes at the Cebu Safari, who had to be flown in at less than a year old so they would fit in the plane.

The Cebu Safari will also offer special rates for Carmen residents, and have partnerships with local public schools. “Basically we’re trying to educate the youth about nature, the environment, and animals,” Eduard shares. 

In trying to foster the tourism industry in the area, the Cebu Safari encourages locals to open up accommodations, or offer transportation services.

The Legacy

As impressive as the Cebu Safari and Adventure Park is, at its core is a man’s passion project. Eduard himself believes this passion project is more than just a recreational destination for Cebuanos and tourists alike.

“It’s really Michel’s vision,” he says. “The way I see it, this is his dream, and it will be his legacy for sure.”

We’ll definitely be enjoying the Cebu Safari and Adventure Park for years to come. In fact, we’re already planning our next trip.

Toril, Barangay Corte, Carmen, Cebu
For inquiries and reservations, call +63 995 835 3460.