Contrary to what younger people think, the life of a senior is never dull. It is full of excitement – either the DIY kind of thing or be a part of the exciting life of others.
Of late, I had a full serving of excitement with members of my family.
Here’s why…
Late last month, my daughter and her hubby took me to a mountain resort – right in the midst of unspoiled Nature – for a weekend.
Two Sundays ago, my entire clan had a field trip to the Cebu Safari and Adventure Park.
While both were serendipitous, the Safari is more so than the Resort.
Let me explain…
Cebu is an island right in the belly of the Philippines. It is one of the leading business centers of the country and the tourist hub of the region. An inordinate sense of pride pervades the province making it label everything it does as “world class.”
Of course, nothing is farther from the truth because, except for the Shangrila in Mactan and a few more hotels and resorts which can fit the bill, most are still doing business the “Mom and Pop dime store” way.
I was, therefore, totally dumbstruck when we drove through the gate of the Cebu Safari and Adventure Park. Though a different kind of business stands at par with the world-famous resorts in Mactan.
The infrastructure is faultless, it is clean, the staff courteous and knowledgeable and it is efficient – qualities difficult to find in a lot of business entities in Cebu.
I am a very difficult person to please, but I was bowled over by the Cebu Safari. It is awesome. And I enjoyed every moment of it (though I was not able to go all the way. I will explain later).
What to expect at the Cebu Safari and Adventure Park:
Cebu Safari and Adventure Park is located on the gentle hills of Carmen, a small town 43 kms north of Cebu City. From the town proper, it is a long and slow climb west to barangay Toril, the site of Cebu Safari.
Michel J. Lhuillier, the pawnshop king, and owner of Cebu Safari did not leave anything to chance when he built this 170 hectares of amusement and fun.
Everything is laid out for the comfort, ease, and safety of tourists.
Visitors tour the zoo on board trams that make stops at major points of interest. In each stop, a staff will accommodate any question visitors may ask about the animals therein.
The atmosphere in each tram is electric from the gleeful cheers of children who have never yet seen such exotic animals like antelopes, giraffes, cheetahs, tiger, crocodiles, etc.
At lunchtime, visitors are taken to rest areas where meals are served. The food, which comes with the price of the ticket, is not bad. It is delicious and filling.
Note: After lunch, I told my daughter that my knees have had enough. So I hitched a ride back to the reception area where the cool breeze from the hills lulled me to sleep.
Cebu Safari and the future:
Since its opening last December, Cebu Safari has created a loud buzz in Cebu and nearby provinces. Thousands visit it on weekends making parking difficult.
If you come, be early to avail of the main parking lot. Otherwise, you may have to agonize over a long hilly walk to get your ticket.
For now, the collection of animals is limited but plans are afoot to secure more. I would love to see the day when the surrounding hills will reverberate with the loud roar of a male lion.
Not only animals, mind you. There is still a huge room to accommodate such fun activities like riding a giant swing, an obstacle course, a spider walk, sky bike and a tour of Carmen’s eight waterfalls.
So far, however, visiting Cebu Safari is worth your while; it is a weekend well-spent.
~oOo~
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