Oppressive. That’s the word that comes to mind to describe this heat. Here in Baguio, it gets as hot as 23 degrees Celsius in the middle of the day, and I’m sweating buckets. I can only imagine what it’s like in other places. It must be scorching! I guess it can’t be helped; it’s summer, after all. So let me blog about something summer-y? And nothing’s more fitting than Coron, and the day I fell head over heels in love with giraffes at the Calauit Safari Park.
(My apologies in advance for an image-heavy post.)
You don’t need to fly all the way to Africa (because dang if that won’t cost me an arm and both legs!) to have a safari experience. So, alright, there is that Zoobic Safari simulation at Subic, but this small spot at Calauit Island is as close as you can get.
Calauit Island of the Calamian group of islands is the location of the 3,700-hectare game reserve and wildlife sanctuary now known as Calauit Safari Park. This was a brainchild of former President Ferdinand Marcos, who had 104 animals shipped directly from Kenya. According to our guide, Sir Orland, who was working at the park since its inception in 1976, this park is one of the 2 successful attempts to relocated African animals out of Africa, and actually have them survive.
Of course, today, none of the original 104 animals are alive, but their offsprings are doing very well, and entertaining guests to the Park, albeit unwittingly.
We hired a van to take us to and from Calauit. Another option was to go there by boat, but the tide was high at the time, or so we’ve been told, so we stuck to land. We set off at 4am for the close to 4 hours’ ride from Coron town until the dock where we’ll take a 20-minute ferry ride to Calauit Safari Park. We arrived at the dock before 8, and we were the only ones there, so far, being the first group of visitors for the day.
The weather was FANTASTIC. Which was a far cry from the first time I visited Coron a couple of years ago. That time, we wanted to go to Calauit, but the weather would not permit it. It was, after all, during the month of August. (Check out my other Coron-related posts by following the tag.)
After around 20 minutes, or less than that, you’ll arrive at the destination, where you’ll immediately be welcomed at the Information Center. This is where the entrance fees will be paid, and you will also get to meet the Park personnel who will guide you around the place. We were given a quick rundown of the history of the place.
According to Sir Orland, we came at just the right time, because in a little while, it’s meal time for the giraffes. There is an option to hire a jeepney or a Land Rover to go around, but we are not averse to walking, so we decided to do just that.
My first impression when we started walking was, “MAN, THIS PLACE IS HUUUUUUGE.” Maintenance costs must be high, but we didn’t see a lot of Park personnel about. Only around a couple of guides.
Randomly, there’s this lone tree (tri-tree, I call it) standing proud, and you cannot see it clearly in this picture, but there is that dot of white right at its top. See it? That’s a beautiful white bird, which I wished I knew the name of. But thank camera manufacturers for zoom capabilities!
We finally got to see the giraffes and zebras up close! Although, we were warned to keep a safe distance, in case they decide to kick with their hind legs. We admit to feeling apprehensive and, yes, terrified, at first. They look so docile and slow-moving, but that can be deceptive, no? So we kept at a distance.
So, all right, first impressions…
The giraffes were such graceful creatures. This is not the first time I’ve seen one; I’ve been to more than a couple of zoos in my life, but those times, they were inside enclosures, with their movements limited. Here, you’d see them freely roaming around. You’d be standing looking at one giraffe then, all of a sudden, another would be ambling from around the corner, walking to join the others. It was like a slow and soothing parade, and how they move around each other – different species notwithstanding – was so humbling to see. Clearly, they live in harmony. Or they just don’t give a whit about each other?
They say that one way to distinguish a female zebra from a male one is the color. The blacks of the male zebras are darker and more pronounced than that of the females.
Oh, by the way, the color of a zebra is black, with white stripes. Not white, with black stripes. Personally, though, that doesn’t matter to me, because I just presumed they are black-and-white. 🙂
All the giraffes here have names, and the gamekeepers of the sanctuary can distinguish them by markings on their chest. Honestly, I couldn’t tell the difference.
The names of the giraffes that we came across, if my memory serves me right, include Gerald, Isabel, Terence, Miller, Nicole…. In the pic above, the one with Sir Orland, the giraffe eating from the tree is Mylene.
I think this is Isabel.
The giraffes were reacting to us, at varying degrees. The zebras, on the other hand, did not. They won’t even spare us a glance, whereas you can have eye contact with a giraffe, and hold it.
Let me just say, I LOVE LOVE LOVE THEIR EYES. They have these long lashes, and dark eyes that seem teary all the time, but there’s something about them that just makes me all gooey. And I find it cute how they chew. Or should I say, regurgitate?
Calauit Safari Park is also home to the Calamian Deer, which is endemic to the place. This deer, which is already declared an endangered species, can only be found here in the Calamian islands of Palawan, hence the name.
They, too, are gentle, although a bit more aloof than the giraffes.
So it was time to take a look at the other animals in the Park.
There is an enclosure with sea turtles in it, and the guide explained how to distinguish males from females. Just check underneath the shell. If it’s concave, it’s male. If it’s flat, it’s female. For obvious reasons. Or so we’re told.
In another enclosure were Philippine Crocodiles… which were small compared to the crocodiles I saw at the Crocodile Farm in Puerto Princesa and, more recently, at the Davao Crocodile Park. These are a little longer than the arm length of a fully-grown man.
It was hot, so they were supposedly resting. Hey, even these freshwater crocodiles feel the heat, too!
And a bit of a walk away is a twin enclosure, with one porcupine in each slot. At first, they were burrowing inside an overturned log, but the guide turned it over to reveal them. They shed spikes, apparently, and as souvenir, we picked up a couple of those spikes. 🙂 Hmm… I wonder where I placed it when I got home….
There were also two pythons, and this one was the Burmese Python. You can go inside and touch it. I admit the extent of my bravery is just laying my hands on its leathery textured skin. One of my travel buddies, however, tried holding its head.
This, here, is the Philippine White-Breasted Eagle. Look at the tilt of its head. It’s like it’s saying, “Look at me on my lofty perch. I rule!”
There were also a couple of civet cats. One was uncaring, just dozing away. This one, however, was growling. 🙂
There was another enclosure with 5 or so monkeys. This one, clearly, was the alpha. I actually spent a good minute or two exchanging hisses and growls with this monkey just to make him react while we take close up photos of it. And then, I got my money shot. *fistpump*
A bit of a walk (under the now blazing heat of the sun) and we came across the pen where the wild bearded pigs (also found only in Palawan) are. Again, this one seems to be their alpha. 🙂
All throughout your walk, you’d spot some giraffes, zebras and Calamian deer lounging and lazing about, as though also bemoaning the heat.
If not for the scorching heat of the sun (because, honestly, there aren’t a lot of shaded spots in the middle of that wide expanse of land), we could have stayed here for a long time… and feed the giraffes for free. Haha! But everything comes to an end, so make sure you make the most of the experience. And that, my friend, applies to practically everything.
The road to Calauit was… bumpy. But that didn’t matter much to us. Hey, we came from the boondocks, so rough roads are a way of life. Just sayin’. We actually spent much of the drive worried about the state of the tires of the van we were riding on more than we were concerned about getting jostled and rocked from all sides.
We did not go through any travel agency; we just talked to the manager/owner of the hotel we stayed at, and she had a van and driver available. We paid Php2,500.oo each, which is roughly the going rate if you go to a travel agency and join a tour group. There were only 4 of us in the van, so it was a pretty comfortable ride. The fee already covered lunch, snacks, water, the fare on the ferry, the admission fee to the Park, and a side trip to a small watering hole on the way back to refresh ourselves. Considering the level of comfort (and control) we had over the trip, I’d say it was a good deal, pricey though it was.
We came across a couple who hired a motorcycle at Coron Town for Php600.00 for the day. They only paid additional for the fuel to make the long ride to Calauit. So, if you’re up for that, I think you can save more.
Entrance/Admission fees:
For Foreigners (adult): Php400.00
For Filipinos: Php200.00
Groups on educational tours, practicum and research trips have corresponding special discounted rates. Senior citizens, physically challenged individuals and children below 12 years of age are free of charge.
Visitors can also camp out at the Park, with a camping fee of Php350.00 per group per night, for a maximum of 7 people per group. If there are more than 7, pay Php50.00 per additional person.