A Day in the “Wilds” at ZOOBIC SAFARI

By: Carrie A. Javier
Photos :  Norbert Bajandi and Daniel Y. Go 

Oh, look mom, he’s eating the chicken, my eight year-old son JM or James Michael shouted excitedly. I shuddered and kept my eyes averted. I just couldn’t stand the sight of blood and the spectacle of a helpless live chicken being devoured by a huge, hungry tiger just isn’t my cup of tea. The “safari jeep’ that we were enclosed in, along with other families visiting the Zoobic Zafari on that hot Friday afternoon, shook a bit, as ‘Sharon’ chomps down her meal our guide had dangling from a rope. I closed my eyes as I noticed another feline creature sidling up near our enclosed vehicle, perhaps hoping to share in the “food,” praying that the tigers would not stage a riot, topple the jeep and gobble us all up. What hideous thoughts! But my son did not even notice my discomfort, babbling on about how “the big tiger ate the chicken whole, only the feathers and feet were left mom.

Unlike the African Safari where travelers and explorers use open land rovers, land cruisers or minivans, Zoobic Safari offers a unique, authentically Pinoy (slang for Filipino) safari jeep, colorfully painted in tiger-inspired golden stripes.

As my eyes adjusted to the scene, I could clearly saw Bengal and Siberian tigers roaming around the vast expanse of simulated wilds. We were deep in the heart of the jungle inside Ilanin Forest at the Zoobic Safari, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, a renowned tourist destination in the Philippines,  just few kilometers from Manila (our nation’s capital city) actually experiencing a thrilling safari ride.

The Tiger Safari, one of the theme park’s highlights showcases more than a dozen golden-eyed tigers. The Residence Inn group, which manages and operates Zoobic Safari has its own tiger cubs breeding facility.

As we coasted along, our guide explained that the tigers have to be fed with live chickens, not cooked ones, so they would retain a feeling of still being in the wilds, despite their captivity. They all looked well-fed and healthy all right, their rust orange, striped furs gleaming under the heat of the noonday sun, their deep-set, golden eyes staring back at us, probably wondering why we humans are “caged” inside our vehicle while they are freely roaming outside.

Up close and personal

Later on, we would also drop-by the Tigers Den, to take a look at the tigers inside their cages. The encounter this time around, was up-close and personal. Our group, led by our guide, Ian Crisostomo, shuffled along the narrow aisle peering inside the cages, barely two feet away from these awesome beasts. Zoobic’s staff christened them with cute names such as Nasha, Krishna, Jana, Cynthia, Sharon, Nico, Gimo and George, among others.

George is the acknowledged leader of the pack. A mammoth Alpha male, he is also the oldest at 16 years old. “He is the king of the harem, being the leader, with all of the female tigers his for the taking, which makes him the father of the Tiger Den’s latest additions,” Ian expounds.

Ian, a pleasant-looking and articulate lad explained that a tiger’s gestation period is three and a half months. At the time of our visit, Nasha, Krishna and Jana have just given birth to 11 cute tiger cubs.

Pythons, iguanas, exotic reptiles

At the Serpentarium, which is the only one of its kind here in the Philippines, as Ian explained, we met Biggy a 15 feet, 10 year - old female Indian python, as well as other members of the reptile family. JM eagerly ran ahead peering from one glass to another. Spectacled Calman, Malaysian water monitor, blood python, Burmese albino, reticulated python, and the Philippine monitor lizard greeted our mesmerized gazes.

I noticed three little, yellow chicks in one cage and asked Ian again if it is really necessary to feed these pythons with live food.  ”Seems like cruelty to me watching those poor chicks being slowly squeezed to death,” I muttered, moving away from the glass cages.

Meeting Nicholas

Outside, I breathed freely. Snakes, iguanas and all scaly creatures make my skin crawl and I am glad to be out in the open air again. Next item in the agenda is the petting zoo and animal farm where the Asiatic black bear or moon bear called Nicholas was a real scene-stealer. Ian joked that ‘Nicholas needs a girlfriend,” since he’s the only one of his kind in Zoobic at the moment. Sorry, I couldn’t think of anyone to recommend.

Ian pointed to the other exotic animals as we strolled on, extolling their virtues and deadly qualities. There’s the cassowary, a most dangerous, territorial bird which attacks animals and even people straying in their territory. These birds can really kill because of their sharp claws and beak. Vietnamese pigs are smart animals which can be trained as pets.

We glimpsed the Palawan porcupine hiding inside a log (he’s probably shy), palm civet cat or the alamid high up in his tree, the Malay civet cat

and Boer goat and the cloud rats or mountain rats usually found in Mt. Pulag, Cordillera Region.

We also saw badgers, gerbils, Peruvian guinea pigs, squirrels, rhesus monkey and the wonderful wallaby. This last one, Ian mentioned, would make ideal house pets because they are smart and trainable. George Clooney of “ER” and “Batman” fame has a pet wallaby and the Guinness Book of World Records lists one who can even paint, Ian informed our group.

Out in the savannah

Long-legged ostrich and swift mountain goats glided past our vehicle as we traversed the dusty savannah trail adjacent to the tigers den. This time, we were riding in the open, red and blue Zoobic Safari train, which the kids love. I think this was the most enjoyable part of our tour since I felt no fear out here. Ian rattled off some interesting trivia about this unique bird. Ostrich can run up to 80 kilometers per hour but they are considered as stupid since their brains are the size of peanuts. So when somebody labels you as “ostrich brained,” take that as an insult. Ostrich are also attracted to shiny objects such as eyeglasses and sunglasses.

“They sure smell awful, maybe they don’t take a bath,” JM quipped, as a huge ostrich approached him, attracted by the camera’s lens he was aiming at the bird.

Sumptuous fare and souvenir items

Feeling ravenous after the tour, our group joined other guests in the airy restaurant serving affordable yet delicious meals. My son enthusiastically dug into his plate of tocino, fried rice and fried eggs. Meals cost a minimum of 75 to 85 pesos and comes complete with a delicious bowl of soup plus a cold glass of ice tea. Mouth-watering native Filipino dishes like inihaw na baboy or pork barbecue, fresh green salads, “bistek” or beef steak cooked with plenty of onions and “sinigang” are also available.

We ate our sumptuous meal in the safari-inspired picnic cottages while enjoying the view of rolling forest terrains and well-trimmed grasslands.

Hunger sated, we dropped-by the Discovery gift shop, a virtual treasure trove of practical and novelty items like sign pens in cool safari designs, tee-shirts with the Zoobic Safari logo, cuddly tiger stuff toys, key chains, pins, coffee mugs, accessories, bags. Even for an avowed penny pincher like me, I simply couldn’t resist and gave in to JM’s pleas. A white bear keychain now adorns his school bag, memento of yet another memorable trip.

History

How did Zoobic Safari came about?

Residence Inn, a member of the Yupangco Group of Companies, has joined hands with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to develop a 15-hectare forest land into an animal kingdom. The P80-million project, dubbed as “Zoobic Safari Adventure,” forms part of the 50-hectare “Forest Adventure” being developed inside the world-class Subic Bay Freeport, a former American naval base. Zoobic Safari opened to the public on November 2004.

Zoobic Safari, which features a tiger safari, petting zoo, Crocodile Farm, Serpentarium, picnic ground, coffee shop and a safari village, is part of Residence Inn’s chain of zoo cum resort businesses. At present, the company operates Residence Inn Tagaytay and Safari de Oro in Bukidnon. These two existing zoo and resort sites are being used as venue for educational trips, family outings, as well as gatherings and company functions. The group also runs the Residence Inn Blu Bianco Hotel located in Clarkfield, Pampanga which has 46 safari-inspired rooms.

For guests who wanted to stay overnight in the theme park, the Safari Village, which was launched in the first half of 2004, offers 12 cottages with five-star amenities, just perfect for families and groups.

Well-trained Aeta drivers/guides expertly maneuvers the safari jeep amidst the myriad attractions of the sprawling theme park, treating guests to an exciting journey around the well-preserved Ilanin forest.

Rolim Malapit, Zoobic Safari’s amiable Marketing Officer informed me that the place averages 1,500 visitors on week-ends and holidays. The theme park was crowded with visitors when we were there, being the start of a three-day week-end to give Filipinos a chance to observe All Saints Day on November 1. “During the off-season, we get about 500 guests a day,” Rolim added. Not bad.

New attractions

New attractions include a Crocodile Farm-Croco Loco, Elephant World, Rodents’ World, Hip Hop Bay-a-wak, Egg-Ziting Story, which is an area showcasing the cycle of the eggs,

Menagerie (Animal Museum), A rare collection of real stuffed animals and skeletons that are both interesting and educational, and exciting Adventure Rides on camels, horses, carabaos and alpacas.

How to get there

Motorkingdom Corporation offers weekend runs to Zoobic Safari and surrounding destinations. For information and schedules of tours, contact Rowena Fucanan, Marketing Manager at telephone numbers (632) 899-9828/899-9808; email-rowenafucanan@yahoo.com or visit their website at www.motorkingdomplus.com  or www.yupangconet.com , and www.residenceinnresorts.com

Fully air-conditioned vans, cars and coasters are available for guests and tourists. The luxury coasters, painted with tigers boasts of a 20-30 seating capacity, cooler and free bottled mineral water, a uniformed driver cum coach captain plus a luggage trailer, (optional).

Chartered flights from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) direct to Subic are also available. For more information visit www.wowphilippines.gov.ph , the official site of the Philippines Department of Tourism or www.lakbaypilipinas.com and www.sbma.com .

About the Author

Carrie A. Javier is a veteran freelance travel writer. An affable and gregarious soul who loves writing and traveling, she considers God’s Absolute Gospel as her ultimate guide and inspiration in whatever she does. She also loves her country and prays that the Philippines will emerge as a truly progressive and stable nation in the near future. She hopes that through her articles, she could help promote the Philippines and its unique culture, people and events.