Go Zoobic Safari

Zoobic Safari, the adventure park that made Subic Bay Freeport doubly attractive and a prime tourist destination, has added new features to make every step in the 25-hectare wildlife sanctuary a truly unforgettable experience.

So if you have been there before and relished the thrill of the close encounters with the creatures of the jungle, the African wilds and the Savannah, another tour in the park would surely be twice the excitement.

And for those who have not been there yet, Zoobic Safari is waiting to give you that adventure of a lifetime!

Imagine for instance your three-year-old daughter or son feeding with a bottle of milk a tiger cub that is already heavier and taller than your kid when standing on its two feet. Now that would be fun for your child but is surely a hair-raiser for you seeing your precious kid cuddling a beast that is ferocious when in its natural habitat.

How about getting chased by full grown tigers while they are going after the live chicken being dangled by the tour guides during the Safari jeep tour inside their haven, or by an ostrich bigger than you while you are cruising in a train at the Zoobic Savannah?

Of course, for the more educational side of it, guests will be treated to a tour of the park’s Animal Care Center, the Honey Bee Farm, the Serpentarium and the featured Zoobic shows.

But wait! That is just the glimpse of the Zoobic Safari in the past.

Now, Zoobic Safari developer Residence Inn Corp., a member of the Yupangco Group has added more features to the place.

While visiting the hosts of caged wildlife during a 20-minute walk, guests will be passing through a tent called the "Rodent World."

Beware! This one is certainly not for the faint-hearted or hater of eerie creatures because one look upwards and you’ll suddenly see a mass of different kinds of rats falling down on you! There is a catch, of course, and that is part of the "Mice Surprise."

There is now also a trip back to biblical Genesis times in the so-called "Forbidden Tree" where guests will be passing by a tree with serpents of different specie lurking around and munching apples, depicting the Eden scene of Eve and the serpent.

Another stop is the "Egg-Ziting Story," where guests and young kids can actually get a hold and pose for pictures with different kinds of eggs while the guides indulge the guests to ponder again and probably engage on the never-ending debate on "which really comes first, the egg or the chicken?"


In another section, at the Animal Care Center, watermelon-size Ostrich eggs are also available to be picked up by you and your kids for photo-ops. The area also serves as nursery for newly born cubs, as well as a "clinic" for injured or indisposed animals.

A fun part of the trip for the kids is the Pet Parlor where veterinarians demonstrate how to bathe, shampoo and hairblow guinea pigs, rabbits and other cuddly animals.

"This is the only theme park in the country that offers this wide array of fun and adventure to its guests. We are continuously on the lookout for fresh ideas to make the place more attractive to our visitors and more conducive to the animals because we view this not merely as investment but more so as a contribution to the government’s tourism campaign and care for wildlife," Robert Yupangco, Residence Inn president said.

Since he envisions Zoobic Safari as a wildlife preservation site, Yupangco announced they are open to well-meaning individuals and corporations that are willing to adopt some of the animals there or chip in some contributions for their care.

The full entrance fee at the Zoobic Safari is P395 per person, P295 for children with special discounts and freebies for kids depending on their age. Its new features are the Mini Moe Show, Zooger Show and the Animal show.

If you are planning to visit the Zoobic Safari and other parts of Subic during the Holy Week, Residence Inn is rolling out a very affordable tour, fare and hotel accommodation package for you as part of its "HollWeek Promo."

It offers a Super Day Trip via Tigerson-the-Run coaster service from ManilaZoobic-Manila, complete with lunch, Duty Free Shopping and Zoobic Safari tour for only R990.

By JENNYLEI D. CABERTE