calauit safari park tour

Coron Travel and Tours

CALAUIT SAFARI WITH BLACK ISLAND TOU R

This Calauit safari day trip covers the breathtaking scenic boat tour from Coron town passing by Gutob Bay uninhabited islands to Calauit Island.   Grab  the opportunity to feed exotic animals from Africa like giraffes and zebras. Learn about the endemic and endangered animal species of our province Palawan. Calauit safari is a day trip full of activitIes and adventure! 

TOUR DESTINATIONS

Calauit Game Reserve and Animal Sanctuary

Black Isand

Caves and Cove

Buluang Floating Resto

Busuanga Town

Malbato Church

TOUR INCLUSIONS

Licensed tour guide

Tourist boat with professional vest

Calauit Tour Truck

Animal Feeding

Air-conditioned van for pick-up and drop off to and from hotel

All permits and entrance fees

Picnic lunch with bottled of water & snacks

Beach cottages

Free use of medical kit

NOT INCLUDED

Beach towel

Insect repellant

Tip (not compulsary)

TOUR ACTIVITIES

Face to face animal interaction

Photo-shooting

Exploring Busuanga Town

Beach walking

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Come face-to-face with the giraffes and enjoy unique safari experiences in the island

Experience unique walks led by Calauit expert guides to meet other endemic animals than can only be seen in the islands of Palawan

Delight with the experience feeding and interacting African animals in Calauit Island 

Witness how exotic animals adopted to live in the island

Explore Black Island and dip into mini pools inside the cave underneath the foot of the black mountain

Snorkel above the shipwreck and be amazed with the brightly colored soft and hard corals, hydroids and sea fans attached to it despite of rusts covering the ship 

Witness Coron's best coral reefs that contains an abundance of marine life 

CALAUIT SAFARI WITH BLACK ISLAND TOUR RATES

​Rates are based PER PERSON (adult)

A child (0-2) years old is free of charge

A child (3-6) years old is entitled to 50% discount

A child (7-12) years old is entitled to 25% discount

Senior Citizens and PWDs are entitled to 20% discount

TOUR GUIDELINES

Group (joiners) tours.

Group tour participants must follow physical distancing of at least 1 meter apart from other guests

We encourage group tour participants to wear face masks and to follow the DOT new normal protocols 

We encourage group tour participants to bring their own hand sanitiser on tours

Use hand sanitiser at the beginning, during and end of a tour, before and after eating and after touching your face or hair

Avoid touching eyes, mouth and nose

A maximum of 8 passengers per van or 70% passenger capacity is implemented to guarantee proper spacing among passengers

A maximum of 14 passengers per boat or 70% passenger capacity is implemented to guarantee proper spacing among passengers on boat 

Any group tour participants who is unwell with symptoms such as sore throat, runny or blocked nose, coughing or sneezing should stay at the hotel and will be advised NOT to attend tours.

EXCLUSIVE | PRIVATE TOURS

For the health safety of our guests, we highly recommend taking private tours to minimize the spread of the virus

Tour boat, van, food assistant and tour guide are exclusively assigned to your group only.

A maximum of 10 passengers per boat or 50% passenger capacity is implemented to guarantee proper spacing among passengers on boat 

We always consider the right timing in every destination to avoid the crowd, and for you to enjoy a more relaxed environment

We guarantee that all our boats and vans/cars for your tour transport are properly disinfected and sanitised every after and before use, with high focus on touch points, lifevests, seats and all others   

Employee health checks are done daily to secure safety of our guests

CALAUIT SAFARI WITH BLACK ISLAND TOUR

Posted on June 17, 2017 April 4, 2020

Coron, Palawan: The Calauit Safari Tour Itinerary

A few, or maybe some, people doesn’t know that the Philippines has its very own Safari Park. We have zoos, parks and some wildlife centers but nothing like a true blown Safari that countries like Botswana and South Africa has. We have the Calauit Safari Park that offers Calauit Safari Tour.

The Calauit Safari Park is a game reserve and wildlife sanctuary in the Calauit Island of Palawan. It is one of Coron’s attractions that are made available to locals and tourists. The Calauit Safari Tour Itinerary includes a visit to the reserve and some of Busuanga Bay’s amazing islands.

The Calauit Safari Park has been opened to the public as an eco-tourism attraction in the past years, but sadly, it was not properly funded. Hence the declining number of wildlife that the island has.

On our visit to Calauit, there were only a couple of wildlife there including some giraffe, zebras, a porcupine and wild boars among others. Even the locals – those that we talked to- were dismayed over the lack of funds provided to the Calauit Safari Park.

Personally, the Calauit Safari Tour Itinerary would have been more amazing if we were able to visit it a few years back, when wildlife was still abundant and the island was still properly maintained.

For this side of our trip to Coron , we decided to avail the Calauit Safari Tour on one of Coron’s local travel agency through the Darayonan Lodge Coron  for a more convenient visit. Price range of the tour is around 2,300 – 2,500 Php (46.23 – 50.25 USD). This includes the transportation, entrance fee, breakfast, lunch, water, banca ride for the Island hopping and of course the tour guide.

You can also avail from Klook for their Coron Calauit Safari and Beach Tour which include side trips like ours.

For our tour arranged by Darayonan, the tour started at 7:30 AM and ended around 3-4PM so we have scheduled it on our 2nd day in Coron. We spent the entire first day exploring the Coron Town ourselves .

We forgot to ask if we needed to bring our swimming gear and island hopping essentials , thus we were not prepared for the island hopping activity later that day. Admittedly, it was not really disappointing since we had our Ultimate Tour planned the next day where we can enjoy swimming to our heart’s content.

For a quick look on our Calauit Safari Tour Itinerary , here are some of the things that you will be doing should you decide to try it – which I highly recommend you do!

Table of Contents

4:00 AM Departure From Coron Town

6:30 am arrival at macalachiao, 1. feeding station, 2. mini zoo, 4. wild boar, 11:30 am returned to macalachiao, 1. north cay, 2. pamalican, 5:00 pm arrival in coron.

We were picked up from the lodge at around 4AM. The lodge (where we booked the tour package) provided us with sandwiches for our snacks along the way as it was too early in the morning.

From there, it took us around 2 hrs to arrive at our first destination – Salvacion, Busuanga – where we had our breakfast.

I kept on looking for the name of the place – i think it was called ‘Nats’ – and the place was situated near the port, so the view from where we ate was pretty nice! 🙂

After breakfast, we went back to the van and headed out to Macalachiao for a short banca ride to the Calauit Dock. The place was not crowded when we arrived, I assumed we were a bit early.

There were other groups who have also joined us during the Calauit Safari Tour. We had 2 bancas for the entire group and it took us around 5-10 minutes to reach the Calauit Island.

We were requested to sign up on the registration area and had to wait for a couple of minutes for the jeep/ truck that will take us to our first stop of the tour. Entrance Fees ranges from 200 – 300 Php. Additional fees are also required for the use of the jeep, filming, documentary and camping.

7:30 AM Start of the Calauit Safari Tour

Calauit Island only had one (1) service to take their guests from one place to another, so some of us were prompted to walk a short way to meet the jeep/ truck after it dropped the first batch.

This was just fine since it was just a short walk and I particularly enjoyed the chance to stretch my legs and get some exercise .

The weather was also cooperating that time and it added beauty to the place.

The Calauit Safari Tour Itinerary includes a visit to the following areas:

As the name obviously implies, this is where the guests can feed the giraffes and get up close to them. Zebras can also be seen grazing here, though you can’t really go near them since they might kick you if you get too close.

There were benches were you can sit under the shade of the trees and enjoy the view.

A pen was set-up at the Feeding Station. Guests of the Calauit Safari Tour will have to enter here in groups, grab some leaves (provided by the guides) and go near the giraffe to feed them. The rest of my family were pretty game in feeding the giraffe, though I wasn’t.

I was hesitant because I was pregnant . But it was still pretty cool to see the giraffes’ grab the leaves from the hands of the guests who wanted to feed them.

There were a couple of Calamian Deer that approached us as were waiting for the jeep/ truck to take us to the Mini Zoo. They were friendly and even allowed us to feed them and get close enough to take a picture.

Our second stop on the Calauit Safari Tour was the Mini Zoo. It’s a small portion in the reserve where a handful of animals were being kept. This includes a porcupine, an eagle and a snake among others.

As mentioned by the guide, the number of animals being kept in Calauit had dwindled over the years. It was too bad since the place was situated on several hectares of land. It would have been a great place to visit if there were much more.

After the Mini Zoo, we were taken to this small pen for turtles. The turtles were placed on a concrete pool-like area where they get to swim and where guests can take a look at them.

We were supposed to have our last stop at the Wild Boars. It was located a few meters away from the turtle’s pen. But most of the guests did not want to stop – it was around noon that time.

It was understandably so because it was too hot. We just continued our way back to the Reception Center.

PS: The Zebras were grazing near the Wild Board Pen when the picture was taken. LOL.

After a few minutes rest, we once again boarded the banca to Macalachiao and headed back to Salvacion. All-in-all, the Calauit Safari Tour was great! The guides were friendly and very knowledgeable.

We had our lunch on the same place that we had our breakfast. The staff were very accommodating and the area was peaceful. It was situated near the port where we would take our banca for the island hopping – a side trip of the Calauit Safari Tour.

1:00 PM Island Hopping in Busuanga Bay

As a side trip to the Calauit Safari Tour, an island hopping activity in the Busuanga Bay was also included. Although the island hopping included only two (2) islands, it was still great! We were able to spend more time enjoying the place and the amazing views it had to offer. The following were the islands that we visited:

It took us about 10-20 minutes to reach our first stop: the North Cay. It’s a small island that is currently being developed. They had several rooms/ hut for guests staying the night.

Too bad I did not get to explore it that much as it was pretty hot and I was feeling exhausted after all the walking and standing (struggles of being on my 2nd trimester! ).

The shade, soft breeze and the view was just perfect. We were really glad to have spent about an hour just lounging around!

The island also has some water sports/ activities that you can enjoy. This includes a visit to the Giant Clams Sanctuary, which reminded me of our trip to Camiguin and kayaking among others. And I must say, the water was really inviting! See for yourself!

Our last stop for the side trip of the Calauit Safari Tour was to the Pamalican Island. It was about 5-10 minutes ride from North Cay. According to our guide, it was still under development.

Like the North Cay, Pamalican also boasts the same fine white sand and crystal clear waters that we have associated with most beaches in Palawan.

There were several benches under the shade, perfect for those planning a picnic trip. We too spent most of our time just enjoying the view under the shade of the trees.

It was around 2-3 PM at this time and it was pretty hot! After 30 minutes, we went back to Salvacion aboard the bancas, signaling the end of our Calauit Safari Tour.

The ride back to Coron was pretty much uneventful. Good thing too since most of us were pretty tired.

Overall, the Calauit Safari Tour was pretty great though a bit heartbreaking at some point. It was just sad that it wasn’t getting that much financial support from the government or from the concerned sectors.

I know there are two sides of every story, so who am I to judge or blame? It cannot be denied, however that it was a bit disappointing that the game reserve was not getting enough financial support to keep it properly maintained and protected from poachers and such.

It was far from its previous condition where the wildlife was thriving and the area was well-protected.

To better appreciate it more, I encourage you to try and include the Calauit Safari Tour on your Coron itinerary when you do visit part of Palawan and I’m sure it will also capture your heart as it did to mine!

Have you been to Calauit Safari Park or any game reserve lately? Share your thoughts on this!

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50 Comments

This is so cool! I wouldn’t have expected there to be a place like this in the Philippines! I’ve been wanting to visit the Philippines for a while, so I’ll definitely have to make sure I visit Calauit when I go 🙂 The beaches you visited in the afternoon look incredible too!!

It was a great place to visit. I do hope you can stop by Calauit and enjoy it as much as I did 🙂

Hi mam Ask help po, we like this day tour, prob is our flight on d same day is 4pm.. abot kaya kmi sa airport?ty

Hello Leah! I think kaya naman for the Calauit Safari alone… The tour usually starts in the morning and it’s just a half day event. But I think the Busuanga island hopping (if included sa tour niyo – you can inquire sa Tour Operator nyo for the inclusions) would be skipped. Hope this helps!

Thanks a lot mam this helps, may wr ask anu travel your agency knuha nyo po?,

We booked the tour through our accommodation at Darayonan Lodge Coron. They are in partnership with Calamian Islands Travel & Tours. 🙂 Sila na nag arrange lahat..

I had no idea the Phillipines had a safari, how amazing!! The feeding stations sound incredible 🙂 so good to know this is here!

I believe this is the first Safari that the Philippines has. 🙂

I had no idea this was in the Philippines! The beaches there are so pretty, but this sounds like it is a good way to do something different while there!

I couldn’t agree more! A visit to Calauit is pretty different from the usual places you’d get to visit in Coron 😀

Wow this looks amazing. Never thought in my life that Philippines has a part of Africa. I have tried visiting Boracay. such a great place. My next target is Coron this year just and this is just the right info I need. thanks for this article dear.

Your welcome, James 🙂 I hope you do get to visit Calauit Island 🙂 I’m glad to hear that Coron is your next target. It’s such a lovely place with great spots! 🙂

This would be such a good experience! I didn’t realized that most of those animals were in this region!

Well actually the zebras and giraffes were sent to the Philippines from Kenya years ago. The reserve is struggling to keep them from dying out. The rest however are indeed from the Philippines 🙂

The day looks absolutely perfect from your pictures! Look at those clouds! And I also love how you introduce so many great places in the Philippines! Well done!

Thank you Charmaine 🙂 Like what we always say, ‘it’s more fun in the Philippines!’ 😀

I had no idea that you could do a safari like this in the Philippines! I do hope they get more funding too though. I am definitely going to check this out when I finally make it to the Philippines.

Thank you Anisa. 🙂 I hope so too. It was sad to hear that they aren’t getting enough funding 🙁

Pamalican looks so beautiful! I can’t wait to get to the Philippines one day to see the water colour 🙂

Pamalican’s beach front was really great! I hope you do get to visit it too! 🙂

Looks like great place to visit! I love places like this, so I’ll be putting it on my list of places to check out in the Philippines

Hope you do get to visit, Jilue! 🙂

Wow.. there sure are some beautiful spots around the Philippines! Thanks for sharing 🙂

Thank you, Danielle! 🙂

The Philippines looks so beautiful! I never knew safari’s were a thing outside of Africa haha. The lack of financial support is a real shame.

Same here. This makes the Calauit Safari a unique destination here. 🙂 It is really disappointing to know that it is not properly supported.. 🙁

My dream is to visit the Philippines. I’m saving this, and hopefully get to visit soon!:)

I hope you do get to visit Welile! 🙂

Cool safari park, and that island hopping add-on looks brilliant!

Yes, it was.. 🙂 The island hopping was indeed great!

Wow this looks amazing. I wouldn’t have expected there to be a place like this in the Philippines ! Pamalican looks so pretty ☺

Pamalican’s seascape was gorgeous! Wish we could’ve tried the swimming! 😉

wow! I had no idea this was a possibility in the Philippines! What a unique opportunity 🙂 it looks like a beautiful area with stunning wildlife

Yes it was indeed a unique place to visit in the Philippines 🙂 Thank you Steph!

Add me to the list of people who had no idea there was such a safari park in the Philippines. It’s really a shame about the lack of funding, though. Hopefully the situation changes soon.

I hope so too. The reserve is just too great to be left without the necessary support 🙁

What travel agency did you get? Can you please give me their contact details? I would appreciate it very much. Thanks for this wonderful article.

Hi Czarina. 🙂 We booked through Darayonan Lodge. I sent you an email 🙂 Thank you so much, I’m glad you liked this article!

4PM kasi ang flight namin, plan namin gawin to sa last day. So pwede ba namin i skip yung Busuanga Island Hop? Ano kaya ang arrangement nun?

I think depende to sa travel agency ninyo since need pa kayo ihatid to the airport. The island hopping sa Busuanga is already included na sa usual na package for the Calauit Safari.. So if you’ve made arrangements or na-agreehan na beforehand ng tour operator ninyo, then I don’t think this will be a problem.. 🙂 Hope this helped you.. Enjoy your Coron trip! <3

You mentioned the local travel agency. Can I request for their contact number and the name of the agent. thank you

Hi there Emily! We booked through Darayonan Lodge. You may contact Marilyn L. Nuñez (Marketing and Admin Officer) Telefax: (+632) 437-5785 Phone: (+632) 775-5641 Mobile: (+63) 917-5866098 🙂

What is the name of the tour operator you had? thank you coz we are going in MArch 🙂

Hi Krystle. We were referred to the Calamian Islands Travel & Tours through the Darayonan Lodge Coron where we stayed for our entire Coron trip. 🙂 Hope it helps! Happy travels! 🙂

Hello Marvi. Thank you for your beautiful share. I have an 8-year old daughter who loves animals. You said that the animals are already dwindling in population, is it still worth going there in Calauit Safari? Thanks again. Hoping you’ll have more fantastic travels and blogs. It helps a lot.

Hi Mariel! Thank you for dropping by! 🙂 Well, it depends largely on the experience you want your daughter to have. Despite the shortage of animals to see, it’s much nicer to see the zebras and giraffes on such a more natural habitat than on a zoo. And kind of eye-opening to say the least. I’m sure she’ll love feeding the giraffes. 🙂

But of course, if you want a more wide array of animals to see, then the Calauit Safari will be a no-go. 🙁

Hope this helps… Happy travels! 🙂

Hi Marvi! Great post, so informative and helpful! I love seeing different kinds of animals that’s why I love going to zoos and safaris since I get to see animals there. Thank you so much for writing up about Calauit Safari tour!

You’re welcome.. 🙂 And thank you for dropping by!

Hi, where did you book your tour? Thank you

Hi Patrice… We booked them through Darayonan Coron Lodge where we stayed during the trip. 🙂

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CALAUIT SAFARI PARK: What to Expect

That scene alone sums up the park. Three zebras escaping the scorching sun took shelter in a garage and there they stayed beside a rusty, old Pinoy jeepney. It was an intriguing sight, a harbinger of how I would see the place after spending half a day in it.

The land rover we were riding stirred dust across a vast plain where giraffes roamed gracefully, hopping from tree to tree. Zebras bent their necks as they grazed, pulling the grass off the more moist corners of the island. Africa, I mumbled as our vehicle slowed down to halt. A far cry, maybe, but for now this was the closest I could get to an African safari — Calauit Safari Park.

We climbed down to the arid ground and Kuya Florante, a caretaker and tour guide, led us under the shade of a gazebo. Four giraffes, I counted. They, too, were avoiding the sun and were oblivious to our presence, which until then was thought to be irresistible (wahaha). “They look small,” my friend Mica remarked while looking at them from afar. But that would change as soon as they came closer and dwarfed us. It was the first time that I got this close to the tallest land animal in the world, and it felt like I would break my neck any time as I kept looking up to their cute, gentle faces.

“This is Isabel,” said Kuya Florante while rubbing the neck of the biggest giraffe of the lot. The others, he introduced as Miller, Terrence, and Mylene. “We usually name them after their sponsors,” he answered when asked how they come up with the names.

Feeding the giraffe is allowed here. Our group tried it. I tried it too, thinking that there was nothing wrong with it. But now that I’m writing about it and after reading about the behavior of these animals and their relationship with the human inhabitants of Calauit , I figured I probably did a bad thing. Maybe it would be best for them to not be get used to humans and for tourists to minimize impact. Maybe feeding them isn’t a good idea after all. The park may be big enough for these animals but it has faced one problem after another through the years.

Calauit Safari Park covers almost 3800 hectares. Formerly known as Calauit Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary, the park was established on August 21, 1976 by Presidential Proclamation 1578 issued by President Ferdinand Marcos.

You might be wondering: How did the giraffes and zebras get here? That’s easy to answer — by boat. One hundred and four animals which also included six types of antelopes (impala, gazelle, bushbuck, eland, waterbuck, and tobi) were brought here from Kenya. The green island was transformed to a savannah — its residents relocated and its bamboo forests cleared to provide a suitable environment for the animals.

The more interesting question is: Why? The most common reason you’re gonna hear is that this was a conservation effort by President Marcos. It is said that when he attended a summit meeting in the African state, the Kenyan government asked the International Union for Conservation of Nature for assistance in the conservation of their wildlife. Calauit was Marcos’s answer to the call.

Of course, some do not find this too convincing. An Inquirer report in 2011 revealed something else: Marcos wanted to launch a tourism business. Tony Parkinson, a British man who organized the translocation of animals from Kenya to the Philippines, said, “None of them were endangered… that was all nonsense. We would never have put them on an island like that if they were endangered.” Which one to believe is up to you.

Today, according to Kuya Florante, there are 23 giraffes, 38 zebras, and around 1000 Calamian deer on the island today. The antelopes have all died out. The Calamian deer is endemic to Palawan and is an endangered species but their population has improved in the park. The male Calamian deer is horned; we only spotted one male of the dozens we have seen that morning.

While most animals are free to run around and explore the island, there are those that are in captivity. Among these are four Philippine crocodiles, three porcupines, two pythons, a civet cat, a wild boar, a sea gull, and a number of tortoises. But the giraffes and zebras remain the crowd favorites among all animals in the sanctuary.

The environment (natural, social, and even political) has changed since Marcos created Little Africa in Calauit and time does not prove to be friendly to the park, which is facing a number of challenges today. Budget cuts have pushed the number of workers to dwindle from 300 to 30. The former inhabitants of the peninsula who were relocated decades ago are returning via the Balik-Calauit movement. And the animals are reported to have been on one end of a conflict with the residents.

Whatever the real intentions are, one thing that remains the same is that the animals are already here. We brought them here. We adopted them. “All the animals here are Filipinos now,” Kuya Florante shared, explaining that the original individuals imported from Africa are all dead, leaving behind the offsprings, which are all born in Calauit. The least we could do is take care of them.

How to get here : From Manila, fly to Busuanga airport. If your hotel is in Coron, you can take a van/shuttle to Coron town. Here, there are several options available. You may join a group tour offered by travel agencies, normally around P2500-3000 per head. If you’re a big group, you may charter a private boat to Calauit (which can also take you to other gorgeous islands including Black Island ) for P9300 for 1-4 pax or P10,400 for 5-8 pax. Calauit Entrance Fee : P200 for Filipinos, P400 for foreigners Use of land rover : P1000 (divided by how many you are in the group)

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Naalala ko na naman yung ginawa ko sa turtle T_T

How I wish to visit this place would you pls , tell us how to get in there?which place we need to stay while we are in that place..

Thank you and best regards

Hi Ynah! It’s in the post. Bottom part.

Place to stay, better to stay in Coron or Busuanga proper.

happy to know na meron tayong ganitong park but same time sad that nobody in our govt tried to improve that such beautiful project of late Pres. Marcos… anyway, nabasa ko ung about sa Entrance Fee… para atang pangit na iba ang fee ng locals kumpara sa foreign tourist?! sa ibang bansa di ganyan dapat fair and entrance…

May napuntahan na ako abroad na cheaper ang entrance fee ng locals. They asked for my nationality because I look like a local daw..

I’m not sure but the reason yata is that the “real” rate is the one they charge foreign tourists and they offer discounted rates sa Pinoys. Again, not sure.

Racism…. more fun in the Philippines :)

Pano naging racist yun?

[…] Also in Northern Palawan, Calauit Safari Park lies on a peninsula of Busuanga Island. President Marcos established the park through a presidential decree to house giraffes, zebras, and six species of antelopes that were imported from Kenya. The residents were relocated and the bamboo forests cleared to accommodate the animals. The antelopes have all died out but there are still a good number of zebras and giraffes, providing a glimpse of Africa to visitors. Also in the park are a thousand Calamian deer, an endangered species endemic to Palawan that has thrived in the island. More about Calauit here >> […]

Added to my bucket list! Looks awesome!

Ilang oras siya from Coron? Parang medyo malayo…

Far from cheap!

I was able to watch it on TV Patrol a while ago kawawa naman mga hayop dyan napapa bayaan na

Yes ….walang support sa govt kasi marcos na project sayang dumadami pa naman sila di na sana tayo mangangarap pumuntang africa

kwangsoooah :-) JK

mga makasarili kc tlaga ung mga nasa gobyerno ngaun eh!dapat jan mini maintain yan para mas maganda p!

[…] and a generous amount of luck. We had realized this all too late, as we edged our way towards Calauit Safari Park on a rickety scooter that we had only learnt how to ride an hour […]

bakit magkaiba ung entrance fee ng foreigners sa filipinos?

[…] this ambitious concept. This isn’t the first safari in the Philippines. The first one was the Calauit Safari Park in Palawan, famously started by Ferdinand Marcos. Time had taken its toll on the park. Mired with budget cuts, […]

[…] Africa” of Busuanga, Palawan is a gem on its own. Covering almost 3,800 hectares, the Calauit Safari Park is home to giraffes, zebras, and the Calamian deer, which is endemic to Palawan. There used to be a […]

yea right! hindi racist yun. Ghad! pls use the word properly and accdngly. Hindi racism yun. It just means discounted and pinoy tourists due to its low salary grade unlike sa dollars na kinikita nila ng mga foreigner. Maliit na bagay lang yan sa kanila. kahit san kayo magpunta dito sa pilipinas iba talaga ang foreigner rates and filipino rates. kompara mo ba naman ang 1 dollar at 45pesos na saatin.

What if you are a foreigner and live in the Philippines No foreign money

Ask ko lang po san po kaya magrent ng private boat going to calauit yung 7500 po?

Hi Hannah, naku, P9300 na po ngayon ang boat pa-Calauit. Punta po kayo sa station ng mga boats malapit sa Lualhati Park. Dun pu ung tambayan ng association ng boatmen ng Coron. :)

giraffes are most definitely endangered. african animals belong in AFRICA and not toys for human entertainment. please do not support places like this. it’s just common sense and basic ethics and integrity not to support this.

Hi Charlene,

I agree. African animals belong in Africa. And in retrospect, as mentioned in the article, I realized that feeding is a bad idea.

But now that they are here, what do you think should be the appropriate course of action?

Hope you could provide some enlightenment because it’s something that I have been thinking about.

If you charter a boat to Calauit, do they wait there for you while you do the tour, or do you have to charter another one for the return trip? How long is the boat ride there?

They will wait for you

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Stories of Places, People and Photography in the Philippines and Beyond

Calauit Safari Park: Wild West Wonders of Busuanga Island

Coron may already be marvelous as it is, but Busuanga municipality adds a more rugged and idyllic experience to visitors in Busuanga island. I call Busuanga as the wild west. Imagine an island where exotic animals roam freely. An island with imposing limestones and stunning soft white sand beach. Our first stop in our exploration of Busuanga is the Calauit Safari Park . Ever wondered how the exotic animals are now? Me too.

Where is Busuanga

The municipality of Busuanga shares the island of Busuanga with the municipality of Coron. Coron in the east. Busuanga on the west. It also includes the island sof Calauit up north and portions of the Calamianes islands in the east. This includes the westernmost West Nalaut island.

Franciso B Reyes Airport in Coron also serves the municipality of Busuanga.

Calauit Safari Park Story

The Calauit Safari Park began with an interesting story on the lavishness of the Marcoses and their fancy for anything exotic. Including wild and exotic animals. Sometime in the mid 70’s, the Marcoses made great lengths and spent resources to procure 104 exotic animals from Kenya, Africa. These includes a collection of 12 bushbucks, 11 elands, 11 gazelles, 15 giraffes, 18 impalas, 12 waterbucks, 10 topis, and 15 zebras. Eight different species of the animals transported from Africa to the coast of Busuanga.

Calauit island was chosen as it resembles the wild and harsh landscape of Africa. They think the animals would easily adapt to the island environment. The island is segregated by a narrow channel enough to minimize human poaching and other predators. They call it the mini-Serengeti. A year before the animals came, the 3,700-hectare island was already declared a wildlife sanctuary and game preserve. In 2009, the park was opened for the public.

Maintaining the Park

At least four decades after, with a few season of typhoons, human poaching, natural predators and recently a pandemic, the park and some of the animals are still alive. From eight species only 4 species survived. Thriving on the island are all Filipinos being island born. No more original stock. There are now 28 zebras from the original 15 and more giraffes as well. Roaming along the safari are the endangered Calamian deer.

It was a challenge for the caretakers of the island to continue maintaining and caring for the animals when the pandemic hit. Since there were no money coming in from tourist, they had to dig dip into their pockets, ask help from LGU and kind donors. Now that tourism in Busuanga island is opening up, they welcome tourist to bounce back.

Palawan Safari Experience

I was told much of the road in Busuanga has improved. Most of the roads we took were paved with a few scenic spots along the way. But if you’re one who easily gets motion sickness, make sure to open the car windows on sharp winding and hilly roads.

We reached the jump-off point to the island. A small pier is there where boats are ready to take us for a short 10-minute boat ride to the island. A modified passenger truck with wrapped around decal of safari graphics was waiting for us. But first we had to register. It was nice to see the staff implementing safety protocols for guest. There’s a hand-washing area on arrival. The registration booth has a protective plastic for contact-less registration of guest.

Exotic Interactions

It was my first time here so I was excited to see the safari. The ride on the dirt road was short, less than a kilometer I guess, until we arrived at the viewing area. It was exciting to see giraffes, zebras and deers freely roaming in the area. But I guess they are so used to human presence and being fed by them that they don’t linger as far.

We had a brief orientation about the safari and proceeded to feed the giraffes. I think they were as excited as us. We went into a fenced area to feed them. The fence was necessary to keep the giraffes at bay and avoid being kicked. It was fun. We observed the zebras with a few foals (young zebras) with them. The deer were pretty laid back. Some were just lying under the tree but still have a safe zone distance. I decided to walk back instead instead of taking the truck. I found a bunch of green imperial pigeons there. A couple even. This species is known to be very loyal to their partners.

I enjoyed the walk back. The quiet the island offers with only the wind, rustling leaves and a few bird calls can be heard. The park may have started as a safari-dream playground by the Marcoses but there’s no way we can just leave these exotic animals to fend for themselves. They are already in the island. People working on the park was successful to locally breed some of the exotic species. Let’s support the Calauit Safari Park for their work on taking care of the island and its wildlife.

At the moment, there are no changes on the park fees.

Booking a Tour

For hassle free visit to Busuanga, it is best to book with a DOT-accredited tour operator. For our trip, we used Coron Blue Lagoon Adventure Travel and Tours .

Ferdz Decena is an award-winning travel photographer, writer and blogger. His works has found print in publications such as Singapore Airlines’s Silver Kris, Philippine Airlines’ Mabuhay, Cebu Pacific’s Smile and Seair InFlight. He has also lent his expertise to various organizations like the Oceana Philippines, Lopez Group Foundation, Save the Children and World Vision, contributing quality images for their marketing materials.

Coron Palawan Calauit Safari Park Tour with Busuanga Town & Ocam Ocam Beach | Hotel Transfers

Description

Immerse yourself in the Philippines' little slice of Africa with this full-day tour to the Calauit Safari in Coron, Palawan. Taking you to the Calauit Wildlife Safari and nearby attractions in the area, this family-friendly safari tour in Coron is perfect for sightseeing enthusiasts and animal lovers who want to take a break from Coron's familiar beachscapes. The package is also inclusive of land transfers, service of a guide, entrance fees to attractions, use of a rental cottage, afternoon snacks, and free pick-up and drop-off within Coron's downtown area. 

After being picked up from your accommodation in downtown Coron, you will head straight to Calauit to start your Calauit Safari Park tour. Enjoy the quiet countryside you will be passing through while on the way. Upon your arrival at the Calauit Wildlife Safari, you will be briefed about the rules and regulations you need to follow to keep both you and the wildlife safe.

You will then begin your tour of the safari. As you make your way through the park, your guide will share interesting facts and trivia about the animals as well. Depending on the time of your visit, you may have a chance to feed the giraffes that freely roam the 3,000 hectares of land too. Along with animals, you can also find rich flora that are endemic to the country. Don't forget to take pictures before you head to your next destination, the Busuanga town proper , for a quick stroll. 

From there, you will then proceed to the Malbato Church . Constructed with stones and seashells, this humble structure sits on top of a hill, overlooking the vast seascape and giving visitors a panoramic view of the sea and the town. Finally, you will wrap up your tour with a stop at O cam Ocam beach. This secluded shore features powdery sand and azure waters. Feel free to lounge in the rental cottage here while enjoying your afternoon snacks. 

Explore the other side of Coron, Palawan, with this full-day Coron Calauit Safari tour and nearby attractions. Check availability by choosing a date.

Attractions

What to bring

Good to know.

Tour Information: This private tour is available daily from 08:00 AM. Activities not indicated are to be paid on site should guests want to avail themselves. Some destinations may be changed depending on weather conditions and water current.

Meet-up Information: Guide to the Philippines will send tour reminders at least (1) day before the tour date through your registered email address. Make sure to have the electronic copy of your confirmed tour voucher ready. On the day of the tour, your assigned Tour Guide will meet you at the lobby of your hotel within the vicinity of Coron Town Proper at least fifteen (15) minutes prior to start of the tour. Strictly no latecomers or tour reservation might be forfeited.

Tour Proper: Please be reminded also to dress appropriately. Be mindful of your personal belongings during the tour.

Children Friendly: Yes! Children 0-2 are free of charge but are not included in the complimentary lunch. Parents may share their meal or pack food for their children.

Pet Friendly: Yes!

Senior Citizen/PWD Friendly: Yes!

Cancellation Policy: The operator may cancel the activity in case of force majeure or unforeseen circumstances like weather conditions. In this case, you will be given the option to reschedule or request a full refund. Schedule cancellation requests must be made 48 hours before your original subject to approval. No shows are not entitled to reschedule and refund.

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Calauit Safari Tour

Explore the Philippines’ game reserve and wildlife sanctuary in Calauit Safari Park, a 3,700 hectare island off the coast of Palawan. It is home to various species of exotic African and endemic Palawan flora and fauna where hundreds of giraffes, elans, waterbucks, Calamian deer, monkeys, fresh water crocodiles, zebras, bear cats, bushbuck and a variety of birds roam freely. This tropical safari should not be missed on your visit to Coron.

Package includes personal tour guides, boat transfers, use of tour vehicle, park entrance, snacks and short lecture, taxes and service charge.

Schedule of Trips

Morning trips are scheduled at 7:00 am. Early breakfast will be served before you leave the resort. Kindly advise the Front Desk if you need a wake-up call. Afternoon trips are scheduled at 1:00 pm.

The whole trip takes about 5-6 hours, depending on sea conditions. A tour can accommodate four to 30 persons per trip.

Terms and Conditions

• The Calauit Office is closed Saturdays and Sundays.
• All tours desired to be taken from Saturday to Monday mornings should be reserved by Friday afternoon.
• All reservations received later than Friday afternoon will be confirmed Monday morning at 10:00am.

For reservations, please call 0998 844 7138 or (+63 2) 8519 5674 to 76.

The Calauit Safari Tour is operated by Club Paradise Palawan Divers.

*Rates and schedules are subject to change without prior notice.

Exclusive boat arrangements shall be charged accordingly and is subject to availability For your security, non-resort accredited boats are not allowed within the premises of Dimakya island, home of Club Paradise Palawan

Why Book Direct at ClubParadisePalawan.com?

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Calauit Safari Tour: Wildlife Encounter and Countryside Excursions in Busuanga

By vivomigsgee in Travel June 19, 2019

WILDLIFE ENCOUNTER

Truth be told, when I heard the word Calauit Safari, I immediately associated it with a zoo. Well, I couldn’t think of any description of a zoo but literally a facility in which all animals are housed within enclosures and displayed publicly. I thought wrong. It’s a lot more entertaining than seeing them in a cage. It was rather more personal, a unique wildlife encounter.

Calauit Island was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1977 which is now becoming a popular tourist attraction in Coron known as Calauit Safari Park. Calauit Island is an island of the Calamian Archipelago, just off the north-western coast of Busuanga Island. A creek divides the two island so the only way to get there is through a 5-minute boat ride.

When you book a Calauit Safari Tour, a van will pick you up as early as 5:00 AM. Travel time from Coron Town to Busuanga is almost two hours. Usually, Calauit Safari Tour includes breakfast but if you’re not sure, you may check the package inclusion from your tour operator. If you don’t have any travel agency in mind, you may check my recommendation at the end of this post.

What’s good about joining a group tour is that everything is already been taken care of, including the entrance fees. No need to line up and pay, just sit back, relax, and enjoy the safari adventure. However, attendance to the eco-tour briefing is mandatory.

Upon arrival in Calauit Island, you’ll visit the registration area first before going to the actual wildlife zone. There is a service vehicle for park goers as well if guests don’t feel like walking.

Each group will have a designated tour guide. As what I’ve learned from our guide, Calauit Safari Wildlife Sanctuary holds the single distinction as the first successful wildlife translocation experiment in Asia, as these wild animals were imported from Africa in the 1970s to save them from extinction to which then President Ferdinand Marcos responded positively by creation of such game preserve.

Before diving into action, my family took some group photos with the giraffe first. This long-necked mammal is the tallest land animal on Earth and it’s kind of exciting seeing them in flesh. We were actually amazed that despite being surrounded with visitors, they could stand still without moving an inch just like a statue.

Even zebras are just roaming around like a household pet. But of course, you have to be cautious not to be too close with them as like horses, they may kick you from behind.

There’s a mini-playground, cottage and store in one of the corner wherein you can do your thing while waiting for the main activity to start.

Then there’s the fun part. Feeding a tower of giraffes. The park’s personnel will gather some mangrove leaves for giraffes to munch on. These creatures know that it’s feeding frenzy time so they will go near the cage where the guests are stationed. It’s actually amusing thinking that the one who will be enclosed are not the animals, rather the visitors. Switching roles, eh?

Did I mention that I already tried Calauit Safari Tour before? Same month in two consecutive years, but different companions. Both are equally rewarding experiences given the two different timelines. It’s just good to be back and have a wildlife encounter once more.

My family all tried giraffe feeding with mandatory photo session except for one – my mother. She can’t hardly hold the mangrove leaves tight as she’s scared the giraffe would bite her. My mom thought giraffes are threatening the reason she reacted panicky but sorry mom, we find it very hilarious. LOL! She’s definitely an ice breaker.

After feeding the giraffe, we continued to stroll around the open area. We personally observed that the Calamian deers are on the loose too. They’re mostly in “silo”, having a world on their own. To date, African wildlife thrives in Palawan and continues inbreeding for four generations in a scenic place similar to the savannahs of Kenya. 

When you’re done with the main highlight of the Safari Tour, a quick tour to a mini zoo in a nearby area will take place where other wild animals are enclosed in a cage like snakes, boars, monkeys, alligators, turtles, meercats and many more. The tour will end after two hours, just right before having lunch in Busuanga town.

COUNTRYSIDE EXCURSIONS

Not all Calauit Safari Tours are created the same. For your information, Calauit Safari itinerary is not just about wildlife encounters in Calauit National Park, but it also includes Black/Malajon Island (shipwreck, cave and coral garden included), Busuanga Town, Malbato Church, Concepcion Falls, and other optional destinations (e.g., Ocam-ocam Beach, Rio Playa).

Black Island

There is no direct joiner tour to Black Island but it is included in Calauit Safari Tour. Explore off-beat gems and head to an isolated island off the coast of Salvacion, Busuanga.

Mix one part history to two parts rugged beauty, and add a dash of trendy glamour. You get Black Island! Read more here: BLACK ISLAND

If you love spots hopping around Coron, consider booking CORON ULTIMATE TOUR . If you opt for triple beach treats beyond Coron, you may try ISLAND ESCAPADE TOUR .

Busuanga Town

The Busuanga town center, Salvacion, is tranquil compared to the one in Coron. There is less activity in the area but it’s a perfect route stop for your lunch. You can also take a group photo at the town plaza’s “I ♥ BUSUANGA”.

Concepcion Falls

Concepcion Falls is one of the side trip spots that is included in the Calauit Safari Tour. From the highway of Busuanga, you’ll walk for about 5 minutes to reach this place. When we reached to the area, we were surprised that the falls and its basin is kinda murky and smaller than expected. It’s probably dried up. The guide told us that the best time to visit the spot is from June to December, as the rains bring plenty of water to the falls.

Malbato Church

Malbato Church is also called the Church on the Hill. This church (more of a chapel) is reminiscent of one of the churches in Batanes . The facade of Malbato Church is interesting to see as it is made of pebbles or small rocks.

I love the afresco set-up of the church where natural air can flow in and out the church’s interior. You have to take few steps up to reach the top-most deck and altar but fret not because the view atop is great, so don’t miss it.

With all the unique experiences it offers – wildlife encounter and countryside excursions in Busuanga – I can totally say that Calauit Tour is one jam-packed day trip when in Coron. It’s totally one for the books!

For the most affordable and rad Calauit Safari Tour, book only with  Wonderful island travel and tours , a legit and DOT-accredited tour agency in Coron. Check their facebook page for rates.

For the suggested itinerary and budget to Coron, please read the article Captivating Coron: DIY Travel Guide to the World’s Best Island .

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CALAUIT SAFARI PARK: Wildlife Safari Tour in Busuanga, Palawan

What animals are in calauit safari park.

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Calauit Safari Park in Busuanga, Palawan

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Suppose you are dreaming of a safari experience in South Africa. In that case, you should see our local version of it at the Calauit Wildlife Sanctuary located on Calauit Island – part of the Calamian group of Islands on the Northwestern coast of Palawan.

The Calauit Safari Park is a 3700-hectare habitat for Palawan endemic and African wildlife facing extinction.

Calauit was created in 1976 by President Ferdinand Marcos and declared a wildlife sanctuary. This is no ordinary tropical island; imagine a calm and peaceful remote island in the so-called Philippines Last Frontier – truly a Shangri-La.

Before the sanctuary was created, the International Union of Conservation of Nature in Kenya begged for such a sanctuary to help save the African animals caught up in the civil violence in that area.

Upon your visit to the sanctuary, you will encounter zebras, impalas, and giraffes that live in perfect harmony with bear cats, Calamian deer, mouse deer, and peacocks. Interestingly, from the original group of giraffes, zebras, bushbucks, elands, topis, waterbucks, and gazelles, the animal population has more than quadrupled over ten years to about 500 animals.

The increase in animal count is due primarily to the lack of predatory animals on the preserve.

Before the animals came, there were about 250 families that lived on the island, and they were relocated to a neighboring island and compensated with land titles.

Recently an aviary was added which houses rare and spectacular birds. There is a small fee to enter, and then an additional small fee that provides you with a guided jeep tour of the national park in a jeep designed with your safety in mind.

Due to the excessive travel time from Coron to Calauit Island, renting a vehicle in Coron is recommended, or you can just hit the safari from Club Paradise like I did.

Interesting Facts about Calauit Safari Park

Calauit Safari Park is a unique and fascinating destination located in the Philippines. Here are some interesting facts about this beautiful wildlife sanctuary:

1. Origin and Purpose

Calauit Safari Park was established in 1976 as a game reserve and wildlife sanctuary. Its creation was part of a government program aimed at preserving endangered animal species and providing a safe haven for them.

2. Biodiversity and Conservation Efforts

The park spans over 10,000 hectares and is home to many animal species. It was initially stocked with a selection of African wildlife, including giraffes, zebras, elands, and impalas. Over the years, the park has also become a sanctuary for various native Philippine species, including the Calamian deer and Palawan peacock.

3. Unique Wildlife Encounters

One of the main attractions of Calauit Safari Park is the opportunity for visitors to get up close to the animals. Guided tours and safari drives allow guests to observe and learn about the different species in their natural habitats. The park offers a truly immersive experience that is both educational and thrilling.

4. Stunning Landscape

Calauit Safari Park is home to a diverse range of animal species and boasts breathtaking landscapes. The park features rolling plains, lush forests, and pristine beaches, providing visitors a beautiful backdrop as they explore its natural wonders.

5. Cultural Heritage

Calauit Safari Park also holds historical significance. It was established on the island of Calauit, initially inhabited by local Tagbanua tribes. The park’s creation involved the resettlement of these indigenous communities, and their cultural heritage remains an integral part of the park’s identity.

6. Tourism and Economic Impact

The park is crucial in promoting eco-tourism and sustainable development in the region. It attracts local and international tourists, contributing to the local economy and providing employment opportunities for the surrounding communities.

Calauit Safari Park offers a unique wildlife experience, showcasing the importance of conservation and the beauty of nature. Visiting this remarkable destination allows visitors to appreciate the rich biodiversity of the Philippines while supporting ongoing conservation efforts.

Follow the Out of Town Travel Blog  on   Facebook ,   Twitter ,   Instagram , and   Pinterest  if you want more travel and food-related updates.

• Resort Review: Busuanga Bay Lodge in Palawan
• Top 10 Best Things to do in Coron Palawan
• Exploring Bangkok Safari World
• Negros Forest Park: Wildlife Sanctuary in Bacolod City

Written by Melo Villareal

Melo Villareal is the Online Publisher of Outoftownblog.com. He is an Accountant by profession who left the corporate world at the age of 23 to explore his beautiful country and the rest of the world. Today, Melo works as a part-time Social Media Manager for local and international clients. His full-time work focuses on discovering interesting culture, explore different cuisines and take memorable photos from local and international destinations he's visiting.

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Other adventures. By Aaron Teoh

Dugong Watching and Calauit Safari Park in Coron, Palawan

After 2 days of standard packaged tours ( Coron Island and nearby beaches ), time for some DIY. Both Calauit and dugong tours are expensive standalone tours available from Coron. With some help from my awesome guesthouse, I was able to check out these 2 attractions without a tour for a fraction of the usual price. Here’s how I did it!

About dugong watching and Calauit Safari Park

There are tour packages to dugong watching and Calauit Safari Park, both are quite pricey (~6000 PHP to see dugongs, ~2500 PHP for Calauit, including Black Island and Concepcion), and may not run if there are insufficient guests, unlike the boat tours which run everyday except in bad weather. However, if you’d like to see another unique side of Coron beyond the beaches and wrecks, it’s possible to arrange these without a tour agent, but with some hassle. If you have a group you can rent a car/ van instead of a bike as I did. Most people skip these places if they’re short on time. If you have some time, I’d recommend checking out this wild side of Coron, not just because it is different from the rest of Coron, but how often do you get to see dugongs, or giraffes and zebras roaming freely in Southeast Asia?

An eventful trip from Coron Town to Salvacion

The sky was a little dark, but I was hopeful it’ll hold up for some time. We left slightly past the scheduled leaving time at 6am. All was fine till we topped up gas just outside town. Immediately after leaving the gas station the driver knew something was up. Turns out we had a puncture. A couple of minutes later the rain started. The driver took the bike back to town to fix it, while I waited under some shelter nearby. The guesthouse owner (whom the bike was rented from) turned up soon after. Turns out the house across the road belonged to a friend of the guesthouse owner, so we waited there for the driver to return.

Turns out the tire was a tubeless and just needed a pump rather than a replacement. To avoid further issues the guesthouse owner swapped bikes for us and off we went into the rain. We didn’t have helmets and the rain made it uncomfortable. The driver stopped by his mum’s place to get sunglasses while I used my googles. Looked a little dumb but it worked. About an hour behind schedule at 9am, we arrived at Salvacion to purchase tickets to Calauit.

If you’re staying in Coron Town you’re supposed to purchase tickets there. If you’re staying up north then you’re supposed to get it from Salvacion at the Tourism Office. However I couldn’t wait till the office in Coron Town opened as leaving Coron Town at 8am would make it impossible to complete the itinerary, so I had to make some adjustments.

More trouble

That wasn’t the main concern now, as the seat of the bike refused to open and my money to pay for the ticket was inside. Tried for what felt like a long time but nothing worked. We pushed the bike into the office and the helpful staff came out in full force with their tools to help us pry open the seat. That took quite a bit of figuring out too. In the end we were quite behind schedule, with dreary weather to contend with.

Quite a hassle and everyone’s hard work later, I finally settled tickets to Calauit. Entering Calauit Safari Park costs 600 PHP for foreigners (500 entrance fee, 100 environmental fee). For locals entrance is 300 PHP. Next, to Quezon village for the boat to the dugong area.

Salvacion to Aban Aban Bay

Somewhere slightly further up north, the road splits, one towards Calauit Safari Park, the other, an unpaved dirt track towards Quezon village. The ride there was bumpy and difficult. This was where I was really thankful for not having attempted to ride the bike here on my own. The driver expertly navigated rocks, mud and puddles in the rain. We arrived at Quezon village around 10am, and the driver looked around for the boatman that the guesthouse had arranged for. The boat ride was 1500 PHP, which I paid after the ride. I think the price ranges between 1500 and 1800 PHP.

The 3 of us (driver, boatman and me) then got into a small wooden boat and headed across the water to the marine park office. Paid the park fees (500 PHP), a park ranger/ dugong guard joined us on board and off we were towards Aban Aban Bay. Along the way I was briefed on rules to follow when observing the dugong, such as always keeping a considerable distance from them.

There’s an organization coordinating efforts to protect the dugongs, educate locals and tourists, as well as regulate tourism activities so that tourism and conservation can be done in a sustainable manner and locals can benefit too. More information about these activities here .

Dugong watching at Aban Aban Bay

There are a couple of identified dugong habitats in the surrounding waters. Only Aban Aban Bay is open to visits, as the resident dugong, Aban, there is known to be more friendly, and the other areas are left as conservation areas. Dugong are solitary animals so we were likely to just spot one, at most. Along the way I realised there was no life jacket on board and got nervous, as I couldn’t swim well. The dugong guard assured me it would be fine just to hold on to the float he brought with him. If you’re not comfortable with swimming you might need to make arrangements to have a life jacket before the trip.

Soon after I jumped in I panicked and hit the side of the boat, earning a deep gash that bled quite badly. Fortunately it didn’t hurt. I held on to the float while the guard pulled me along. Flippers I rented in Coron Town (100 PHP) helped me keep up, while the snorkeling mask I rented from the guesthouse (150 PHP) allowed me to keep my head underwater to try to spot the elusive creature. I took awhile to figure out the mask, and water kept coming in before I figured how to use it.

The first round we went, there wasn’t much going on underwater. It was about 20 or 30 metres deep and I couldn’t see the sea floor clearly, but the guard was able to spot a sea turtle (missed it) and a stingray (below). I didn’t see it from the surface though. Wasn’t confident to dive in, so here’s a still from the action camera he helped to dive down and take for me.

Second time lucky with Aban

After half an hour of scouring the seas we got back on board and waited. As these are wild animals there are no guaranteed sightings, and as time dragged on I started to lose hope. The rain was getting heavier. On that small wooden boat it felt like we were a leaf floating on the sea in a storm. Just as it felt like it couldn’t get any more miserable, about an hour and a half after we got on board, someone on board exclaimed and pointed in the distance. Put on the gear, and jumped in. Aban was home!

Face to face with a dugong

From the water surface it’s possible to see the dugong feeding on the seafloor. It was an indescribable sight. And then when it came up to breathe, just meters away, it felt like nothing else mattered. It was just majestic and graceful. After a few breaths of air it dived deep again to the seafloor for the sea grass. I didn’t venture beyond the water surface, but the guard helped me with the camera, diving right to the bottom and following it back up (from a distance large enough not to bother the dugong, of course). I was happy just to see it when it came up. This repeated for a couple of cycles, and I was able to extract couple of stills from the multiple dives.

The dugong is not just an animal, it was a community, with fishes attached/ attracted to its nose and ass. Initially I thought it was some crap floating from its behind, then realized it was another fish.

After about half an hour we decided to call it a day. I came to Coron not expecting to go on a dugong tour, but this ended up being one of those experiences that’ll last a lifetime. One hell of a trip to get here, with a deep cut to boot, but it sure was worth it.

Visiting Calauit Safari Park

Back on dry land it was another long bumpy ride out back to the junction, then towards the pier to Calauit Safari Park. You can read more about how Calauit Safari Park came into existence on its Wikipedia article . Calauit was chosen as it was separated from Busuanga Island by a channel of water, effectively isolating the animals. Intentional or not, the creation of the safari park also resulted in better conservation efforts on Calauit, allowing native fauna populations to recover and flourish. So fast forward to 2019, all the original animals brought over from Africa have died out but some have bred successfully on their new island home and their descendants live on.

Usually people visit Calauit in the morning, so understanadably when I arrived past 3 in the afternoon there wasn’t anyone on the Busuanga side ready to get me across to the Calauit side. Staff helped to call up the boatman, who was probably quite far away at that time. The return trip, not included in the entrance fee, costs 500 PHP and is paid direct to the boatman.

By the time I crossed the channel and arrived at Calauit Safarai Park it was past 4, less than an hour before closure at 5pm. Staff were still working but I was the only visitor then. As time was running out and it was still drizzling I opted for the guided option on their park transport. The other option was walking the rest of the way, probably about 1-2 hours for a roundtrip. The transport costs 125 PHP.

Inside Calauit Safari Park

The park shuttle brings you through the main stops in Calauit Safari Park. What’s clear here is that this isn’t the typical zoo, as most animals roam freely. All around there were lots of zebras, giraffes and native deer. There are also other less frequently spotted animals in the park. Being the only visitor it was kind of a private tour too.

Just a few minutes from the muddy pier we arrived at the first stop, a large grassy clearing where zebras and giraffes were grazing. Quite an incredible sight, scenes that I’d never have expect to see in Southeast Asia. Granted, the rainy weather wasn’t pretty and it isn’t that expected dry Savannah landscape, but nonetheless an impressive sight of nature’s ability to adapt. Whatever reasons they were brought here for, they’ve managed to find a way to adapt and flourish.

There’s a stop for feeding giraffes, which environmentalists may feel strongly about. Regardless, here’s a description of how it goes. You’d enter a fenced up area (the humans are the fenced up ones), staff will bring you some of their favorite leaves, and you can hold them up while giraffes strip the branches of their leaves with their powerful jaw, teeth, and long tongue. Felt a little like playing tug-of-war with the giraffes. Here they are waiting for their favorite snack.

The other animals of Calauit

Other than the animals roaming the grassy fields there were a couple of animals kept in enclosures. This is where it may be more debatable if what was done is good for the animals. According to the guide the animals in the enclosures are rotated every few weeks. They’d release the captive ones back, then find some in the wild to bring in. There were a couple of other animals in captivity other than those seen here, some in enclosures that seem to be in bad shape. Nonetheless the safari park seems to be giving locals much incentive in ensuring that wildlife on the island flourishes and I’m sure they’re doing what they can to balance between education, tourism and conservation.

The 2 main stops along the way were at the grassy areas (including feeding) and at the enclosures area further in. After that it was back to the entrance.

Back to the pier just before 5pm, and staff were already packed up and ready to close. Back on Busuanga Island, it was another hour and a half to the next stop Malbato Chapel almost back at Coron Town.

Malbato Chapel

The original plan was to stop at Concepcion Falls along the way back, but as it was late that had to go. Also dropped from the schedule due to the turn of events was lunch, and in its place a snack stop along the way. Around 6.30pm we arrived at Malbato Chapel, after a long ride in the rain (in my googles, not looking really cool).

It wasn’t possible to go in, but from the gate it was possible to see the interiors. Had a rustic feel about it.

The reason the guesthouse had recommended me to visit Malbato Chapel was for the view, as it was on a hill. It was getting dark, and it was still cloudy from the rain, but it was still a beautiful sight.

Back to Coron Town

Given that it was already half past six by the time I reached Malbato, I had to also give up on completing Maquinit Hot Springs on the same day, as the last entry is at 7pm. I was glad to finish the exhausting day anyway, and was all ready for a good shower and big meal to complete the tiring but fulfilling day.

The full itinerary (planned)

• 6:00 am Leave Coron Town, Busuanga
• 8:00 am Reach Salvacion to buy Calauit Safari Park entrance tickets
• 9:00 am Reach Quezon Village for boat to Aban Aban Bay
• 9:20 am Stop by dugong watching office to pay park fees and pick up guard, then to Aban Aban
• 12:00 pm Back to Quezon Village
• 1:00 pm Reach Calauit Safari Park pier on Busuanga Island side
• 1:30 pm Reach Calauit Safari Park pier on Calauit Island side, proceed to Calauit tour
• 2:30 pm Complete Calauit Safari Park
• 3:00 pm Back on Busuanga Island
• 4:00 pm Reach Concepcion Falls
• 4:30 pm Leave Concepcion Falls
• 5:00 pm Reach Malbato Chapel
• 5:30 pm Leave Malbato Chapel
• 6:45 pm Reach Maquinit Hot Springs
• 8:00 pm Leave Maquinit Hot Springs
• 8:00 pm Back in Coron Town

The full itinerary (actual)

• 6:15 am Leave Coron Town
• 9:00 am Reach Salvacion
• 10:00 am Reach Quezon Village
• 2:00 pm Back at Quezon Village
• 3:00 pm Reach Calauit Safari Park pier
• 4:00 pm Reach Calauit Safari Park, Calauit Safari Park tour
• 5:00 pm Leave Calauit Safari Park
• 6:30 pm Reach Malbato Chapel
• 6:50 pm Leave Malbato Chapel
• 7:15 pm Back at Coron Town

The full cost (July 2019)

• Snorkeling mask rental from Carilo Guesthouse: 150 PHP
• Flippers rental from Sanya Dive Center: 100 PHP
• Scooter rental from Carilo Guesthouse: 400 PHP
• Driver: 800 PHP
• Petrol: 150 PHP + 110 PHP
• Calauit Safari Park Entrance Fee: 500 PHP
• Calauit Safari Park Environmental Fee: 100 PHP
• Dugong Conservation Area Entrance Fee: 500 PHP
• Dugong watching boat fee: 1500 PHP
• Calauit Safari Park boat fee: 500 PHP
• Calauit Safari Park tour: 125 PHP
• Total: 4,935 PHP

Skipped stuff (might want to factor in these costs if you’re attempting to complete them together)

• Concepcion falls: 50 PHP
• Maquinit Hot Springs: 200 PHP

The guesthouse

I would not have been able to complete this itinerary without the help from Jessica from Carilo Guest House, who helped to arrange transport and check the availability of the dugong boat and visit. Much of the tourism facilities don’t have official websites/ contact lines, and communication in English is not always easy with locals. It is best to liaise through a local who has contacts with these places and whom you can communicate with. The Carilo family was extremely friendly and helpful throughout my stay and went through the trouble of arranging the itinerary for me. I’d recommend a stay with them if you’re fine with shared dorms. Rooms and toilets are very clean and the family is always there to help you out for your stay in Coron.

Final thoughts

Dugong watching and Calauit Safari Park were 2 things I wasn’t expecting to do in Coron, but definitely glad in the end to have done it. There’s more to Coron than beaches and wrecks, and these are 2 great examples of it. One small pity though was that my phone was sacrificed after the full day ride in the rain. Also, it turned out that it was not a usual rain but the start of a small typhoon that day, and the usual tour boats out had been cancelled, as were ferries to the other provinces. Really thankful for being safe after the dugong adventure. Another potentially risky adventure completed, more to come! But for the rest of my Coron stay, more family-friendly, less heart-stopping activities . More in the next post!

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2 thoughts on “Dugong Watching and Calauit Safari Park in Coron, Palawan”

Thank you for your detailed information! We went dugong-watching too and arranged it with Jessica from Carillo guesthouse because of your article! Thanks for sharing. Amd you are definitely right: Jessica is just amazing!

Glad to be able to help! Yup she’s awesome 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it too

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THE BEST Moscow National Parks

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This is our most popular Moscow tour that includes all the most prominent sights. You will become acquainted with ancient Russia in the Kremlin, admire Russian art in the Tretyakov Gallery, listen to street musicians as you stroll along the Old Arbat street, and learn about Soviet times on the Moscow Metro tour.

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This tour is a perfect choice for those who wish to get to know Moscow in depth. One of the highlights of this package is the KGB history tour which gives an interesting perspective on the Cold War. You will also have time for exploring the city on your own or doing extra sightseeing.

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This tour is a great way to get acquainted with the capital of Russia if you are short of time. You will see all the main attractions of the city, the most important of which is the Kremlin - the heart of Russia. The tour starts on Friday and can be combined with a business trip.

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Russia's capital has so much to offer, from the Kremlin and the Metro to the Old Arbat street and the Tretyakov Gallery. Besides these sites, you will also visit a fascinating country estate which today is quite off the beaten path, Gorky Estate, where the Soviet leader Lenin spent the last months of his life.

Kolomenskoye Tour with transport

The history of Kolomenskoye stretches back for centuries. In 1380, Dmitri Donskoi’s army passed through Kolomenskoye on their way to the Kulikovo battlefield, and it was...

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The Kremlin is truly a fascinating structure, at the same time it is an ancient tower, the city’s former military fortification, a palace, an armory, the sovereign treasury...

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Kremlin, Red Sq., Cathedrals, Armory, Diamond Fund Tour

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You will be told of the street’s interesting history and view the street’s artisan culture. You will also have the opportunity to view and purchase souvenirs from the...

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Considered by some to be the Russian Vatican, Sergiev Posad is the temporary residence of the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Trinity St. Sergius Monastery (Lavra)...

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The Kuskovo Estate often called the Moscow Versailles due to its perfectly preserved French park, is an example of an 18th century, luxurious Moscow summer residence. Its history...

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The Tsaritsyno Estate is located in the southern part of Moscow. The estate was constructed for Catherine the Great by the Russian architects Bazhenov and Kazakov in a romantic...

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The Moscow Metro is one of the largest and most grandly built metro systems in the world. It was meant to be a showcase of the Soviet Union’s achievements for both the Russians...

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Vodka is an important component of Russian life, an element of national identity and everyday culture. We invite you to visit the Vodka Museum and feel the atmosphere of long-gone...

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This apartment museum located close to Patriarch Ponds became the prototype of the "bad apartment" described in the novel "The Master and Margarita." Currently the museum's...

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The State Museum of Lev Tolstoy Tour

Take this opportunity to learn more about the Russian writer Lev Tolstoy. During the visit to the museum you will see part of a vast collection of exhibits connected to Tolstoy...

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Tour of the Novodevichy Monastery. Founded in 1524 by Grand Prince VasiliIoanovich, the original convent was enclosed by fortified walls and contained 12 towers. The structure...

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Panoramic City Tour. This Moscow tour is a great start to your trip and the best way to get acquainted with many of the city’s major highlights. Our professional guide will...

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Head to the heart of Moscow with a professional guide on a 4-hour private walk through the city center. See Tverskaya and Old Arbat streets, Theatre Square with the world-famous...

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KGB Tour with transport

This is a very interesting and insightful tour. You will visit places connected with Stalin’s terror - a time of great repression and fear. You will be shown monuments to...

Soviet and Post-Soviet Moscow Tour

The tour begins with a drive or walk down Tverskaya Street – a Soviet masterpiece. In the years of Soviet power, Tverskaya began to undergo a transformation: it was widened...

Tretyakov State Gallery Tour

This world-famous gallery contains masterpieces of Russian art beginning in the 10th century up until today. You will view exquisite Russian icons and paintings from the 18th and...

Jewish Heritage of Moscow Tour

This tour offers a detailed look into the history and present-day life of the Jewish community of Moscow. On the tour, you will visit sites connected with the cultural and religious...

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Lena, our guide in Moscow was excellent. She was very knowledgable and could answer any question we had for her. We liked that she could pick up on our interests and take us places we might not have thought of to go. When we realized that one of the places we had chosen to see would probably not be that interesting to us, she was able to arrange entry to the Diamond Fund and the Armoury for us. Riding the Metro with Lena was a real adventure and a lot of fun. In Saint Petersburg we found Anna well versed in the history of the Tsars and in the Hermitage collection. Arkady in Veliky Novgorod was a very good guide and answered all of our questions with ease. Novgorod was perhaps a long way to go for a day trip, but we did enjoy it. Vasily was a great driver to have and kept us safe with good humour and skill. We enjoyed ourselves so much, my daughter says she is already planning to return. We would both have no hesistation to recommend ExpresstoRussia to anyone we know.

Just wanted to let you know that My grandson Bruno and I couldn´t have been more pleased with our week in Moscow (6/15 - 6/21). We were absolutely enchanted with the whole experience, including getting lost a couple of times in the Metro during our free time. Although both our guides (both Eleanas) were excellent, I would particularly commend the first one (she took us to the Tatiakov, the KGB tour, and to that beautiful cemetery where so many great Russian artists, authors, composers, musicians, militarists, and politicians are buried). Her knowledge is encyclopedic; and her understanding of today´s Russia as a product of its past was, for us, truly enlightening. I will be taking another tour in Russia, with my wife, within the next two or three years. I will be in touch with you when the time comes. Meanwhile, I will refer you to other potential visitors to Russia as I meet them.

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Any time of year is fine depending on what you plan to do. Summertime is pleasantly warm, ideal for exploring the city and its vibrant atmosphere, but Moscow will be much busier and accommodation is more expensive. Winter can be quite cold but beautiful nonetheless, and this is unproblematic if you intend to spend most of your trip in museums and galleries. There are also various festivals and events organised throughout the year. For more information about the best time to visit, read our guide

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