calauit safari 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

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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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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 Tour – Coron, Palawan

Posted by Lonely Travelogue | May 17, 2020 | Palawan

The Calauit Safari is a great way for nature lovers to experience a unique adventure. The Safari Park is a wildlife sanctuary that is located on its own island away from the main island in the northern part of Palawan.

Our Experience

So, we had this awesome day planned with Calamianes Island Tours. We were all set for a day tour to Calauit Safari, with a bonus side trip to Black Island. The tour cost us Php2,500.00 each, but it was totally worth it because it covered everything – transportation, food, and even entrance to the Safari.

The journey from Coron Town to Busuanga was a smooth and enjoyable ride, lasting around 1-2 hours. We stopped there to have a delicious breakfast before continuing our adventure. After that, we hopped on a coaster for another 30 minutes or so until we reached the Calauit jump-off point.

So, when I looked at the map,  I assumed that Calauit is linked to the mainland. But when I zoomed in, I discovered that it was actually a serene island with a picturesque river flowing through it. The area was, surrounded by stunning mangrove trees. The whole island is referred to as Calauit Island National Park.

The motorboat ride was so cool! I swear, this part of Coron is like a hidden gem, a totally unexplored side of the island. As soon as we stepped foot on Calauit Island, we were greeted by a super old-school battered jeepney that seemed like it had been cruising around for ages. This rattling vehicle was ready to take us on an adventure to witness the incredible wildlife of the area.

The Calauit Safari looked really promising, and I had a great feeling as soon as we stepped onto the island. The small jeepney could only fit a few tourists at a time, so we decided to give others a chance to experience the tranquillity of the area.

The old jeep came back to pick us up, y untouched by all the touristy stuff you usually find in Palawan. It’s only for the daring and adventurous souls who are willing to explore this I was beyond thrilled to hop in and listen to the incredible wartime tales that this jeep had experienced. And let me tell you, the driver was a master storyteller, recounting all the revolutions the Philippines had gone through that the jeep had seen firsthand.

As we made our way, we spotted some deer happily going about their day despite the scorching March heat. They seemed unfazed by the presence of tourists, as they were accustomed to them and carried on with their usual routine.

I was absolutely blown away when I spotted a group of male zebras just 6 feet away from me. It was truly a sight to behold, seeing them all together through my camera lens. The contrasting black and white stripes on their bodies make them look like brave warriors caught in the grip of human civilization.

We had to be careful to maintain a safe distance from the zebras because our guide warned us they might kick if they felt threatened. The most exciting part of the trip, as showcased in brochures and websites, is the opportunity to feed the towering giraffes, which really appealed to adventure-seeking tourists like us.

I absolutely adore giraffes, they’re like the divas of the animal kingdom. Despite their impressive height, they have this gentle and elegant aura. That’s what makes them divas, right? They’re sweet but can also be a bit sassy. And let’s not forget about their envy-inducing long eyelashes that would make any woman jealous. Check out my blog below to see our incredible encounter with these magnificent creatures.

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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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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 – All About Coron’s Bizarre “African” Island

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by  Manoling Martinez

January 12, 2023

Note: This post may include affiliate links. Read more about this here .  

At first glance, there’s nothing odd about giraffes and zebras in the Philippines. 

We do, after all, have zoos. 

But finding them free to roam on their own “private” island in one of the remotest corners of the country?

Now that’s bizarre. 

In today’s blog post, I’ll go over everything you need to know about Calauit Safari including: 

• How the animals got there
• Where it is and how you can visit
• FAQs about this strange place (and its controversies!)

And then I’ll close off by talking about whether or not it’s worth it to visit. 

So buckle up, because we’re about to explore Calauit Safari! 

Visiting Coron soon? Check out my travel guide for tips, and tourist spots post for ideas!

All You Need to Know About Calauit Safari 

Calauit is an isolated island on the western shores of Busuanga. 

On it, you’ll find giraffes, zebras, Calamian deer, and antelopes roaming around freely. 

These animals (except the Calamian deer) first arrived here from Africa in the 1970s, during Ferdinand Marco’s time as president. 

The original giraffes, zebras, and antelopes died off eventually. And the animals on the island now are actually their grandchildren – how bizarre is that! 

The Calauit Safari experience itself is quite simple. 

When you arrive at the island, you’ll stay at a welcome hall, waiting for your tour “jeep” to arrive. 

Once you hop in, they’ll take you to the island’s interior to see the animals…

Calauit Giraffes

There are around 27 giraffes in Calauit . And with new babies around, this number could grow to a lot more. 

The first stop of the tour is feeding the giraffes. 

Funny thing is, you’ll be the one inside the cage when doing this! Talk about reversing the roles 😂

The giraffes are friendly enough. But the cage is a precaution since one kick from these animals can cause serious injury. 

This is a great time to get up close with the giraffes, and maybe snap a few souvenir photos. 

Once the branches are finished, it’s back to the tour jeep to look for the zebras. 

Calauit Zebras

There are around 34 zebras in Calauit . 

There’s no feeding session for the zebras because these animals tend to bite. 

Instead, you’ll be brought to the area where zebras like to hang out. If you’re lucky, they’ll be curious and come to check you out. 

Important Note: Avoid touching the animals! Your guides will make sure to keep you at a safe distance. But if the animals approach you, try as much as possible to stay out of the way. 

Calamian Deer

Calamian deer are endemic to these islands. But it’s still nice to find them in such big numbers in a wildlife reserve. 

You’ll find them milling around almost wherever you look. 

They seem to get along really well with the giraffes and zebras too. 

You might even witness a deer fight! 

Calauit Antelopes

Calauit’s antelopes were thought to have died off a few years ago. However, there have been several sightings of them recently. 

These creatures are very shy, so they run away whenever there are humans around. 

We were extremely lucky to have seen them as our tour jeep was heading from the zebra area toward the mini zoo!

Speaking of mini zoo…

Calauit Mini Zoo Animals

Porcupines, turtles, civets, a crocodile, a snake, monkeys, and other common Philippine animals make up the Calauit mini zoo. 

If you’re from the Philippines, you’ve probably seen all these animals before. 

But the Calauit guides can tell you a LOT of interesting things you didn’t know about them. 

There are also plenty of trees and sitting places in the zoo area, so this is a great place to take a rest. 

The last stop before heading back is the wild boar’s pen. 

Interesting, but not quite as spectacular as the giraffes and zebras just roaming around. 

All in all, the whole tour takes about an hour to an hour and a half. 

How to Get to Calauit Safari

The only plausible way to get to Calauit Safari is to join a tour! Calauit Safari tours start at php2,500 per head (or php2,300 if you book here ). 

Calauit Safari is found on the western tip of Busuanga, about 2 hours and 15 minutes away from Coron Town (2 hours by road, 15 minutes by boat). 

This makes it difficult to get here without booking a tour. 

Most tours will include lunch at Busuanga town, followed by a trip to Black Island (a white sand island with a cave and a shipwreck). 

We used Millenial Travel and Tours when we visited. They had brochures at the airport, and we just called their number. Alternatively, you can also find these tours for cheaper on booking sites like Klook . 

Calauit Safari FAQs

How did the animals get to calauit.

By boat! During president Marco’s term in the 1970s, he brought in giraffes, zebras, and antelopes from Kenya. 

Why Were the Animals Brought to Calauit? 

President Marcos, who brought the animals to Calauit, said this was done to aid with conservation. 

However, anyone who knows Philippine politics knows that Marcos is a very controversial figure 😂

That’s why plenty of critics claim that the animals were brought in for more selfish reasons . 

Who Owns Calauit Safari? 

Today, Calauit Island is owned by the native Tagbanwa people , and the wildlife reserve is run by the Provincial Government of Palawan as an eco-tourism spot. 

By visiting Calauit Safari, you’ll be supporting the conservation of the animals, and helping the caretakers as well! 

Why is Calauit Safari Controversial? 

The controversies surrounding Calauit have to do with Marcos removing the inhabitants of Calauit to make way for the safari in the 70s, the inbreeding of the animals today, and the problems of coexisting with people. 

There’s no arguing that natives were relocated from Calauit to make way for the safari. Whether this was done peacefully or forcefully is where the controversy comes in! 

The other controversies with Calauit have to do with the survival of the animals now. 

Yes, they have reproduced successfully. 

But there are concerns over how long they can survive with this inbreeding. 

Finally, several people have settled back in Calauit, and this has caused some clashes with the animals. 

Giraffes eat farmer’s crops, people poach the antelopes, etc. 

There are plenty of problems that aren’t being addressed properly!

Do I Need a Tour to Visit Calauit Safari?

Yes! Visiting Calauit is very difficult without a tour. Tours start at php2,499/head including a side trip to Black Island. 

We used Millenial Travel and Tours when we visited, but you can also find these tours for cheaper on booking sites like Klook . 

Do I Need to Book in Advance to Visit Calauit Safari?

It’s better to book in advance, especially if you’re visiting on Saturday, Sunday, or Monday (since some offices are closed on the weekends). 

However, don’t stress!

We didn’t book until the day before we left, and didn’t have any problems. 

What Are the Animals on Calauit Safari? 

Calauit Safari has giraffes, zebras, antelopes, and Calamian deer free to roam. While the wild boars are kept in pens. 

In their mini zoo, they have porcupines, turtles, civets, a crocodile, a snake, monkeys, and other common Philippine animals

How Far is Calauit From Coron? 

Calauit is roughly 40km from Coron. Getting there takes 2 hours by van, and another 15 minutes by boat! 

Conclusion: Should You Visit Calauit Safari? 

I usually end these by saying a resounding YES!

But for Calauit, you might have some reservations. 

The travel is far. 

The tours are expensive.

The place is somewhat controversial. 

And there are other better things to do in Coron anyway (such as visiting Twin Lagoon and Kayangan Lake , climbing Mt Tapyas , or dipping in Maquinit Hot Spring ). 

But if you’re up for visiting one of the most bizarre islands in the Philippines, then it’s a definite yes! 

Plus, if you care about the animals, visiting helps support the park and the conservation of the “misplaced” giraffes, zebras, and antelopes. 

That’s why I visited! 

Plus, you also get to visit Black Island , which is a VERY underrated destination!

Looking for more travel tips for Coron? Check out my travel guide here . You can also check out my Coron Tourist Spots blog posts for more ideas!

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Manoling Martinez

Hi! I'm Manoling, a 24-year-old backpacker from Cebu City. I'm on a mission to visit ALL 82 provinces of the Philippines. You can follow my adventures on my Instagram, or plan your trips here on my website!

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