Nestled in the northern part of Busuanga, the Calauit Island Safari Park offers a surreal escape into a world where African wildlife roams freely beneath the Philippine sun.
Often referred to as “Coron’s African savannah,” this distinctive eco-tourism destination is a natural area where the entire environment and all the plants and animals are allowed to live in a natural state, with the absolute minimum of human interference or disturbance.
This wildlife reserve was established in August 31, 1976, initiated by the national government in response to the appeal of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature to help save African wildlife, after then President Ferdinand Marcos attended a conference in Kenya.
Originally established to safeguard endangered species, the whole island was designated then as the Calauit Game Refuge and Wildlife Sanctuary, intended to provide a habitat for both exotic African wildlife and endangered fauna found only in Palawan. Today, this 3,700-hectare protected area functions as a site for conservation and tourism.
Accessible by boat from Busuanga town proper, wildlife that guests will encounter here include African species such as giraffes, gazelles, zebras, and brown deer that roam the expansive savannah-like terrain, living in harmony alongside endemic local fauna like the elusive Calamian deer, mouse deer, Palawan bearcat, Palawan peacock pheasant, estuarine crocodiles, and spiny anteaters.
On-site activities and experiences feature a morning safari tour where visitors can explore the sanctuary and observe animals in semi-natural habitats; animal feeding, where guests can join park rangers in feeding giraffes and other creatures, providing a hands-on experience; and photography opportunities, allowing visitors to capture images of zebras grazing and deer wandering through the underbrush.
Calauit Safari Park offers an intimate, educational experience that intertwines conservation and adventure, making it an enticing destination for nature enthusiasts and families alike, offering moments that seem straight out of a National Geographic feature.
