Having visited the tamer residents of Zoobic Safari in Zoobic Safari, Part 1 – Zoobic Park, Aeta’s Trail, Serpentarium, and Savannah, it’s time to jump in to the apex predators – the Tigers and Crocodiles. We’ll even take a gander at a few of the larger lizards in the Serpentarium.
Table of Contents
Directions
A co-worker asked me how to get to Zoobic Safari as he will be visiting the place this weekend. Well, the best way to get there is to take the North Luzon Expressway, or NLEX, all the way to the end. Then take the road on the right that connects to the SCTex, or Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.
Zoobic Safari Signs
Follow the signs within the SCTex, and you will find yourself at the entrance of this former Spanish and American Naval Base.
After going through the last toll way, follow the path down the mountain. You will then roll up to the first of several traffic lights in Subic Naval Base. Take a left here then follow the clearly posted signs to Zoobic Safari.
It may help that the route to Zoobic Safari also leads to the Subic Ocean Park, which is way past the zoo.
What I failed to tell my co-worker was to keep an eye out for vans or trucks that are loaded with hay. On the last few kilometers to Subic, I counted as many as three trucks loaded with this type of feed on the way to the zoo. And when I say loaded, I mean that literally. The space right behind the driver, all the way to the back doors were packed from floor to ceiling with hay.
[If in doubt, follow the vehicle with the green stuff in it!]
Serpentarium
I don’t know what it is about reptiles; they have a way of repulsing yet fascinating people. Perhaps it is in their unblinking and hypnotic eyes. Or maybe it is due to the cold-bloodedness that attracts people to them.
Reptile
As the name suggests, visitors have the opportunity to view a small variety of reptiles in the Serpentarium. The place is actually an old ammunitions bunker used by the American Navy when it still occupied Subic Naval Base before the Mount Pinatubo eruption. But instead of ammunition boxes all over the place, enclosures are what line the walls today.
Due to the glass windows, a kid in our tour groups thought they were aquariums. But after closer inspection, realized the water was missing. Although the enclosures didn’t meet expectations, judging from the oohs and ahs, the kid wasn’t disappointed.
One of the nice things about these enclosures is that glass is only used for viewing purposes, hence only being in front. The back and sides were made either of stone or wood, making the habitat look and feel natural.
Monitor Lizard
Thought he Boa Constrictor and Iguana had large enough spaces, they paled in comparison to the one occupied by the Monitor Lizards. Talking up as much as an entire side, these large Lizards had enough space to strut their stuff all over the leaf-covered ground and climb several small trees growing in the enclosure.
Iguana
I always enjoy the sight of the colorful Iguana whenever I visit a zoo because their colorful appearances never disappoint. But in the Serpentarium, the one reptile that caught my attention happened to be a drab one lazily perched atop a branch. What made it memorable may be due to trick of the light. With it shining on one side, the illuminated eye was bright gray, while the eye in the shade was brown.
[Then again, it really might have a blue and brown eye.]
Tiger Safari Ride
Since you will most likely be interested in the Tigers, let’s jump directly to the reason why you, and nearly everyone, else visits Zoobic Safari – the Tiger Safari Ride.
Tiger Ride Jeepneys
In order to see the largest cats in the world, visitors get in specially modified jeepneys and driven into a feeding pen. The area is quite large, meaning that as many as three tigers can roam around freely, together with a couple of jeepneys, without crowding each other.
Before riding, your tour guide will divide visitors into two groups – Feeding and Non-feeding. If you are unsure which group to select, you consider joining the Feeding Group.
Feeding Group
Visitors who opt for the feeding group will need to provide PhP 100 as a shared amount to buy chicken. This will then be fed to the tigers by a specially trained Aeta staff member riding inside the jeepney.
Tiger Feeding
I know what you’re thinking… you’re probably envisioning a live, clucking chicken being held upside down by its legs. Banish that thought, as the chicken, while fresh, isn’t fresh enough to be alive. In fact, it isn’t even whole because anything larger than the choice cuts you see at the grocery store cannot be pushed through the steel cage of the jeepney.
[No feathers either.]
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, the beauty about paying for the chicken is that the tigers will come all the way to the jeepney in order to get the food from the Aeta staff member. At this point, that tiger will be so close, you can actually smell it.
[Get that camera ready, you won’t want to miss this part.]
Incidentally, all visitors are strictly prohibited from touching the jeepney cages during the Tiger Safari Ride. A combination of teeth and claws, speed and power, can mean losing fingers or a whole hand to a curious or hungry tiger.
So when the Aeta staff yells at hardheaded people to keep their hands away, it’s best to listen to him because he is serious about visitor safety.
Non-feeding Group
Tiger Safari Waiting Area
As the name suggests, the Non-feeding one simply means that visitors get to save PhP 100 as chicken won’t be bought. The unfortunate result of this savings is that tigers will most likely ignore your jeepney for another.
[Think of it as courting the tiger’s affections; the better offering gets the tiger.]
So unless you happen to look like deer or elk, or smell really appetizing, your first experience with the tigers may be a dud without the chicken.
The Ride
Majority of the surface the tiger ride pen has been left in the form of soil to minimize heat. If most it were covered in concrete or worse, asphalt, then Zoobic Safari would have to deal with a lot of burnt tiger feet.
[And if you think tigers can be ornery, they can get downright hostile with blisters.]
Bathing Tiger
In addition to the shade provided by trees, there is a Tiger Pool closer to the entrance. Given one’s excitement upon entering, it can be easy to miss. Fortunately for me, my nephew has a quick eye. And as we rolled in, he pointed to a tiger cooling off in the pool. With only his head sticking out of the water, it was one of those once-in-a-lifetime sights.
Before continuing, I need to set expectations by saying the ride itself is about seven minutes long. And while that may sound short, it is more than enough time to snap tons of pictures.
Also, don’t expect any of these 400-pound tigers to engage in mortal combat during the ride. The management team of Zoobic Safari takes great pains to ensure that only a trio of compatible tigers are in the pen at any one time.
[If regular fights were allowed, Zoobic Safari would have less and less tigers with every visit.]
Tiger
So were the tigers amazing in those seven minutes? I don’t know about you, but this is probably going to be the only time I will ever get to see a tiger this close and walk away from it. So while reactions may vary from person to person, I rather enjoyed the experience.
Seeing those big teeth on television is one thing, but seeing them this close is another thing altogether. Apart from gulping chunks of raw chicken like gel-coated vitamin pills, the musky scent of the tiger could be overpowering.
[At least I hope I was smelling the tiger because my pleasant memories of the ride will turn ugly if it belonged to one of the passengers.]
The nice thing about our Aeta guide was that he would twist to feed the tiger so each row of visitors got a good view. And if there is one thing I noticed, it’s that people inside our jeepney were so busy enjoying the scene, a few actually forgot to take pictures.
[Count me as one of those initially engrossed in the feeding.]
Tiger
After the feeding was done and we were on our way back, I realized how important it is to keep those Tiger Ride jeepneys in good condition. Imagine if one of them broke down inside the tiger feeding pen. And imagine if the tigers did not want to leave the pen to allow people out because they knew they would be getting a chicken treat. Then imagine if the jeepney ran out of chicken and the tigers were still hungry. Well, the people inside the jeepney might start to look like chicken to the tigers and then that’s when the real problem starts.
[So yeah, I enjoyed myself; especially since I got out in the end.]
Close Encounter
As our jeepney drove into the tiger feeding area, I noticed a row of small tiger pens down the hill, on the left side. After getting back safely from the Tiger Ride, this turned out to be our next stop.
With over 40 tigers in Zoobic Safari, the remaining 37 or so are housed here till it is their turn to enter the feeding area. And judging from the specimens we saw here, the three tigers that greeted us for the ride were probably younger because they appeared smaller.
Tiger
Being that it was a little after noon, most of the tigers were napping under rows of electric fans and water misters. There was one pacing his pen and the other tiger with him was probably saying “Tony, you’re just getting yourself all riled up. Lie down, relax, and chill like the rest of us.”
[Then again, Tony may have been plotting his escape after talking to that conniving donkey in Zoobic Park.]
While the zoo in Balauarte had quite a number of impressive tiger specimens, the collection in Zoobic Safari may eclipse them. They were more and appeared to be much bigger.
[Then again, it may be that the impact was more when you see them roaming around.]
I understand that Zoobic Safari had a pair of Tiger Cubs born on the premises a few months prior to our dropping by. When they reached a certain age, I heard that some lucky visitors had the privilege of taking pictures with them.
Well, the cubs weren’t available during our visit. This was most likely due to it being the hottest part of the day. Perhaps when the temperature is cooler, the pair can be brought out to the delight of a few fortunate visitors.
Croco Loco
From the predators on the ground, we now move to the ones in the water. Croco Loco has quite a number of Crocodiles floating in an artificial pond. Above the pond stands a bridge where guests can see, and even feed, the crocs.
Crocodiles
Dating back millions of years, the Crocodile is much, much older than the Tiger. And while the Tiger may be the biggest cat on land, the crocodile may be its reptilian counterpart in lakes and rivers.
I understand that one of the best experiences that visitors can get is to watch the Crocodiles eat. During feeding time, which tends to take place once a once a week, guests have the opportunity of paying a small amount to do the feeding themselves. With raw chicken attached to the end of a bamboo pole, people can get a first-hand view of what makes crocs dangerous.
Unfortunately, our visit didn’t coincide with feeding time so I didn’t get to witness how they behave. However, my brother had the opportunity to feed them at the Crocodile Farm in Puerto Pricesa. And if there is one thing he will say, it’s that they can jump.
Crocodiles
While appearing to be lumbering on land, crocodiles are quite different when submerged. Per my brother’s description, they can rocket out of the water with surprising speed to attain great heights when chicken is dangled over the water.
The last leg of this exhibition involves taking a picture with a juvenile Crocodile. For PhP 50, visitors get the chance to bite this biter back. Well, at least they can pretend to do so because biting the armored skin may injure visitors more than the Croc.
Other Attractions
Other than the ones mentioned in Part 1 and Part 2 of the Zoobic Safari series, there are still other attractions to consider.
Rodent World
One of the more popular ones include the Night Safari, which is basically the Tiger Safari ride, only it is done after the sun sets. This means no burning sun and cooler temperatures.
Ticket prices are a little higher at PhP 645 and the only schedule available takes place on Summer Weekends. The main drawback of taking the night schedule is that the other exhibitions, like Zoobic Park, will be closed.
Another attraction include Rodent World, where visitors get to see and pet animals like the Guinea Pig. The thing is, this isn’t for everyone. If the people you are with are kind of squeamish about mouse-like creatures, they may not enjoy themselves.
There is also the Subic Cave and the Zipline, which provides you with the sensation of flying like a super hero. Instead of sitting in a harness, visitors lie in one.
Zoovenir and Café Shops
With the main attractions out of the way, the one last place visitors might want to visit are the souvenir shops. Aptly called Zoovenir Shops, they have everything from the usual T-Shirts to refrigerator magnets. They also have a collection of animal pillows, some of which are bigger than some the Miniature Horses we encountered in Zoobic Park.
[Even the toy tigers are big here.]
Zoovenir Shop
So while pictures are a great keepsake for adults, the kids will have something to keep them company at night.
Speaking of which, if live animals are more to your child’s liking, there is a pet store near the Ticketing Booth just for that. Loved ones can choose from a variety of aquatic and land animals. These include fish, Guinea Pigs, and other small creatures.
[Sorry kids, no Tigers, Crocodiles, Iguanas, Snakes, and Miniature Horses here.]
Tiger Café
Finally, for those of you who have built up an appetite after watching the Tigers eat, small food kiosks are dotted around the place. Apart from serving sandwiches, like hot dogs, they also have different types of snacks. However, I think it is the ice-cold water that is the biggest seller here.
[I polished off an entire liter of ice-cold water in a single sitting.]
Finally, there is the slightly more comfortable Tiger Café beside the Tiger Ride Waiting Area. For those early birds in need of that caffeine fix, this is the place to get it. Unfortunately, I failed to ask if coffee from Civet Cats were served here. If it is, expect it to cost more than the average one.
[I mean, there is only so much a Civet Cat can make in a day, right?]
Final Thoughts
There you have it, another interesting place to visit when in the Philippines. Unlike the prehistoric creatures found in Dinosaurs Island, the ones in Zoobic Safari are pretty much alive and just as dangerous.
Crocodile
Located within the Ilana Forest in Subic Naval Base, it makes use of the naturally-grown trees, plants, and rolling hills to its advantage.
[It’s as real as it gets.]
In the case of the Tiger Ride, 7 minutes may not seem enough. But I’ll tell you, with all the other attractions in Zoobic Safari, anything longer may mean spending the entire day there.
To put things in perspective, going to the Zoobic Park, Aeta Trail, Serpentarium, and Croco Loco Tiger Safari Ride, Close Encounters, and Savannah will take approximately two and a half hours.
[Besides this, I doubt if people would want to be cooped up in a jeepney for a long time.]
The other attractions, such as Zoobic Cave, Rodent World, and Zipline will tack on an extra hour, maybe more if you want to linger. So if you want to get your money’s worth, allot an entire day for Zoobic Safari.
Crocodile Holding
Finally, if you are not too keen about visiting the zoo during the day time, Zoobic Safari offers a night schedule during the summer. It’s a bit more expensive at PhP 646, but the lower temperature of the Night Safari can be a relief to some. The only drawback is that certain parts of the zoo will be closed to give the animals their beauty sleep.
Well, it’s the middle of May already and with classes slated to start in the first week of June. That means you have 2 weeks left to enjoy the summer. Apart from visiting the many wonderful beaches scattered around the Philippines, you might want to try dropping by Zoobic Safari for a different experience.
Do’s
- Wear clothes that will help you stay cool.
- Bring a face towel.
- Use closed-toed shoes.
- If wearing slippers, bring a rag to wipe feet on before getting inside the car.
- Consider paying a little for the opportunity to interact with the animals.
Don’ts
- Do not wear shoes with heels.
- Avoid bringing the baby carriage with you at it will accumulate dust.
- Keep all fingers and hands away from the jeepney cages during the Tiger Safari Ride.
- Do not touch the tiger cages at Close Encounters.
Comments are closed