Today is a big day on our road trip. We’re heading north to Carmen to visit the Cebu Safari and Adventure Park. I’ve heard a lot about this place, and I wanted to see if it really lives up to the reputation of being a world-class wildlife park right here in Cebu. After the safari, the plan is to continue north to Daanbantayan, which will be our base for some upcoming island-hopping adventures.
We started the morning with a bit of a debate. I suggested waiting one more day, but Jessa was determined to get going, so here we are! We still haven't managed to hit that water park I've mentioned, but we can save that for the return trip. The drive to Carmen is beautiful, and by the time we reached the park, the sun was shining—a perfect day for the family.
Getting into the park was an experience in itself. It’s massive, and to get to "base camp," as I call it, you ride in these large specialized trucks. Liam was absolutely fascinated by the size of the car. It really sets the stage for the scale of what they’ve built here.
Our first stop was the bird area. Now, if you’ve spent any time in the mountains with us, you know Jessa has a very specific relationship with birds—mainly the ones that try to steal our chicken! Seeing them up close in a more controlled environment was a bit more peaceful. We saw everything from colorful parrots to some very impressive hawks.
The highlight for Liam, without a doubt, was the tigers. Tigers are his absolute favorite animal, so seeing a real one was a huge moment for him. He was so excited that he was jumping up and down. We also had the chance to see the white lions, which the guides explained are leucistic, not albino. They were mostly relaxing, being nocturnal animals, but still very impressive to see.
One of the coolest parts of the park is the African Savannah tour. You ride in a protected vehicle through these wide-open areas where zebras, antelopes, and wildebeest roam freely.
After a few hours of exploring, we stopped for lunch. I had roast beef while Liam stuck to his favorite—fries—and Jessa had a burger. The restaurant has a fantastic view of the park, which made the meal even better.
While Liam and I kept things grounded, Jessa decided to get adventurous. She signed up for the zip line, which is about 1.2 kilometers long. I have to give her credit—she’s not exactly a pro on a bike, but there she was, flying through the air! She was pretty nervous, but she looked very proud of herself when she finally made it back.
Before heading out, we made a few more stops to see the giraffes, the "lazy" crocodiles (who reminded me a bit of Jessa's snoring habits!), and some very cute meerkats. We even spotted some kangaroos, or at least that's what Jessa called them—I'm still not 100% sure about her animal identification skills!
It’s been a long, productive, and really fun day. We’re going to relax for a bit before finishing the drive to Daanbantayan.
Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you in the next one!
