Coron Calauit Safari: Swimming with Giraffes in the Philippines

PANA.PH Team · Philippines travel teamPublished June 4, 2026 · 3 min read

Coron Calauit Safari: Swimming with Giraffes in the Philippines

There is a moment on the Calauit Safari where you are standing on a tropical beach, a warm breeze coming off the South China Sea, palm trees overhead, and a giraffe is walking toward you. Not behind glass, not at a zoo — a real, wild giraffe on a real tropical island in the Philippines. It is the kind of surreal experience that makes people wonder if they are in a dream.

Calauit Island is located in the Calamian Island group of northern Palawan, about 30 kilometers northwest of Coron town. In 1977, President Marcos issued a decree establishing Calauit as a wildlife sanctuary and relocated African animals there from Kenya — giraffes, zebras, impalas, bushbucks, and waterbucks. The animals have thrived. Today the sanctuary is home to a growing population of African wildlife that has adapted remarkably well to the tropical Philippine environment.

What Animals Will You See?

Giraffes — the most famous residents; around 12-15 individuals in a breeding population that has been successfully growing for decades
Zebras — they roam in small herds across the island
Impalas — elegant and fast, usually spotted in larger herds near the island interior
Bushbucks and waterbucks — often seen at the forest edge and near freshwater areas
Calamian Deer — an endemic Philippine species that shares the island with the African wildlife

The giraffes are the undisputed highlight. They have been semi-habituated to human presence and will often approach visitors for food — the wardens supply leaves and you can feed them directly from your hand. Standing next to a full-grown giraffe and watching it take leaves from your open palm, with nothing but blue sea and tropical sky behind it, is one of the most memorable wildlife moments you can have in Southeast Asia.

How to Visit Calauit Safari

The Calauit Safari Park tour departs from Coron town and includes a 1-2 hour boat ride to the island, a guided tour of the safari area, and the return boat journey. Full-day tours cost around PHP 1,800-2,500 per person and typically include lunch. The island cannot be visited independently — all visits must be through an accredited tour operator.

Best Time to Visit

Calauit Safari operates year-round but boat access can be disrupted by rough weather during typhoon season (June-October). Wildlife is most active and visible in the early morning and late afternoon. The dry season (November-May) is the best window for comfortable wildlife viewing. February through April is the sweet spot: calm seas, dry weather, and the island grasslands at their most photogenic.

Combining Calauit with Other Coron Activities

Most visitors combine the Calauit Safari with the Coron island tour including Kayangan Lake — one day for the wildlife, one day for the lakes and lagoons. Adding a day of WW2 wreck diving completes the Coron experience: three entirely different adventures in one unforgettable trip.

Practical Tips

Wear long sleeves and pants if possible — the island has mosquitoes and the grassland areas can be rough for bare legs
Bring a zoom lens — the zebras tend to maintain distance and are best photographed from afar
Do not rush the giraffe feeding — take your time with this interaction; it is genuinely magical
Bring water — the island is hot and walking portions of the tour can be tiring in midday heat
Respect the wildlife — do not try to approach animals independently; they are wild, not domesticated

Getting to Coron

Fly from Manila to Busuanga Airport (USU) with Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, or AirAsia (55 min). From the airport, a van or tricycle takes you to Coron town (20 min). Book the Calauit Safari tour on PANA.PH and combine it with the Coron island tour for an unforgettable Palawan wildlife adventure.