If you’ve ever dreamt about going on an African safari, but are still worried about travel and budget restrictions, fret not. Palawan has its own exotic little island where you can catch a glimpse of incredible wildlife: Calauit Island, a 3,700 hectare island that acts as a wildlife preserve. It’s recently reopened to tourists again, and its unique animal population has made it an interesting stop for those going on a Coron tour.

What are the must-see sights in this national park? What is its history, and how do visitors get there? Keep reading to learn more about this game preserve!

After A Dark Beginning, The Locals Are Working Hard To Protect The Wildlife

Known as Calauit Island National Park, the park had a painful past where the Tagbanua people indigenous to the area were displaced by the Marcoses in the late ‘70s to make way for this private project known as “Little Africa”. Animals were imported from Africa, allegedly to launch a new tourism business – but it never got off the ground.

The Tagbanua were luckily able to return in 2009, when the government awarded them an ancestral domain title. This was the same year that the park opened for tourist visits. While years of inbreeding and forced adaptation to a different environment were challenging to the imported animals, today, their offspring freely roam the park and await curious visitors.

Learn More About The Species On This Island

Bring a camera and comfy walking shoes as you explore Calauit Island! Your adventurous spirit will be rewarded with the sight of zebras, elands, and species that are native to Palawan such as civet cats and Calamian deer. The sanctuary is also home to four Philippine crocodiles and tortoises.

There used to be six different types of antelope on the island, but the population has died out over the past few decades despite best efforts to care for them. The biggest draws for tourists here are usually the majestic giraffes and the zebras. Ride the land rover and admire from a distance – while feeding them is certainly allowed, it’s also a good idea to reduce their interaction with humans to minimize the impact on the sanctuary.

There’s still a long way to go in helping these animals live a healthy and carefree life in the right environment. However, with recent interest growing in the island as a tourist destination, there’s hope that things can be turned around!

How To Get To Calauit Island National Park

Thinking of visiting this unique island sanctuary? If you’re coming from Manila, take a flight heading to Busuanga airport. However, if you’re staying in Coron or Busuanga for a Coron tour and adding this park to your itinerary, you can easily take a shuttle to the main town area. From Coron town proper, you can opt to charter a private boat heading to the island – the best option for big travel groups, as this boat charter will take you island-hopping to other nearby islands.

Traveling solo or just with a handful of friends? No worries: many travel agencies in town readily offer scheduled group tours to this national park.