AN honest-to-goodness zoo in Cebu? Yes, thanks to nature lover/businessman/visionary Michel Lhuillier who didn’t count the cost of putting up one in his 2,000-hectare property in Carmen, Cebu. Called the Cebu Safari & Adventure Park, the initial development (all of 170 hectares) is not only a zoo and an entertainment center (there’s a fantastic Bird Show with a trainer from Singapore) but a terraced garden, an orchid sanctuary, an adventure camp, a tree-lined haven and a dreamy refuge away from it all.

It was a beautiful Tuesday morning when we made our way to the place we’d heard so much about even if it was only on its soft opening. Honey Loop, proud Mom of the man-in-charge, vice president/chief operating officer Eduard Loop, led our group of writers to the nature oasis. The magnitude of the project was beyond our expectations. Yes, when totally completed, the place will be one major tourist destination in the country. The very competent Eduard (Dad is United States consular officer Glenn Loop) shared that coming up are challenging zipline rides, water sports, an Olympic-sized pool, more animals and a 60-room hotel in addition to the varied food outlets now under construction.

Cebu Safari & Adventure Park is set to formally open on the second quarter of this year. As of now, it is accepting weekend visitors by reservation through sales@cebusafari.ph.