Badoka Safari Park, August 2015

    Have you ever thought about having a chance to do a safari without going to Africa? Well, I never thought of that, and so when I knew of this hypothesis didn't think twice.

entrance

     So in my week of vacation I decided, along with one of my best friends, to do a detour and go to Vila Nova de Santo André, in direction to Santiago do Cacém. I tell you never cross my mind that would be so far!!! Coming out of Covilhã it's more than a half a day trip, and yet we stopped for lunch on the way.

    Around 3pm we got there, with some expectation, because neither os us had been there. In this park you can see the Island of Primates, a place that recreates the environment similar to the wild. You can find were chimpanzees and baboons. 

    We can do a safari, in a tractor guided tour, by a space of 45 hectares, among giraffes, buffaloes, ostriches, zebras and many other friends from the African Savannah in freedom. It's possible in this adventure to feed giraffes and zebras, as they are quite affable and approximate the vehicles, waiting for the "great luck" (the guide advised not to feed the ostriches, because can become dangerous). For security reasons the Tigers and another species (of which I no longer remember the name) are in a closed space.

    In the park you can watch the presentation of the Birds of Prey (eagles and hawks in free flight, simulating hunting scenes) and also feed the lemurs (animals endangered ... who does not remember the mythical character from "Madagascar." .. "I like to move it, move it ..."). The most radical and wet experience is the African Rafting a 500 meters trip through troubled waters aboard an inflatable boat (for 2 € without travel limit - the people finished a trip and went back to the line) ... Get ready to get wet :)!!!

    The entire park is sandy, so do the Rafting and then make the visit isn't the best option (believe me). It's part of the park, the African village, the educational farm, the garden of exotic birds and tropical forest.

    The park has set schedules for all activities and the ticket is a bit expensive, but it's still a different adventure. In terms of price we paid (each) 15€+2€ (for rafting), but add 12€ (adult) or 10€ (child) if you want to interact with the lemurs.

For more information visit the website: www.badoca.com