[Joyongjun's Travel Journey] Look Closely! My Breathtaking Back View, Wider! Closer! Making Eye Contact with a Predator

Everland Safari World Celebrates 45th Anniversary with New 'Safari Tram' Tour Vehicles

[Asia Economy Reporter Yongjun Cho] Everland Safari World tour vehicles have undergone an innovative transformation for the first time in 45 years. The traditional buses used for observing wild animals have been replaced with trams featuring large panoramic glass windows and a lower height, designed to match the eye level of visitors.

Everland, operated by Samsung C&T Resort Division, will introduce the new 'Safari World Wild Tram' (hereafter Safari Tram) starting from the 14th, offering closer and more vivid wildlife observation.

The Safari Tram is a new Safari World tour vehicle that Everland has been preparing for over two years ahead of its 45th anniversary this year. Unlike the previous safari buses, the tram consists of three vehicles connected in a single line, functioning as a kind of trackless train freely moving around Safari World.

Safari World has been operated since Everland opened as a natural farm in 1976, with visitors observing wild animals from buses. An Everland official explained, "The transformation of Safari World vehicles after 45 years is about matching the eye level of visitors with the safari animals," adding, "The vehicle height has been lowered and panoramic glass windows installed to provide a wider and closer view, allowing visitors to make eye contact with wild animals and enjoy vivid close-up observation."

He also said, "Through the new Safari Tram, customers will be able to experience not just 'viewing' but also the 'joy of riding.'"

◇Wider! Closer! Vivid close-up observation making eye contact with wild animals

The Safari Tram, consisting of three vehicles connected in a row, is a train-type vehicle where an SUV towing vehicle equipped with a powerful 312-horsepower turbo engine pulls two tram cars (non-powered) carrying visitors. The total length reaches 22 meters.

The tram cars for visitors feature transparent panoramic windows on all sides?front, back, left, and right?from floor to ceiling, offering an unprecedentedly wide and open view. When seated, the average eye level of an adult is about 1.6 meters above the ground, significantly lower than the previous bus height of 2.2 meters. Visitors can make eye contact with approaching wild animals such as lions, tigers, and brown bears from much closer distances, enabling vivid observation.

Each Safari Tram has 28 seats, allowing up to 56 people to ride simultaneously per operation. Six trams wrapped in various themed designs such as tiger, military, and game rotate in operation, making guessing which tram you will ride a fun way to enjoy the newly revamped Safari World.

The transparent viewing windows are made of approximately 20mm thick, five-layer special bulletproof glass using polycarbonate material, which has 150 times the impact absorption of regular tempered glass, ensuring safe viewing even with the active movements of wild animals.

To celebrate the opening of the Safari Tram with its expanded windows perfect for capturing memorable photos, Everland will hold an SNS photo certification event from the 14th to June 20th.

Customers who upload certification photos taken with wild animals while riding the Safari Tram on Instagram will be entered into a draw to win outdoor gear, coffee coupons, and other prizes for 10 winners.

◇Observe over 50 wild animals of 7 species including tigers, lions, and brown bears

During the approximately 20-minute Safari World tour on the Safari Tram, visitors can vividly observe over 50 animals of 7 species inhabiting the approximately 34,000㎡ (10.3 thousand pyeong) Safari World up close.

Safari World is divided into three main safari zones: Tiger Safari, Lion Safari, and Bear Safari. Visitors can encounter various wild animals ranging from the critically endangered Korean tiger to the king of the jungle, the lion, and brown bears that can grow up to 3 meters tall. Rare animals such as white lions, Asiatic black bears, and hyenas can also be seen in Safari World.

Across from Safari World, in the adjacent Lost Valley Safari, herbivores like giraffes and zebras can be viewed through the Safari Tram’s expansive transparent windows.

During the tour, the tram driver provides real-time ecological explanations and hidden stories about each animal through the audio system, enhancing the vivid safari exploration experience.

Everland has completed thorough preparations, including extending the length of the electric gates at Safari World and revising internal operation manuals, to ensure the new Safari Tram operates safely and smoothly.

◇The first safari in Korea and Asia... cumulative visitors reach 84 million

Safari World is Korea’s and Asia’s first safari, operated since Everland opened as 'Yongin Natural Farm' in 1976. Although the appearance of safari buses has evolved over time, the concept of riding buses to observe wild animals roaming freely in nature has remained since its opening.

For the public, who were accustomed to simply viewing animals, entering the safari by bus to observe wild animals up close was a sensational experience at the time, spreading by word of mouth and attracting numerous visitors.

In particular, Safari World has been used by approximately 84 million visitors since its opening, making it Everland’s most popular facility with the highest number of visitors for a single attraction.

In 2013, the ecological safari 'Lost Valley,' spanning about 41,000㎡ (12.4 thousand pyeong) and home to herbivores, was added next to Safari World, which houses wild animals. Currently, Everland Zoo operates two safari zones.

Yongjun Cho, Travel Specialist jun21@

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.