Everland Reopens New 'Safari World' on April 1, Enhancing Animal Welfare and Immersive Experience

Real Habitat-Inspired Landscapes
Expedition Vehicles Upgraded to EV Buses
Endless Fun with the "Tulip Festival"

Everland, operated by the Resort Division of Samsung C&T, announced on April 1 that it has reopened Safari World, home to lions, tigers, and brown bears, after upgrading it with a focus on animal welfare and customer experience.

View of the "New Safari World," which Everland opened on the 1st. Samsung C&T Corporation Resort Division

As one of Everland's two main safari attractions, Safari World, which has welcomed about 90 million visitors since Everland (then known as Yongin Farmland) opened in 1976, has been reborn as a new ecological space after about a year of preparation. The environment within Safari World has been significantly enhanced to consider animal welfare, with features such as waterfalls, ponds, trees, and enrichment installations, promoting more natural animal activity. Distinct themed habitats, based on the animals' real environments, have been created: the open grassland-themed "Savannah Plains" (for lions), the tension-filled "Predator's Forest" (for tigers), and the rugged "Northern Forest" (for brown bears). Each enclosure applies a unique storyline and design tailored to the respective animal.

Through these improvements, lions now display their social presence and move more dynamically within expansive grassland zones. Tigers demonstrate their predatory behaviors such as hiding, roaming, and exploring in a forest and waterfall environment. Brown bears, too, are more active in an area reminiscent of Siberian forests. This allows visitors not only to observe the animals up close but also to gain a deeper understanding of their habitats and characteristics, enhancing the overall safari experience.

The way guests experience Safari World has also been upgraded. The traditional tram expedition vehicles have been replaced with eco-friendly electric (EV) buses, reducing noise and vibration for a more comfortable and immersive interaction with the animals. The exterior of the buses is decorated with motifs of the three main Safari World animals—lion, tiger, and Asian black bear—positioning the buses as a new must-visit photo spot at Everland.

In addition, the entire Safari World experience—from entry and boarding to animal observation and merchandise—has been themed to maximize customer engagement. In the waiting area, Safari artwork featuring animal illustrations by Everland honorary zookeeper and artist Shin Suseong is displayed, while life-sized animal graphics of lions, tigers, and other creatures are installed throughout to create the feeling of embarking on a wild adventure even before the experience begins. The gift shop offers a wide variety of new merchandise inspired by the Safari World animals and EV buses, and has introduced new photo zones that make guests feel as if they've stepped right into the safari.

In particular, four new plush toys have been created to realistically represent actual animals such as the Korean tiger “Daun” and the lion “Doba.” When purchasing these items, customers receive a plush adoption certificate and a dedicated dust bag as part of an event symbolizing welcoming a safari friend into their family.

Coinciding with the reopening of Safari World, two new performances will also be unveiled. At Four Seasons Garden, a special fireworks show called "The Guardians of Light," directed by renowned Korean performance director Yang Jungwoong, will be held every night. The show features contributions from a number of local and international artists, including singer Kwon Jungyeol of 10CM (theme song vocalist), actor Lee Sangyun (narration), and the Prague Metropolitan Orchestra from the Czech Republic, enhancing both popularity and artistic value. The multimedia show will last approximately 20 minutes, combining large-scale object drones, 3D visuals, laser mapping, and dynamic sound.

At Grand Stage, the circus performance "Wings of Memory" will be presented twice daily in collaboration with Canadian troupe Eloize, known for having many former Cirque du Soleil members. Founded in 1993, Eloize is a world-renowned circus company that has performed over 7,000 shows in more than 700 cities across 50 countries, based in Quebec, the home of global circus. Alongside Cirque du Soleil and The 7 Fingers, it is considered one of Canada's three leading circus production companies. The 40-minute performance features a blend of acrobatics, dance, video, music, and special effects.

The tulip festival currently underway at Everland Four Seasons Garden. Samsung C&T Resort Division

Currently, Everland is hosting a Tulip Festival featuring around 1.2 million spring flowers from over 100 species, including tulips, daffodils, and muscari. This spring, under the concept "My Spring Palette," the tulip planting area has been expanded and the garden’s design further upgraded, maximizing the sense of scale and vibrant colors. During the day, the Tulip Infinity Garden connects real flowerbeds with garden visuals displayed on large LED screens for an immersive atmosphere, while at night, the garden transforms into a fantastical night garden with lighting installations created in collaboration with world-renowned British installation artist Bruce Munro. Visitors can also enjoy a wide variety of festival content, including flower drop photo zones, tulip skirt photo zones, mirror selfie spots, coloring activities, spring-themed menus, and seasonal merchandise.

An Everland representative said, "We hope visitors will create unforgettable spring memories at Everland, with the wilder Safari World, world-class new performances, and dazzling spring flower gardens offering endless enjoyment."

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