[MyDaily = Reporter Lee Ji-hye] Thinking about a trip to Everland?
When warmer weather arrives each spring, Everland is the place that comes to mind for outdoor fun. This season brings a fully revamped big-cat habitat called Safari World, a new performance by Canada’s Éloize Circus, and a special fireworks-and-drone spectacle.
Safari World reopened this month after roughly a year of renovations. Since Everland opened in 1976 (then called Natural Farms), the attraction has been one of the park’s signature heritage sites, drawing about 90 million visitors to date. The updated Safari World has been transformed into an ecological space that elevates both animal welfare and guest experience.
The most noticeable change is how habitats were redesigned around species-specific themes. Enclosures now reflect each animal’s natural environment: the “Savanna Meadow” for lions, the “Predator Forest” for tigers, and the “Northern Woods” for brown bears.
The tour vehicles have been upgraded, too. Everland replaced the old trams with eco-friendly EV buses, reducing noise and vibration for a smoother, more comfortable ride. The buses are wrapped in lion, tiger, and Asiatic black bear motifs—so they’re photo-ready before you even board.
One practical tip for riders: sit on the right. While many people instinctively choose the left side near the driver, most animals tend to appear on the bus’s right side as the route curves. That means better chances to spot lions lounging up high and the tiger pair Taehō and Geongon, who arrived from Shanghai.
The renovation added waterfalls, ponds, more trees, and expanded enrichment features to encourage natural behavior, so animals are more active and visible. Strolling through forests, falls, grasslands, and ponds is more engaging than ever. Along the queues, you’ll find Safari artwork featuring animal illustrations by Honorary Zookeeper Shin Su-seong, plus life-size animal graphics placed throughout the area.
One of the season’s standout experiences is Wings of Memory, presented by Éloize—one of Canada’s top circuses. The Grand Stage indoor theater is hosting two performances daily this month. A creative team of about 20—including a creative director, acrobatic designers, and circus coaches with Cirque du Soleil experience—traveled to Korea to help produce the show.
The production blurs the line between theater and circus, combining flying swan puppets and a moving ship with projection mapping, ice fog, and 4K projection. The story follows a young heroine, El, who meets a mystical swan and forest spirits and embarks on a journey into a magical world. Acrobatics, dance, video, music, and special effects blend over a roughly 40-minute runtime.
Seven demanding circus acts—contortion, aerial pole, Russian swing, and more—deliver thrills and emotional highs. The flying swan puppets, moving ship, and cutting-edge multimedia elements amplify the show’s sense of wonder. The indoor theater seats about 1,000; reserve same-day entry through Everland’s mobile app Smart Queue. For the best vantage point, pick a center seat a little back from the stage.
If you can stay past sunset, don’t miss the nightly finale: the special fireworks show Guardians of Light at Four Seasons Garden. Executive director Yang Jung-woong—who directed the 2025 APEC cultural performance and the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics opening ceremony—led the production. Singer Kwon Jung-yeol of 10cm performs the theme song, and actor Lee Sang-yoon provides the opening narration.
The Prague Metropolitan Orchestra recorded the theme live, and an immersive sound system fills the space. The roughly 20-minute multimedia show pairs thousands of fireworks with Korea’s first large-object drone swarm, 3D visuals, laser mapping, and special effects.
Everland is also a go-to spot for flower fans this season. The Tulip Festival runs through the end of the month, featuring about 1.2 million blooms across roughly 100 varieties—tulips, daffodils, and muscari among them. Don’t miss the Tulip Infinity Garden, where massive LED screens flow into real flower beds, or the nighttime garden illumination created with British installation artist Bruce Munro. After the tulips wrap up, Everland will kick off its signature Rose Festival in May.
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