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Discover all about the culture, nature and adventure Davao has to offer from island to highland. We discovered the longest “slide for life” in the Philippines. It’s Davao’s hottest highland adventure, the Zip line experience in Camp Sabros.

Our good friends Sonny and Jackie Dizon once again gave us an invitation to experience the best adventures across the islands and highlands of Davao to get the peak of exhilaration from nature. Trekking, mountain climbing, island hoping to diving and whitewater river rafting.

This is the ultimate eco-tourism adventure expedition in one fun-filled trip to Davao.

The highlight of our trip to Davao this time is the climb to Mt. Apo which we have wanted to do for a few years now. Well, 2008 is the year we finally get to climb to the peak of the highest mountain in the Philippines. Before we started our journey to the peak of Mt. Apo, we were told that we had to experience the newest adrenaline-rush adventure found in Camp Sabros that's in the cool highlands of Kapatagan in Davao del Sur.

Longest zip line in RP
More commonly known as the "slide for life ", here in Camp Sabros they call it the zip line.

Camp Sabros is about 4,000 feet above sea level. The name Sabros is from a coined word meaning, "Sacdalan Brothers”.

Camp Sabros can boast that their zip line is the longest in the Philippines. The zip line from the camp to the other end is 380 meters long, about 1,100 feet, and the zip line from the other end back to the camp is 400 meters long, that's about 1,200 feet.

All you need to bring to do the zip line is your adventurous spirit, everything else is provided by the camp. You get helmets and you are also put into a full-body harness that is connected to a cable that is hooked on to the zip line. The zip line itself is about 150 feet high, roughly the height of a five-story building. On this inclined zip line, you get a thrilling trip above a lush forest passing through the trees and then best of all, on a clear day, midway through the trip; you get a stunning view of Mt. Ape in all its glory.

Postcard prefect
Camp Sabros is found up in the cool highlands of Kapatagan in Sitio Baras, Barangay Kapatagan, Davao del Sur. The camp is a two-hour drive from Davao City up to about 4,000 feet. After a full day of adventure in Davao City, we headed to Camp Sabros to get a good nights rest before we start our quest to reach the summit of Mt. Apo the next day.

Our team arrived in Camp Sabros at 9pm from Davao City, nothing says "highland culture” more than a big bonfire. Since we were about 4,000 feet above sea level, the weather at the camp was that of a beautiful Baguio evening. The smell of wood burning, and the distinctive scent of pine due to all the camp grounds being surrounded by pine trees as far as the eye can see, the warm fire, the cool weather, the scent of pine combined instantly made us feel relaxed and very welcomed at the camp.

We were told that the sun was to rise quite early and that seeing the sunrise was one of the highlights of your stay in Camp Sabros. From the cottage we were staying in, not only did we witness a priceless sunrise, we also had a "postcard-perfect" view of the majestic Mt. Apo. While staring at the mountain and all its glory, we could hardly imagine that just in a few days we would be at the peak we were staring at.

Flying like an eagle
After a hearty buffet breakfast, we could hardly wait to try the longest zip line in the Philippines that is found here in Camp Scabrous. Marc volunteered to go first on the zip line and really liked the idea that he was going to be in a sort of "superman" position as they described it here. Doing this in that position would be a first for Marc.

The owner, Edwin Sacdalan who designed every aspect of this zip line wanted the rider to feel like an eagle in a way flying through the air. This is why he designed this type of full-body harness so you would be able to lay horizontally with your stomach facing down, and then having your arms totally free so you can flap them just like the wings of an eagle. Very cool.

This zip line from the camp to the other end is over a thousand feet long which really gives you enough time in the air to make you feel that you are soaring and flying like an eagle. This type of adventure is so Marc's type. In fact, I have no doubt in my mind that if you let him, he can stay in this camp for days and do nothing but zip line.

Another unique feature about this zip line adventure in Camp Sabros is that they have two different zip lines, the one you take from the camp to the other end is higher about 150 feet and 380 meters long, then you take the other zip line that is not as high but is longer, 400 meters, and this line is at a steeper incline which makes your ride back to the camp a lot faster. Marc was thrilled to hear that. You know my partner, for him, the faster the better.

Piggy-back
After Marc, it was my turn... I have tried many zip lines before in many different places but I was told that this zip line experience in Camp Sabros will be different from all the rest I have taken. Honestly, I really wondered to myself how this zip line can be that much different.

Edwin told me that I will be in the same position as Marc, in the "superman" position, but here is where the big difference lies, I get to zip line with my son Matthew riding on my back. I got my answer now that makes this zip line different from all the rest I've gone on. Edwin says although it is perfectly safe for kids to be riding piggy back like this, many are scared to try it, not my son Mathew I told Edwin.

Check out Mat's grin from ear to ear as he is being strapped on to my back he can hardly wait to go on this ride. Edwin assured me again that Matthew is perfectly safe and very securely strapped on to my back and to the cable; he also assured me that this will be an experience that we will both super enjoy. Alright, hold on son, here we go. Yipppppeeeeeeeeee!

Didn't I say earlier that Marc will not stop at just once? He decided to zip line this time in a sitting position. Knowing Marc though I will bet a hefty sum that he won't stay in this seated position, just look at the expression on his face, I can tell he has something silly planned up his sleeve. I could be wrong, but I doubt it. There goes Marc, now you see him seated; now you don't! He's upside down, I knew it!

All together now
Unlike Marc, normally once on the zip line is enough for me, especially after the surprise bonus I got of being able to zip line with Mat on piggy back, but then Edwin gave me another scenario I just could not refuse. This time he said I could zip line with my husband Anton beside me and then Mathew can be again seated on top of the both of us.

You got to be kidding I told Edwin, nope he was not kidding. This was just an experience I could not pass up. My family doing the zip line all together, this is a one-of-a-kind memory! We had to pause and take a few pictures, this would make a very unique family Christmas card don't you think? Alright, here we go gang!

The 400-meter zip line going back to the camp is at a steeper incline and goes very fast, so kids and those that are not courageous enough have the option not to take this fast zip line back and instead can enjoy a luxurious ride back via this cable lift. Mat and Anton chose to take the lift option back to the camp, while Marc and I decided to take full advantage of this adventure and zip back.

What a unique and awesome rush this zip line is. No wonder Edwin tells us that although they just opened this adventure to the public last December 25 Christmas day, word about it is spreading like wildfire, and on weekends you will have to be willing to fall in a long line to get this zip line experience.

Take it from us though, the feeling and the experience you get is well worth the trip up here to Camp Sabros and well worth the wait in line.

New project
Every time there is something new that our friend Sonny Dizon is creating in his Riverwalk Complex, no doubt they are projects that promote Davao and its endless possibilities. On this trip, Sonny had a few new things that he was anxious to show us, like this tribal village he is recreating inside the Riverwalk. When this project is completed, guests can stay in these actual tribal houses and experience how the tribes live, what they eat. And also experience more of their customs and their tribal ways.

Sonny showed us this bamboo structure that in a certain tribe, functions almost like a trampoline, but in reality, the bamboo is supported by a very special flexible tree branch. The tribe members jump on the bamboo that makes the palay fall onto a banig below and then the palay is pounded further and made into food. It's the different, authentic tribal ways like this that guests will be able to see first hand once this tribal community inside Sonny's Riverwalk Complex is completed.

Butterflies and bees
Sonny also brought us to his Butterfly farm that is also located in the Riverwalk Complex where we got a very informative and interesting class about caterpillars and how they turn into butterflies. We learned things that we did not know before like, did you know that the caterpillars that turn into butterflies are not hairy and so they are not itchy when you touch them? It's the caterpillars that turn into moths that are hairy and are the itchy ones. See, you learn something new everyday.

From learning about the butterflies, we switched over to the bees. It was so interesting to see how bees actually make honey this up close. We even found out how the actual honey that comes straight from the bees tastes like. Our initial thought however was, we might get stung. Then we again learned something new, did you know that bees can sense when you fear them because when you are scared your skin gives off a certain scent that the bees pick up and once they pick up that scent they know you are scared and then that's when they sting you. Who knew, huh?

But we were assured that if you just act calm around the bees like this bee master is, notice all the bees around him, he is not being stung. The trick is to remain calm around the bees and they won't attack.

Davao is Diverse. Davao is Daring. Davao is Dynamic. Discover Davao from island to highland through Sports Unlimited’s Destination Davao Special!

Next week:
The Sports Unlimited’s Adventure Team conquers the highest mountain in the country, Mt. Apo in Davao. Take every step with us from the start, to the peak of the summit, 10, 311 feet!