SEOUL, March 21 (Korea Bizwire) — Even before its official opening on March 21, Everland’s newest attraction — a walking safari experience called “River Trail Adventure” — has seen its advance reservations completely sold out, highlighting the immense popularity of the theme park’s latest innovation in wildlife encounters.
The River Trail Adventure introduces a dramatic departure from traditional safari experiences at the park. Instead of viewing animals from vehicles, visitors can now walk along a newly constructed floating bridge — 110 meters long and 3 meters wide — positioned between the park’s two popular safari zones, Safari World and Lost Valley.
“This isn’t just another safari experience,” said an Everland representative. “Visitors will have the unique opportunity to walk on water while making eye contact with predators and walking alongside large herbivores, creating an unprecedented level of immersion with wildlife.”
During the 15-minute guided experience, visitors can observe approximately 30 animals representing nine different species, including lions, giraffes, and elephants, all while experiencing the thrill of walking on a floating pathway above water.
The overwhelming demand for the attraction became evident on March 14, when the advance reservation system opened. Within hours, all available slots for the first two weeks were fully booked. New slots, released daily for dates two weeks in advance, have consistently sold out around 2 p.m., with the surge in online traffic occasionally slowing down Everland’s website servers.
The excitement extends beyond just ticket sales. A pre-opening event held from March 10 to 14 for social media influencers and content creators drew fierce competition, with up to 340 applicants vying for each available spot across Instagram, YouTube, and Naver Cafe platforms.
A separate event on KidsNote, a popular school communication app, attracted 7,500 applicants competing for limited spots, resulting in a 250-to-1 competition ratio.
The selected preview participants will be among the first to experience the River Trail on March 20 and 21. The attraction is scheduled to operate through November 2025, accommodating approximately 1,000 visitors daily.
The launch coincides with Everland’s Tulip Festival, adding another dimension to the park’s spring offerings.
Image credit: Everland, Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
