Hidden Benefit 1 Free Coffee Plantation Guide

Most tourists who come to Poa Place only know about the zoo, swimming pool and cultural village, but few people notice that there is an inconspicuous sign in the southeast corner of the park that says Coffee Zone. There is no ticket and no special guard. In fact, it is the resort’s own small coffee plantation. As long as you ask the staff, you can get a free guided tour. This service is not publicized in the official publicity, but once you walk into the small hill surrounded by legume trees, you will find yourself walking into the filming site of a documentary. The guide will show you the whole process of coffee from nursery to picking and roasting. You can even try to pick a ripe coffee fruit by hand. The most interesting thing is that after the tour, you can get a free cup of freshly roasted local black coffee. The taste is bitter and sweet, which is completely different from the instant coffee on the market.

Hidden Benefit 2: Secret Observatory at Night

There is a highland on the west side of Poa Place Resort near the edge of the park. There is almost no light at night. It is not on the regular tourist map, but it is an excellent location for stargazing. Experienced travelers will secretly bring telescopes or SLRs and quietly walk up after nightfall. This highland is far away from city lights and has a wide field of vision. It is especially suitable for watching the Milky Way from October to March of the following year. If you happen to encounter a meteor shower, you can lie on the haystack and feel the magnificence of the African night sky. What's even better is that the staff will not stop you from going to this area. Although they generally don't actively recommend it, you can easily find the dirt road leading to the top of the small slope after you are familiar with the path. The sense of accomplishment of discovering a secret place by yourself cannot be bought with money.

Hidden Benefit 3: "Barter" in the Handicraft Market

There is a small handicraft market in the cultural village of Poa Place, which mainly sells souvenirs such as jewelry and woven utensils made by local indigenous people. However, few people know that this market actually retains an informal "barter" tradition. Especially on the first weekend of each month, many stall owners are willing to exchange small items with you, such as an old camera lens, a scarf, or even a folding knife of a foreign brand. If you are willing to spend time chatting and dealing with people, you can really exchange a precious traditional handicraft at a very low cost. Many old tourists even come to participate in this cultural interaction with small gifts. This trading method seems ancient, but it is precisely because it retains the most primitive communication temperature between people.

Hidden Benefit 4: "Time Gap" for Close Contact with Animals

Although the mini zoo at Poa Place is not big, it has many animals such as zebras, ostriches, monkeys, etc. Normally, tourists can only watch them outside the fence, but if you choose the right time, the keepers will feed them collectively from around 7 to 8 am every day. During this time, the animals are most emotionally stable, and the keepers are often more willing to let tourists get close to them, especially families with children. You can ask for help in feeding or even touch the docile goats or rabbits. Although this is not an officially arranged activity, as long as you are polite and willing to wait patiently, you can always find a small window to interact with the animals. Compared with formal zoo performances, this natural interaction is more realistic and engaging.

Hidden Benefit 5: Restaurant's "Hidden Menu"

The menu of the main restaurant inside Poa Place lists conventional African stews, pizzas, pastas and other international dishes, but many old customers know that this restaurant actually has a hidden menu, such as "Chef's Special Spicy Oxtail Soup" and "Smoked Tilapia Fish". These dishes are usually not written on the menu, but as long as you ask the waiter when ordering or mention that you have eaten these dishes, they will most likely ask the chef to prepare them specially for you. Especially on Friday or holiday nights, there is a chance to meet local singers singing with these authentic dishes. The whole dining experience is far better than the standard service of high-end restaurants.

The reason why Poa Place Resort is attractive is not only because it provides a conventional comfortable experience, but also because it is like a treasure map waiting for you to discover. When you live in this seemingly plain park with a budget of 50 US dollars, as long as you are curious and enthusiastic enough, you can enjoy the "value addition" far beyond your expectations. All these employees may not take the initiative to tell you, but they do exist. You don't have to check in at luxury hotels or wait for tour groups to arrange it. Poa Place Resort itself is a traveler's diary that you can turn the pages of yourself. It is neither ostentatious nor pretentious, but when you walk into the coffee forest, take a sip of the beans you picked yourself, make a quiet wish under the stars at night, or exchange old items for a colorful necklace, you will realize that the value of this journey has long surpassed the measurement of money.