Kyushu Natural Animal Park African Safari
九州自然動物公園アフリカンサファリ
One of Japan's largest drive-through safari parks, where you can hand-feed lions and giraffes through metal mesh from a jungle bus shaped like a lion or tiger.
African Safari is located on the Ajimu Plateau in Usa City and is one of the largest free-range animal parks in Japan. It has about 70 species and 1,300 animals. The most popular attraction is the Jungle Bus, whose body is decorated to look like a lion or tiger. Visitors ride in a caged cabin and use long tongs to feed lions, bears, and giraffes directly. Close-up encounters like this are thrilling. The Jungle Bus costs an extra 1,300 yen or so and should be booked early after entering the park. You can also drive your own car through the park. A walk-through area lets you meet small animals such as kangaroos and capybaras. Admission is about 2,600 yen, and the park is open roughly 09:00 to 17:00.
Getting there: There is a direct bus from Beppu Station that takes about 50 minutes. Driving takes about 30 minutes.
Opening hours
Approx. 09:00–17:00 (until 16:00 in winter)
Nearby sights
- Myoban Onsen
- Beppu Onsen Hoyoland
- Hells of Beppu (Jigoku Meguri)
- Beppu Ropeway & Mount Tsurumi
- Mount Yufu
- Hyotan Onsen
- Kinrin Lake
- Beppu Beach Sand Bath (Kaihin Sunayu)