Oita African Safari — People in the car, animals roaming free
Hello from GO!GO!TOUR, your rental-car partner for travel across Japan.
This time we drove up to Kyushu Natural Zoological Park African Safari in Usa City, Oita — the only true drive-through safari park in Kyushu.
It sits right between Yufuin and Beppu, which makes it the perfect midday stop on a Fukuoka rental car loop.
The whole idea is flipped from a normal zoo: people stay inside the car, and the animals roam free across an open range.
In this guide we show how to slot African Safari between Yufuin and Beppu with a rental car out of Fukuoka, plus how the park still works well on rainy days.
GO!GO!TOUR Fukuoka & Kyushu rental cars — one car turns “Yufuin breakfast, morning safari, Beppu onsen at night” into a natural single-day plan.
African Safari at a glance
Kyushu’s only safari-style zoo. Two ways to see it: drive your own car on the My-Car Safari loop, or ride the Jungle Bus and feed lions, elephants and camels through barred windows.
- Official name: Kyushu Natural Zoological Park African Safari (九州自然動物公園 アフリカンサファリ)
- Location: Ajimu-machi, Usa City, Oita Prefecture
- About 2 hours from Fukuoka, 40–50 minutes from Yufuin or Beppu
- Wide mountain-side range zone + Fureai (interaction) zone
- Official site: https://africansafari.co.jp/
Basic info — hours, admission at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 大分県宇佐市安心院町南畑2-1755-1 |
| Hours (Mar–Oct) | Reception 8:50–16:00 · Open 9:15 · Close 16:30 |
| Hours (Nov–Feb) | Reception 8:50–15:30 · Open 9:15 · Close 16:00 |
| Closed | Open year-round (occasional temporary closures) |
| Adult admission (high school and up) | 2,600 yen |
| Child admission (age 4 – junior high) | 1,500 yen |
| Age 3 and under | Free |
| Jungle Bus | Extra 1,500 yen (age 4+, same rate, same-day only) |
| Parking | Free · Approx. 1,500 spaces (as of 2026-09) |
| Payment | Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, JCB, Diners), IC (Suica, nanaco, WAON), QR (PayPay, d払い, au PAY, WeChat Pay, Alipay) |
Entry to the safari zone closes 30 minutes before the park closes.
There is no ATM inside the park, so it is safer to pull cash in Yufuin or Beppu before you arrive.
Two ways to see it — My-Car Safari vs Jungle Bus
The real question at African Safari is which of the two loops to choose.
Here is the summary up front.
| My-Car Safari | Jungle Bus | |
|---|---|---|
| Extra fee | Included with admission | 1,500 yen / person |
| Lap time | About 30–40 min (unlimited re-runs) | About 50 min (one lap) |
| Feeding | Not allowed | Feed lions, elephants and camels |
| Reservation | Not required | Same-day only, first come first served |
| Best for | Couples and families, private viewing, photography | Kids, travelers who want the up-close moment |
My-Car Safari — drive it as many times as you like
The My-Car Safari is included with your admission ticket, no extra fee.
And this is probably the biggest reason to come: you can drive the safari loop as many times as you want during your visit.
Use the first lap as a scouting round to see where the lions and giraffes are.
On the second lap, dial in your camera angles.
By the third lap, stop for a moment in front of the kids’ favorite animal.
Splitting it into rounds is far more fun than trying to see everything in one pass.
Jungle Bus — lions and elephants inches away
The Jungle Bus is an extra 1,500 yen, but few visitors call it overpriced.
Through barred windows on the sides of the bus you feed lions, Asian elephants and camels directly — with tongs, not your hands.
Same-day only, sold at the entrance or the information counter, so on weekends and holidays the very first bus of the day is the safest bet.
- An adult must accompany elementary-school children and younger
- Pregnant travelers should watch out for vibration
- Walk-in visitors cannot ride (car entrants only)
Safety — double gates and ranger patrols
An open-range park is bound to raise safety questions.
Inside African Safari the zones are separated by double gates, so no two adjacent zones are ever open at the same time.
When a vehicle passes a gate, the front and back doors never open together — an animal in the lion zone cannot cross into the zebra zone by design.
Ranger patrol cars are also stationed inside the safari zone at all times, ready to respond the moment an animal moves out of position.
As long as you keep the windows fully closed, stay in the car, and fold your antenna, the safety side is well handled.
My-Car Safari safety rules (official)
- Never exit your vehicle inside the safari zone
- Keep windows fully closed and doors locked (do not roll windows down for photos)
- Fold the antenna
- Use the child lock when children are on board
- If the car breaks down, sound the horn and wait inside
Vehicles not allowed
Convertibles, pickup trucks without a hardcover, and open-bed trucks cannot enter the safari zone.
When you book a rental car in Fukuoka, choose a regular sedan, SUV or minivan to be safe.
Animals in the safari zone
Across the open range you meet large mammals from Africa, the Americas and Asia — all from inside your car.
- Predators: African lions, Bengal tigers, cheetahs, American black bears
- Large herbivores: Asian elephants, white rhinos, reticulated giraffes, American bison
- Zebras, camels and deer: Grant’s zebras, Bactrian camels, elands, sika deer, fallow deer
- Mountain and highland: Himalayan tahr, mouflon, scimitar-horned oryx, blackbuck
Drive the same stretch two or three times and animals you missed the first time slowly come into view.
With kids in the car, set a mini game — “count the lions” — and the re-runs suddenly become the highlight of the day.
Fureai zone and the Cat & Dog Salons
Once the drive loop is done, the walking Fureai (interaction) zone takes over.
Red kangaroos, miniature horses, squirrel monkeys, guinea pigs and capybaras all live at close range, though a few of the interactive programs shift with the season and the weather.
Two special rooms sit inside this area: the Cat Salon and Dog Salon.
| Facility | Fee | Hours | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cat Salon | 500 yen / person (admission separate) | 10:00–16:00 | 20-minute rotation |
| Dog Salon | 500 yen / person (age 4+) | 10:00–16:00 | 20-minute rotation · under 4 not allowed |
Rare breed cats and small dogs are held and petted up close — a strong pick for children and pet lovers.
Nursing rooms, wheelchair and stroller rentals are all available inside, and travelers who brought a pet can leave it at the free short-term pet holding service.
A rainy-day-friendly attraction
Rain forecasts have a way of complicating Kyushu itineraries.
African Safari is a solid “rainy-day card” — the park stays open in normal weather routines even when it rains.
- The My-Car Safari happens entirely inside your car, so rain barely touches it
- The Jungle Bus has a roof and side covers to keep riders dry
- A few of the small-animal interactions (rabbits, etc.) can be paused in the rain
Rainy days also thin out the crowds, giving you a more relaxed My-Car Safari loop.
Cooler weather often gets the animals moving too, so “if it rains, drive the safari” is a reliable card to keep in your Kyushu rental car deck.
Fukuoka rental car access — slot it between Yufuin and Beppu
What makes African Safari shine on a rental car trip is its location: right on the driving route between Yufuin and Beppu.
| From | Drive time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fukuoka IC (Kyushu Expressway) | About 1 hr 56 min | About 139.7 km, tolls about 3,190 yen |
| Yufuin IC (Oita Expressway) | About 10–20 min | About 10 min from Yufudake Smart IC |
| Beppuwan Smart IC (ETC only) | About 7 min | Official recommended IC |
| Beppu IC (Higashi-Kyushu Expressway) | About 40 min | For cars without ETC |
| Beppu city | About 40 min | Onsen district |
| Yufuin town | About 40 min | Onsen district |
The official recommended entrance is Beppuwan Smart IC, only about 7 minutes from the safari gate.
Without an ETC card, or with a vehicle longer than 12 meters, take the Beppu IC detour instead.
Here is one sample plan.
- Day 1: Land in Fukuoka → pick up rental car → drive to Yufuin → stay at a Yufuin onsen
- Day 2 AM: Yufuin → African Safari (about 40 min) → My-Car Safari + Jungle Bus
- Day 2 PM: Safari → Beppu (7–40 min) → Beppu Hells tour and onsen stay
- Day 3: Beppu → return car in Fukuoka
Slotted in this way, the safari becomes the natural highlight bridging Kyushu’s two big onsen towns.
Fukuoka & Kyushu recommended model course pairs well with this drive.
Photo tips — sharp shots even through glass
You cannot open the windows on the My-Car Safari.
Shooting through glass takes a bit of technique, and three quick rules get you most of the way.
- Press the lens flat against the glass to kill reflections
- If you have a CPL (polarizing) filter, glare and raindrop reflections drop dramatically
- Lock focus on the animal’s eye, and wipe smudges off the window beforehand
On a smartphone, hold the camera as close to the glass as possible and long-press to lock AE/AF — you get sharper frames with far less blur.
Pre-visit checklist
- Jungle Bus tickets are sold same-day only, no reservations. On weekends and holidays, target the first departure of the morning
- Safari zone entry closes 30 min before park close. Set aside 3–4 hours to enjoy both loops
- No ATM inside the park — pull cash in Yufuin or Beppu first. Cards, QR and IC money are widely accepted
- Convertibles and open-bed pickups cannot enter the safari zone
- The park stays open on rainy days, but a few small-animal interactions pause
- Mountain climate — winters (Nov–Feb) need warm layers, and open hours are 30 min shorter
Frequently asked questions
How much is admission to Oita African Safari?
Adults (high school and up) 2,600 yen, children (age 4 to junior high) 1,500 yen, age 3 and under free. The Jungle Bus adds 1,500 yen per person (age 4+, same rate).
Should I choose the My-Car Safari or the Jungle Bus?
They serve different goals. Pick the Jungle Bus if the feeding experience is the goal; pick the My-Car Safari if you want unlimited re-runs and calm photography. When time allows, combining both delivers the highest satisfaction.
Can I reserve the Jungle Bus in advance?
No. Same-day sales only, at reception on entry or at the main information counter. It sells out on weekends and peak season, so aim for the first bus of the day.
How long does it take from Fukuoka to African Safari?
From Fukuoka IC via the Kyushu Expressway and Oita Expressway it is about 1 hour 56 minutes (approx. 139.7 km, tolls about 3,190 yen). From Yufuin or Beppu it is 40–50 minutes, so it plugs cleanly into any Kyushu onsen itinerary.
Is it worth visiting on a rainy day?
Yes. The park keeps normal operating hours in the rain. The My-Car Safari happens inside your car, and the Jungle Bus has a roof and side covers, so rain barely affects the main experiences. A few small-animal interactions (rabbits, etc.) may pause.
How many times can I drive the safari loop?
The My-Car Safari has no re-entry limit while you are inside the park. One lap runs 30–40 minutes, so a 3–4 hour visit fits two or three relaxed laps.
Can convertibles or pickup trucks enter?
No. Convertibles, pickup trucks without a hardcover, and open-bed trucks cannot enter the safari zone for safety reasons. Visitors in those vehicles ride the Jungle Bus instead.
Wrap up — Give African Safari a full day between Yufuin and Beppu
African Safari — Kyushu’s only drive-through zoo — is the natural midpoint of a Fukuoka rental car loop that ties Yufuin and Beppu together.
One line to summarize the day: “People in the car, animals free — a safe Kyushu card that works even when it rains.”
Split it up on your visit: relaxed private viewing on the My-Car Safari loop, and a close-quarters lion-and-elephant encounter on the Jungle Bus.
The double gates and ranger patrol keep the safety side handled, and the park runs on normal hours in the rain, so it doubles as a strong “rainy-day card” on any Kyushu rental car trip.
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Itinerary tip: Fukuoka & Kyushu recommended model course
