It feels like being on the African savanna! Kyushu Natural Zoo lets you hand-feed lions and black bears
Reporter Cai Wenjun / Reported and photographed in Japan
Want to get up close and personal with animals like lions and black bears? Located in Oita Prefecture, Japan, the "Kyushu Natural Zoo" is one of Japan's two major wildlife safari parks. Here, dozens of animal species roam freely across vast mountain forests, living just like they would on the African savanna. Visitors can also take a special safari vehicle through the wooded hills, not only observing lions, tigers, elephants, and other animals up close but also feeding them by hand — making it a popular destination for family trips.
▲ At Kyushu Natural Zoo, visitors can feed wild animals like lions by hand.
▲%The rustic-style restaurant serves local specialties.%
Covering an area of about 1.5 million square meters, Kyushu Natural Zoo is home to around 70 animal species across its expansive hilly terrain. A must-do experience here is riding the "animal-shaped jungle bus," which allows you to feed the animals directly. Each bus is covered with wire mesh — this is to prevent attacks by fierce animals, ensuring visitor safety while also protecting the animals.
▲ The feeding tray for the animals.
▲ Inside the safari vehicle.
The jungle bus ride lasts about 50 minutes. Before boarding, you’ll be given a feeding box filled with various types of animal feed. With the increasing number of international tourists visiting Kyushu, the zoo now also offers special buses with guided tours in languages such as Chinese and English, so overseas visitors can easily understand the commentary.
▲%Here you can feed the animals and enjoy a close-up view of the foreign tourists feeding them.%
▲ Here comes the lion for its meal.
As the bus enters the park, the animals seem to sense that “food is coming!” and start gathering near the windows. Following the guide’s instructions, visitors use the feeding tongs provided in the vehicle to feed the animals through the wire mesh. You can feed goats, elephants, lions, black bears, and more by hand, while also observing the various expressions and behaviors of the animals up close.
▲ A group of goats competing for food.
▲ The beautifully scenic mountain forests allow the animals to roam freely.
▲ You can also feed the elephants.
If you don’t want to feed the animals, that’s fine too. Kyushu Natural Zoo also allows visitors to drive their own cars into the park, but you must be careful not to open your car windows casually to avoid any danger.
Kyushu Natural Zoo
Address: 1755-1 MinamiuQ2, Anshin-incho, Usa City, Oita Prefecture
Admission: Adults (high school students and above) 2,500 yen / Children (ages 4 to junior high school) 1,400 yen
Official website’:http://www.africansafari.co.jp/chinese/#business_time
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