Himeji Central Park Safari — Drive-Through Wildlife

Himeji Central Park (姫路セントラルパーク) is a combined safari park and amusement park where visitors drive through wildlife enclosures housing lions, tigers, elephants, giraffes, and bears. The safari section (サファリ) spans 100 hectares with animals roaming in semi-natural habitats — cars drive on paved roads while lions lounge meters away and giraffes approach vehicles.

The park offers drive-your-own-car safaris (if visiting by private vehicle) or safari buses (for non-drivers). Walking safari sections allow closer approach to smaller animals (kangaroos, capybaras, lemurs). The attached amusement park has roller coasters and rides but is secondary to the safari experience. This is one of Kansai's few safari parks, offering African wildlife viewing without the zoo cage atmosphere.