Leofoo Village Theme Park

Leofoo sits in the hills of Guanxi in Hsinchu County and is unusual in combining a conventional theme park with a large animal section. The park is divided into themed zones, with the rides concentrated in the Arabian and Wild West areas, and the African Safari occupying a broad hillside that visitors cross in an open-sided park vehicle. Giraffes, rhinos, zebra and antelope share the drive-through enclosure and come close enough to the rail for the sound of chewing to be audible; big cats are in separate viewing areas. There is also a water park section that opens in the hot months. The whole site is laid out across a hillside, so getting between the zones involves a steady amount of climbing.

What you actually see

• The safari drive-through - open-sided vehicles crossing a hillside enclosure of giraffes, rhinos and zebra.
• The themed ride zones - roller coasters and flat rides grouped by Arabian and Wild West settings.
• The big cat viewing area - lions and tigers in separate enclosures reached on foot.
• The summer water park - the seasonal water section, open only in the hot months.

When to go

Cooler months from October to April are far more comfortable for a full day outdoors and the animals are more active. Weekdays outside school holidays have the shortest ride queues. The water park section only runs in summer, so check before going if that is the draw. Arrive at opening to do the safari before the queue builds.

Honest expectations

It is a full-day, full-price outing built for families, and the ticket, parking and food inside all add up. Ride queues on weekends and school holidays are long, and some of the older attractions are visibly dated. The safari vehicle passes through fairly quickly and animals shelter in shade during the heat. Public transport requires a shuttle with limited departures.

Nearby

The Guanxi hills and the Hsinchu county tea and Hakka towns are around it.