Saudi Arabia is offering residents and tourists a unique safari experience in the desert of its capital Riyadh, at a site now home to 700 animals native to Africa.
Lions and tigers are just a few of the animals that were flown in from outside the kingdom to the 175,000 square metres stretch of land that is now a safari park, where visitors seated in a vehicle can see them, some for the very first time.
"We are not used to this (Safari) in Saudi Arabia, we are more familiar with small zoos with animals in cages as we walk around them, but today it's the opposite. It's amazing and everyone is happy, we didn't expect to live the African atmosphere here in Riyadh," said one visitor, Mujahd Alameery.
Ostrich, deer and elephants also roam the park where visitors no longer have to travel outside the country to see such animals or enjoy a similar experience.
"It is much better for us to be in Riyadh, so we don't have to pay extra charge for travelling like going to Dubai or Thailand Safari or whatever. We enjoyed it, it was a special day and we will definitely do it again," said another visitor Nour Kiblawi, who came with her two children.
Up to 32 visitors fit in a caged convertible car to tour the park, with ticket that costs 150 Saudi riyals ($40), while others can go in a private jeep for 1,000 riyals ($266) for a more personalised experience.
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