Hay Park, Kiryat Motzkin – Visitors Guide (with Coupons)

You can find hundreds of animals in Hay Park. Moreover, the whole compound is flat, which makes it easily accessible.

Note: for additional info about animals and wildlife, check out Zoos and Aquariums in Israel‎.

Map

Hay Park is located at HaHashmona’im Street 79 Kiryat Motzkin.

Map of the area:

Directions for drivers: Link to Waze and Link to Google Maps
Directions for public transport: Link to Moovit

Interactive map of the area:

You can take Metronit line 1 or 2 to the Kiryat Ata junction if you arrive by public transport. And at Kiryat Ata junction, take line number 22 towards Kiryat Motzkin until you reach the park.

You can also get there by train. Take the train to Kiryat Motzkin train station. From there, you can take a 20-minute walk or take bus line 22.

Note: you can find the map of Hay Park here.

Hay Park Amusement Park

When you enter Hay Park, you will see not only the zoo. You will also see a small luna park, playgrounds for kids, a pond with swans, and greenery.

This post will be primarily dedicated to the zoo, but I wanted to mention the Amusement Park’s opening hours.

It is open regularly on Saturdays and holidays. And on other days of the week, you have to call them.

September – October
Saturday and holidays: 10:00 – 17:30.
Holiday eves: 10:00 – 15:00.

Hay Park Zoo Opening Hours

Summer Clock (March – October):
Sunday – Thursday, Saturday: 09:00 – 17:30
Fridays and holiday eves: 09:00 – 15:30

July – August
Sunday – Thursday, Saturday: 09:00 – 19:00
Fridays and holiday eves: 09:00 – 16:00

Winter Clock (October – March):
Sunday – Thursday, Saturday: 09:00 – 16:30.
Fridays and holiday eves: 09:00 – 14:30

Notes:

• The displays of Squirrel monkeys and rabbits are open only on Saturdays.

Entrance Fee

Adult: 55 NIS
Child (2-18) – 50 NIS
Senior citizen/student/disabled person – 35 NIS
Residents of Kiryat Motzkin presenting a social identity card, including an appendix – 25 NIS

Combined ticket for Hay Park + Luna Park 85 NIS. Available on Saturdays and holidays only.

Prices of Attractions in Hay Park

The price of a Pony ride is 15 NIS. It is active on Saturdays and holidays. At other times, it must be arranged in advance. Riding on ponies is for children who are older than one year old.

Camel riding costs 20 NIS. Regularly active on Saturdays and holidays. Other times must be arranged in advance. Riding on a camel is possible for kids at least two years old.

The price for Hay Park Amusement Park is 65 NIS. The price is valid for Saturdays and holidays only, including unlimited facilities.

Notes: opening hours and ticket prices were updated in October 2022. In any case, recheck the official site before visiting.

Coupons

• cpnclub – 44 NIS per ticket.
• Cal – 39 NIS per ticket.
• GROO – 45 NIS per ticket.
• Teachers association – starting from 35 NIS.
• HTZone – starting from 29 NIS.

Feeding

Penguin feeding times:
Weekdays: 13:30
Saturday / holidays 11:30 and 15:00

How big is Hay Park?

Hay Park in Kiryat Motzkin is a medium-sized zoo. A visit can take from several hours to a half-day. Our latest visit was on a Friday, which took about three hours. I mentioned the day of the week since some pavilions are open only on Saturday (see opening hours above).

At Hay Park

Near the entrance, you can find different parrots and monkeys.

Gibbon Family

Gibbon’s family was quite active in the morning. Moreover, there was a baby. Thus, I took one of my favorite photos from that day (shot through a window).

Gibbon is also called smaller apes. They belong to the ape family but are smaller than other species. Like other apes, they are tailless but much closer to monkeys in many aspects. For example, they maintain the same mate for life.

Lemurs

Then we entered into lemur’s pavilion. You will likely see the Lemurs high on the trees unless it is feeding time.

But, if it is feeding time, then they will get much closer. And some of the lemurs will even let you pet them, of course, as long as the food is involved.

Lemurs are not monkeys. They have their own family, the Strepsirrhini (a suborder of primates). There are nearly 100 species of lemurs. In the past, there were lemurs as giant as gorillas.

We also saw penguins eating breakfast. It was not the official feeding, which takes place at 13:30. I also guess the official feeding is more than just eating, but we left Hay Park around noon, so maybe we will see it next time.

Peacocks wander freely around the zoo:

Due to their fast pace, photographing turtles is only for advanced photographers 🙂

Note: did you know that there are Nile softshell turtles in Israel? See Turtle Bridge at Alexander River for additional details.

There is grace in giraffes:

I guess it is true what they say. The neighbor’s leaves are tastier.

Chicks at kindergarten:

The laughing elephant:

Petting Area

At the petting area, you can find different types of goats and sheep:

Here you can find animals domesticated by man thousands of years ago to provide him with meat, milk, wool, carrying loads, and for recreation and pleasure.

It is the only place in the zoo where you can pet the animals.

When the animal is not interested in stroking, it will move away from you. Please accept with understanding the feelings of the animals. Also, do not hold an animal forcibly.

The sheep, goats, and rabbits can only be fed green vegetables. You can not feed another animal in the zoo.

Bread or any other food that the caregivers do not control may cause animal sickness.

In the petting area, roosters, peacocks, turkeys, and Helmeted guineafowl are freely walking.

Note: unless stated otherwise, all quotes were taken from the official site.

Birds Area

You can find several pelicans, a group of flamingos, swans, storks, and other birds in the bird’s area.

When looking at the teenage swans, The Ugly Duckling fairy tale comes to mind.

Naptime:

When we visited all the animals, we decided to make another round in the monkey section. Come early since the animals are more active in the mornings (or in the evenings). But this time, I was heading for a surprise. In the morning, the Orangutans were in the back of their cage. But at noon, they looked for shade. One of the shady places was next to the window. I took the following picture (through the window) when the Orangutan was less than a meter from me.

Looking at the Orangutan pose, I wonder who entertains who. They entertain us, or we amuse them.

And my last photo was of this Capuchin, who looks at his sibling’s tail as if it was a toy.

Visiting Hay Park on a Saturday

Two months after the initial post, I revisited Hai Park. This visit was on a Saturday. Thus the Squirrel monkey cage was open. It is a medium-sized area, which you are allowed to enter. In this area, the Squirrel monkeys are running around you. It would be best if you kept in mind that they are looking for food. Thus, close your bags and keep an eye on your personal belongings. Of course, feeding is not allowed, and keep your hands away (they may bite).

If you love Squirrel monkeys, you can also see them at Monkey Forest in Yodfat and Monkey Park at Ben Shemen.

Another exciting update is related to the baby gibbon we saw during the previous visit. This time he was already a toddler and ran by himself.

Since it was a Saturday, there was also riding. The options are a camel (see also Camel ride in the Negev) or pony riding. For riding, you buy additional tickets at the cafeteria on the premises. My daughter chose camel riding. Camel riding costs 20 NIS, and it was a ten-minute ride.

History

Kiryat Motzkin Park was opened in July 2002. Since then, millions have visited the site, which is considered the most beautiful zoo in Israel.

The entrepreneur of the zoo project is Mr. Haim Tzuri. He has served as mayor of Kiryat Motzkin since November 1993.

Tzuri, a visionary mayor, has set himself to establish a leading tourist site in Israel, which serves the welfare of its residents and all visitors from Israel and abroad who visit the site.

The complex consists of 180 dunams of a living and breathtaking park, where hundreds of animals reside. Giraffes, elephants, orangutans, various birds, reptiles, and a wide variety of animals. The animals are in spectacular displays that resemble their natural habitat.

What can you find at this compound?

The site contains several compounds. You can find a 2-acre swan lake in the park, fountains, landscaped vegetation, tropical vegetation with grass carpets, and seating areas shaded by a huge variety of trees.

Mini Luna Park – electric installations, carousels, trains, and bumper cars. On the zoo grounds, you can ride camels and ponies on the wide paths inside the zoo. The amphitheater is an additional complex where events and performances are held with the best artists from Israel and abroad. It can accommodate up to 10,000 people, living on all its grounds, well maintained and clean, suitable for all ages.

The zoo is estimated as the most extensive educational entertainment center in the country’s north. It hosts tens of thousands of students each year who come for experiential study tours as part of programs on the animals’ lifestyle. The programs are designed for age groups ranging from kindergartens, elementary schools, junior high schools, students, and the elderly. Camps and summer camps are transferred there.

In addition to all attractions, children enjoy activities in a unique holiday atmosphere. There are a cafe-dairy restaurant and various buffets.

The place is level and has easy access for people with disabilities. A unique voice information system is installed in seven central places in the park to benefit the visually impaired.

Summary

Hay Park is a lovely medium-sized zoo. And if you want to see the best animal attractions see Zoos and Aquariums. Moreover, for nearby attractions, see Haifa.

Have you ever visited Hay Park? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.

That’s all for today, and I’ll see you in future travels!

Stay Tuned!

Additional Resources

Here are several resources that I created to help travelers:

• Trip Planner with Attractions and Itineraries is the page that will help you create your perfect travel route.
• What is the Best Time to visit Israel? To answer this question, we will consider the weather, prices, holidays, festivals, and more.
• Information and Tips for Tourists to Israel will answer the most common questions tourists have about Israel (including safety, passports, weather, currency, tipping, electricity, and much more).
• Israel National Parks and Nature Reserves include a complete list, top ten, map, tickets (Israel Pass, Matmon, combo), and campsites.
• If you are looking for things to do, here are the pages for Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Sea Of Galilee, Akko (Acre), Eilat, Nazareth, Safed (Tzfat), and Makhtesh Ramon.