This review will review zoos and aquariums, list the top ten, explore wildlife, and suggest where to see it.
Table of Contents
Zoos in Israel
Let’s start with a comparison table of the biggest zoos in Israel.
Notes:
- I visited most of the sites in this guide more than once, and the links are to my reviews. Thus, if you want to discover additional details about a place, check the relevant guide.
- Some places offer coupons. You can find additional details in the linked guides.
| Name | Location | Entrance Fee | Estimated Visit Duration | Rating on Google |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jerusalem Biblical Zoo | Jerusalem | 58 NIS per adult and 44 NIS per child | 2 – 5 hours | 4.6 based on 10,453 reviews |
| Ramat Gan Safari | Ramat Gan | 74 NIS per person | 2 – 5 hours | 4.4 based on 13,684 reviews |
| Haifa Educational Zoo | Haifa | 38 NIS per person | 2 – 4 hours | 4.4 based on 2,548 reviews |
| Hay Park | Kiryat Motzkin | 55 NIS per adult and 50 NIS per child | 2 – 4 hours | 4.2 based on 206 reviews |
| Hai Kef Zoo | Rishon LeTsiyon | 39 during weekdays and 55 on Saturdays NIS per person | 1 – 3 hours | 3.8 based on 2,004 reviews |
| Negev Zoo | Beersheba | 35 NIS per person | 1 – 3 hours | 4.5 based on 1,926 reviews |
As you can see, most places have similar ratings. And my own experience is pretty much aligned with these scores. So which one should you visit?
I would suggest considering one of the first three options for most people.
Among the first three, if you are looking for a big zoo or an attraction in Jerusalem (open on Saturday), go with Jerusalem Biblical Zoo. If you are in Tel Aviv or want to drive through the African zone, consider Ramat Gan Safari. Lastly, if you are visiting Haifa, or looking for a more budget option, check out Haifa Educational Zoo.
After visiting a big zoo, visiting another one might feel like more of the same. But attending an animal attraction specializing in a species, such as crocodiles, can be an exciting experience. Thus, in the next section, we will go over animal attractions.
Animal Attractions
So far, we have covered the largest zoos in Israel. But there are also many smaller places. And in this section, we will go over the most popular ones.
Note: the table is ordered by the number of reviews.
| Name | Location | Entrance Fee | Estimated Visit Duration | Rating on Google |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolphin Reef | Eilat | 69 NIS per adult and 48 NIS per child | one hour to a full day | 4.6 based on 7,601 reviews |
| Monkey Forest | Yodfat | 44 during weekdays and 48 on weekends NIS per person | 2 – 4 hours | 4.5 based on 2,080 reviews |
| Gan Garoo – Australian-themed park | Nir David | 59 NIS per person | 2 – 3 hours | 4.5 based on 1,983 reviews |
| Lachish Park – mostly deer, Nubian ibex, and zebras | Ashdod | free | 1 – 2 hours | 4.4 based on 1,406 reviews |
| Deer forest | Odem | 25 NIS per adult and 50 NIS per child | 2 – 3 hours | 4.4 based on 1,378 reviews |
| Monkey Park (Israeli Primate Sanctuary Foundation) | Kfar Daniel | 48 NIS per person | 1 – 2 hours | 3.8 based on 1,318 reviews |
| The Rabbit Village | Bethlehem of Galilee | 60 NIS per person | 1 – 3 hours | at least 65 NIS per person |
| Gan Hai – a small zoo with a petting corner | Petah Tikva | 30 NIS per adult and 24 NIS per child | 2 – 3 hours | 4.2 based on 912 reviews |
| Parrot Farm | Kfar Hess | 35 NIS per adult and 45 NIS per child | 1 – 2 hours | 3.9 based on 746 reviews |
| Crocoloco Crocodile Farm | Ir Ovot | 30 NIS per person | 1 hour | 4.4 based on 542 reviews |
| Hamat Gader – hot springs with an animal world | Hamat Gader | at least 89 NIS per person | one hour to a full day | 4 based on 486 reviews (Tripadvisor) |
| Camel Ride – one of the places for camel rides | Mamshit Camel Ranch | at least 65 NIS per peson | 1 – 4 hours | 4.6 based on 464 reviews |
| Alpaca Farm | Mitzpe Ramon | 30 NIS per person | 1 – 2 hours | 4.6 based on 210 reviews |
| Antelope Ranch | Mahane Zofar | 30 NIS per person | 1 – 2 hours | 4.7 based on 360 reviews |
| Ostrich Farm | Merhavim Regional Council | 30 NIS per person | 1 hour | 4.3 based on 270 reviews |
I agree with most of the ratings. And I would draw the line at around 4. This means I would probably not visit places with a rating below 4. But remember that some of these places might get a low rating because of a restaurant or a hotel on their premises. On the other hand, a site can get a high score due to its attractions for young kids, which might not be relevant to you. Thus, in any case, I would suggest checking the guides to the desired animal attractions before visiting them.
Aquariums in Israel
There are two big aquariums in Israel. One in Eilat and the second in Jerusalem.
We enjoyed visiting both of them. And according to the rating, we were not the only ones.
| Name | Location | Entrance Fee | Estimated Visit Duration | Rating on Google |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Israel Aquarium | Jerusalem | 54 NIS per adult and 45 NIS per child | 1.5 – 2.5 hours | 4.6 based on 6,461 reviews |
| Underwater Observatory Marine Park | Eilat | at least 79 NIS per peson | 2 – 5 hours | 4.5 based on 10,808 reviews |
Top Ten
We get the top ten list if we take the ten places with the highest ratings from the tables above.
| Name | Rating on Google |
|---|---|
| Antelope Ranch | 4.7 based on 360 reviews |
| Jerusalem Biblical Zoo | 4.6 based on 10,453 reviews |
| Dolphin Reef | 4.6 based on 7,601 reviews |
| Camel Ride | 4.6 based on 464 reviews |
| Alpaca Farm | 4.6 based on 210 reviews |
| Israel Aquarium | 4.6 based on 6,461 reviews |
| Negev Zoo | 4.5 based on 1,926 reviews |
| Monkey Forest | 4.5 based on 2,080 reviews |
| Gan Garoo | 4.5 based on 1,983 reviews |
| Underwater Observatory Marine Park | 4.5 based on 10,808 reviews |
And here are the top 10 according to Tripadvisor:
- Jerusalem Biblical Zoo
- Underwater Observatory Marine Park
- Gan Garoo
- Ramat Gan Safari
- Israel Aquarium
- Haifa Educational Zoo
- Hay Park
- Monkey Forest
- Antelope Ranch
- The Biblical Museum of Natural History
As you can see, both these ratings are pretty similar. However, as I mentioned above, rating is not the only factor. If a site has other points of interest beyond animals, the scores can be less representative. Moreover, some places are aimed at families with young kids, while others are suitable for various ages. Therefore, check my reviews before visiting a site.
Wildlife
Till now, we have covered animal attractions, Zoos, and Aquariums. And in this section, we will talk about wildlife.
Nubian ibex
We will start our overview with the Nubian ibex. This desert-dwelling goat is a threatened species worldwide. And the reason we begin with it is Artzi. You probably met him if you visited any of the National Parks And Nature Reserves in Israel. Artzi is the Nubian ibex on the Israeli Nature and Parks Authority emblem.
In Israel, the historically dense ibex population, described in the Bible (Psalm 104:18), was decimated in the wake of the First World War when the sudden availability of rifles enabled Bedouin to hunt them to near extinction. After the establishment of the state, when hunting was outlawed, and nature reserves were created in which they were protected, the ibex population rebounded. Three ibex populations have been discovered in Israel: in the Judean Desert, the Negev mountains, and Eilat.
Source: Wikipedia
Following the 1955 nature protection law and the explanation activity, the population of the Nubian ibexes has grown over the years. This success story is one of the reasons for integrating the Nubian ibex into the symbol of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.
The best way to find wildlife, especially Nubian ibex, is to look for food or water. So, here are the best places to see Nubian ibexes in Israel:
- Ein Gedi Nature Reserve is the largest oasis in Israel. Many different species visit it all year round. You can find Nubian ibexes, rock hyraxes, foxes, wolves, birds of prey, reptiles, and many other species at this nature reserve. And since I mentioned rock hyraxes, you can also see them at Rosh HaNikra and Banias Nature Reserve.
- There is a population of Nubian ibex at Makhtesh Ramon, and they are coming to Mitzpe Ramon in search of food.
- Ein Avdat National Park, like Ein Gedi, is also a water source in the middle of the desert. And the water attracts songbirds, rock doves, birds of prey, and ibexes.
Birds
As I told you in Bird Ringing at Ein Afek Nature Reserve, there are two routes for migrating birds to Africa. One goes through Spain, and the second through Israel. Thus, Israel is one of the best places to see migrating birds.
Around 500 million birds fly above Israel twice a year, and the numbers are growing yearly. The best places to see migrating birds are:
- Agamon Hula is the most popular site. It is like a bed and breakfast for birds. There are ponds where birds can spend the night and receive food. During the peak of the migration season, more than 50,000 cranes can stay for a night. And, of course, there are other species as well.
- Near Agamon Hula you can find Hula Nature Reserve. Since many people confuse those two places, see Agamon Hula versus Hula Nature Reserve – Which one is Better? for a comparison of the two places.
- Pelican Migration At Emek Hefer is my favorite place to see the biggest migrating bird, the pelican. In the pelican guide, I will take you to the Viker lookout and Agamon Hefer.
- Did you know that there are Nile softshell turtles in Israel? See Turtle Bridge at Alexander River for additional details.
- Eilat Ornithological Park is also one of the more popular spots for birdwatching. It is especially impressive that thousands of flamingos stay there. See Flamingo Migration.
In general, the best time to see bird migration is either fall or spring (usually March – April and October -November).
Other Places
And finally, I will list several honorable mentions:
- At Taninim Stream Nature Reserve, you will not find crocodiles, and you will see many birds.
- Ein Afek Nature Reserve is a wetland in northern Israel. It is home to a wide variety of animals, including buffalos, mongooses, Nutrias, and many birds and fish.
- Hai-Bar Yotvata Nature Reserve is a safari with a small zoo near Eilat.
Summary
This guide covered the most popular places to see wildlife, the best animal attractions, zoos, and aquariums. And I hope it will be helpful and give you ideas about where to go next.
What are your favorite Zoos and Aquariums in Israel? Tell us 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:- Israel Trip Planner is the page that will help you to create your perfect travel route.
- National Parks And Nature Reserves page lists and put all national parks on the map. There is also a top list, information about ticket types and campsites.
- If you are looking for things to do, here are the pages for Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Sea Of Galilee, and Makhtesh Ramon.
- Wondering what events are there in Israel? Here is the Events And Festivals By Season guide.
Is there a certain time when it is better to come to the Ein Gedi reserve in order to meet goats or are they there all day?
same as”Where exactly in the Ein Gedi Reserve can you see goats?
Thanks in advance.
Hi Avi,
Animals are always more active in the morning or evening (when it is less hot). During our last visit we saw them at the beginning of the David waterfall trail (near the entry). They came to drink water. Thus there is a good chance seeing them at 8:00 by the water or in the nearby shade.