The best zoos, safaris, and wildlife parks in Israel

Aptly nicknamed the Ramat Gan "Safari," The Zoological Center of Tel Aviv is as close to an African savannah as you can get, being only a few kilometers outside of Tel Aviv. The African safari park and zoo has over 1,600 species of animals from around the world, many of whom roam freely across the 250 acres of land. Stop by for a visit or tour to witness the hippos lounging in the water pools, the zebras sprinting across the plain, and the ferocious lion pride ruling over the entire park.

Located beyond Eilat’s port area, the Dolphin Reef offers an awe-inspiring atmosphere and experience for animal and nature seekers. Not only can you observe the dolphins from the floating piers and observation points, but you can also snorkel and dive among them. This ecologically unique site for both Israel and the world, houses a pod of bottle-nosed dolphins, where onlookers can witness them living first-hand in their natural habitat: playing, hunting and socializing. 10,000 square meters of open-ended sea allow the dolphins to come and go at will – none of them are captive.

A 62-acre zoo with a lake at its center, the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo encompasses two levels, interconnecting pools and waterfalls. The zoo is surrounded by green hills and has grassy lawns with plenty of shade inside, and includes multiple research laboratories dedicated to wildlife conservation. Kids love the Noah’s Ark visitor center, a boat-shaped wooden structure with information and games pertaining to all the animals mentioned in the Bible.

Zapari is a bird safari park set in lush gardens with a beautiful mini-lake. Though the majority of the birds in the park are not native to Israel, a handful of species are. Among the park's other birds are imported parrot species, emus, flamingos, toucans, peacocks, crested cranes and much, much more. The Zapari is the best place to spend saturday morning with the kids as it is easy to reach and walk around. If the kids need a break from animal appreciation, the park also has some playground facilities and a small kiosk.