Ramat Gan Safari Park and Ramat Gan National Park
Cancel that safari trip to Africa! You can get close to the same thing near the heart of Tel Aviv in Ramat Gan! The Ramat Gan Safari Park has the largest number of exhibited animals in the Middle East and consists of two sections. There is a 200-acre African Safari park that was opened in 1974. Herds of African animals roam in an African-like savannah and do what free-roaming animals usually do. There is also a small lake with flamingos, pelicans and hippopotami. The zoo section was established in the center of the park in 1981 to replace the Tel Aviv Zoo that had closed down. This park
You view the safari park from your car and drive slowly on the route indicated. You can identify the animals from the brochure provided, which also provides a short description of each of them. There is also a secure lion section. You are asked to keep your windows closed when driving through. The total drive should take about 35 to 45 minutes.
Then go to the parking lot to visit the zoo. All the animals are in a natural environment and not in cages. Many are viewed through plexiglass and this works out fine for photos. There are 4 sections. The map in the brochure tells you by number the animals you are seeing. At the entrance to the zoo are listed their feeding times. Most of the explanations about the exhibits are also in English.
Time: 3 hours to half a day.
Directions: Enter into Waze “Ramat Gan Safari” and click on “Safari. Sderot Hatsvi, Ramat Gan, Israel.”
Admission: Hours are Sunday to Thursday 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. (the lion section closes at 5.00 p.m.). The ticket office closes at 4.00 p.m. On Friday and holiday eves the ticket office is open from 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. and the park closes at 4.00 p.m. The lion section is open from 10.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. On Saturday and holidays the park opens at 8.30 a.m. and closes at 6.00 p.m. and the ticket office closes at 4.00 p.m. The lion section is open from 9.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Admission is 99 NIS for everyone 2 years and older. For seniors and students the price is 77 NIS. You can save 10 NIS by booking on line. For those without a car, there is a shuttle through the park for 7 NIS. There are WCs by the entrance to the park and in the zoo section. There is a restaurant in the zoo section with air conditioning in the summer and shaded tables outside. There is a shaded picnic area with picnic benches on fake grass. There is a gift shop and kiosk for drinks and snacks. There is a small children’s play area. Their phone number is 03 632 0222. This is their website.
Public transport: Enter “Safari” into Moovit and click on “Sderot Hatsvi, Ramat Gan.” The closest bus stop is either a 13-minute walk and a distance of 1.1 Km or a 20-minute walk and a distance of 1.7 Km.
A marabou and pelicans in the safari park. The marabou is a relative of the stork.
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Hippopotami and zebras. The hippopotami are often submerged in the lake during the hot part of the day.
An addax. Their original habitat was the deserts of North Africa where they are now almost extinct.
A herd of Arabian oryx. They were hunted almost to extinction in the 1970s.
Ramat Gan National Park
It is also worth driving or walking to the Ramat Gan National Park adjacent to the zoo. A gate at the parking lot in the zoo leads directly to the National Park.
The park has very expansive green lawns and a large lake, around which is a paved path. There are boats for hire. As you walk around the lake you will notice deck chair in areas with sand and deck chair in areas without sand overlooking the lake. There are plenty of ducks in the lake. There is a covered exercise area with machines and a short track. There is a kids play area. Part of the lawns can be used for barbecues and there are picnic benches here.
For driving to the park enter “Ramat Gan National Park.” This will lead you to a paid parking lot. You can also park on the street leading to the park on blue and white marked parking areas. There are WCs by the entrance to the park with piped music and WCs within the park.
