The Midbarium Desert Animal Park (Negev Zoo) in Beersheva

This park started in 1954 as a petting zoo. It now covers 37 acres and contains about 100 desert-adapted species from Israel and Africa. The park strives to educate visitors about desert wildlife. The design of the park replicates real desert landscapes, allowing animals to live in environments closely resembling their natural homes. It has four distinct habitats — the Canyon, Desert Plains, Oasis, and Savannah. The Canyon area replicates rock formations found in the Timna region, and the Savanna sections feature structures resembling those in the African savannah and has an African-style ecosystem. Notice that there are minimal barriers between visitors and animals, other than for safety.

 

For each of the animals there is basic information in Hebrew, English and Arabic on a sign. Something very novel, however, is that the sign also contains an interesting question about the animal. To get the answer, you direct your phone to a QR code on the sign and up comes a very short video with the answer in Hebrew, with subtitles in English, Hebrew and Arabic. This is one aspect of many that makes the park a truly educational experience for kids and adults. I loved it!

 

Something else special are 15 interactive experiences that allow visitors to “walk in the shoes” of the animal they are observing to understand how they survive and thrive in desert habitats. Some examples — See Like a Raptor, Climb Like an Ibex, Sneak Up Like a Leopard, Slither Like a Snake, Romp Like a Monkey, Ambush Like a Crocodile and Navigate Like a Bat. Other things to keep kids (and adults) engaged are a lift that takes you to the height of a giraffe and interactive games such as a crocodile catching its prey.

 

There is no brochure, but there are plenty of maps on signs pointing out where you are. You can walk around the periphery, taking paths to areas further in the periphery and in the center. I turned to the left from the entrance. There are plenty of restrooms along the way.

 

There is a kiosk selling drinks and snacks by the entrance. However, if you continue to the left from the entrance there is an area with covered picnic benches and a store selling not only drinks and snacks, but also fast-food meals.