Gazelle Valley Park
Nature has made its way to the heart of Jerusalem with the opening of Gazelle Valley, just outside the city center in a 250-acre area between the neighborhoods of Katamon and Kiryat HaYovel. The highlights of the park are a pack of about 30 wild gazelles, which roam freely throughout the grounds, as well as luscious green landscape, 5 natural and man-made ponds, two streams, several posts for observing the various natural wildlife that inhabits the park and a man-made island.
The park is the first of its kind in Israel, but modeled after other similar parks, such as Central Park in New York City and Hampstead Heath in London.
Entrance to the valley is free, and in addition to the natural beauty, Gazelle Park also offers various tours and activities:
- Tours, workshops and lectures on topics pertaining to nature
- Planting trees and other donor activities (starting in the fall)
- A venue for businesses to conduct workshops
- Pensioner tours of the various flora, fauna and wildlife of Israel
Stay up-to date with scheduled events and activities on the Gazelle Valley Facebook page (Hebrew)
TripAdvisor Reviews
Based on 37 traveler reviews
An extraordinary countryside experience sandwiched between busy main roads. A piece of wild land has been carved out, partly for gazelles and partly for people. Once you are in the valley it is hard to believe that you are surrounded by the city. If you want to see gazelles go early in the morning...
MoreAn extraordinary countryside experience sandwiched between busy main roads. A piece of wild land has been carved out, partly for gazelles and partly for people. Once you are in the valley it is hard to believe that you are surrounded by the city. If you want to see gazelles go early in the morning or in the evening. The gazelle section is separated from the people section. The Visitors Centre is staffed and helpful, with maps in Hebrew English and other languages. One warning: the path marked on the map as a cycle path only exists in part, and even that part is not for the fainthearted, either in terms of the surface or the slope! I only discovered this park about two months ago, and have been at least six times since: it is only a 10 minute trip along cycle paths from my home in central Jerusalem. Apart from the gazelles there are other forms of wildlife, many different species of birds, plants… And yesterday I nearly cycled over a baby tortoise or possibly a turtle.
LessIt is a small quiet park in the middle of Jerusalem. It is free to visit. It is best to go early in the day or late in the afternoon. The gazelle are active then in the heat of the day. We saw many gazelle walking around. They have...
MoreIt is a small quiet park in the middle of Jerusalem. It is free to visit. It is best to go early in the day or late in the afternoon. The gazelle are active then in the heat of the day. We saw many gazelle walking around. They have little fear of people and we were able to get quite close.
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An unexpected place of beauty and nature. Worth looking for, off the beaten track, definitely more locals than a tourist site. Wild flowers, birds, bees (yes, bees), frogs, and of course gazelles. Be prepared to walk at your own pace, sneakers preferable but not essential. Free admission, plenty of free parking,...
MoreAn unexpected place of beauty and nature. Worth looking for, off the beaten track, definitely more locals than a tourist site. Wild flowers, birds, bees (yes, bees), frogs, and of course gazelles. Be prepared to walk at your own pace, sneakers preferable but not essential. Free admission, plenty of free parking, many walkers from around the neighborhood
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