En route to Israel’s southernmost city, a huge desert is spread out where not only Mother Nature’s surprises lie, but also unique attractions established especially for the whole family. What can you look for in the Arava? You will be surprised at the quantity
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By Reut Gawiser
“Let us escape the asphalt,” Nurit Hirsch wrote in her well-known poem about Eilat, and Israel’s southernmost city for residents and tourists alike a refuge of eternal summer and a relaxing vacation in light atmosphere with no obligations. But en route to the city is spread the entire Arava, which offers powerful desert mystery alongside delightful pearls and attractions for the whole family. Here are five of them:
When was the last time you petted a crocodile? Crocoloco Farm
1. Crocoloco Crocodile Farm – When was the last time you petted a crocodile?
Crocoloco Crocodile Farm at Ein Hatzeva was opened 2006 out of a love of nature and the world’s largest and most fascinating reptile. A fertile core of crocodiles is intended to preserve the species and save it from extinction. It is possible to take day tours where you will learn about the world of the crocodile up close and watch them behind fences. There are also night tours (by telephone reservation), where you can learn about their nightlife. The farm also has a hatchery and petting corner for young crocodiles.
The farm is located about 150 km. north of Eilat. Just after the Arava intersection is a sign directing you to the place.
Once in a lifetime experience – Riding a camel
2. Spice-Route Khan – Ride a camel and bath in natural pools
Near Moshav Tzofar, not far from the Arava intersection, about 130 km. north of Eilat, you will find a charming family inn, which offers a desert experience in a quiet and magical atmosphere.
At the inn, you can enjoy camel and donkey rides, the farm’s friendly and people-loving animal petting zoo, and thermal pools with a natural water temperature of 28 degrees Celsius and full of minerals and substances absorbed from the soil. You may sleep in large and spacious tents in a desert atmosphere and enjoy a sumptuous desert meal from an authentic Bedouin kitchen. Most of the vegetables are grown at the inn and are organic. In particular, the inn emphasizes peace and tranquility.
Open from September through May.
3. Antelope Ranch – Two-by-two: Noah’s Ark is here
Between the Sapir Center and Moshav Tzofar, about 130 km. north of Eilat, you will find Little Africa, or in its better-known name, the Antelope Ranch. An African safari in the heart of the desert offers visitors tours by car among the vast range of desert African animals, which roam free, including impalas, kudus, gnus, ibexes, and other antelopes, sheep, and other species. There are two natural pools where bathing is permitted.
The site’s jewel in the crown is a huge and impressive Noah’s Ark, where other animals happily lie, such as meerkats (suricates), rodents, and a variety of birds. The site also operates bed and breakfasts and an equipped family campground with sleeping sheds and mattresses, bathrooms and hot showers, a barbecue area, and picnic tables.
A white antelope in the desert
4. Kibbutz Neot Smadar – Organic wine, ecological construction, and a goat pen
Kibbutz Neot Smadar offers an encounter with a fascinating community and ideological lifestyle in the heart of the desert. The kibbutz is engaged in organic agriculture and ecological desert construction. During the tour, you will encounter a unique communal life and ideological expression in the field that will take you to the local Artists House, which offers a range of workshops in gold and silversmith, ceramics, stained glass and more. at the Artists House, you can see the special cooling tower built to cool the place on the Arava’s many hot days with minimal energy use.
The kibbutz also runs a winery that produces wine from locally-grown organic grapes, and goat pen that provides the kibbutz’s famous organic produce. You may conclude with a meal at the Neot Smadar Inn and enjoy the kibbutz’s best produce, including cheeses, olive oil, olives, jams, and spreads.
The magic of southern Israel
5. Yotvata Park – Tour the Milk Road in the southernmost kibbutz
About 45 km. north of Eilat, is Yotvata Park, a hands-on visitors center that offers its guests to learn about in depth the southernmost kibbutz famed for its dairy products produced at its dairy. At the new park, you will enjoy a hands-on site for the whole family that includes a large playground for free, a guided tour of the visitors center, which will relate the success story of the kibbutz dairy, jeep tours, and guided tours of renewable energy, and a visit to the kibbutz cowsheds. There is also the well-known inn, which offers dairy or meat dishes and a range of familiar Yotvata products.
