Sharjah is one of the UAE’s most popular and iconic cities, home to several amazing museums and cultural sites. As the third largest UAE emirate, Sharjah has several family-friendly destinations to cater to global tastes and preferences. Attractions such as the Sharjah Art Museum, Sharjah Safari Park, and the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilizations speak volumes about the rich cultural heritage of this wonderful tourist destination. In contrast, a Desert Safari and the beautiful Sharjah beaches allow you to unwind from the busy city life. Let’s take you through one of the modern destinations that have redefined the touristic landscape of Sharjah.
Introduction
Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Supreme Council Member and the ruler of Sharjah, inaugurated this beautiful lush green space in 2022. Since then, the Park authorities have focused on creating memorable moments for all its visitors as they delve into the largest wildlife safari outside the African continent, making it a fabulous adventure spot. Decorated in the lap of nature, visitors and tourists explore the fascinating aspects of the endemic wildlife as they roam freely without any fences. Housing more than 120+ animal species, including 50,000 animals, birds, mammals, and reptiles. You will find numerous animals, such as elephants, white rhinoceros, giraffes, deer, wild bulls, crocodiles, and other endangered species as you browse this fabulous Safari space.
Sharjah Safari Park Location
Your craving for an African safari adventure ends here in Sharjah as it brings the African wilderness to your footstep. Placed in the Al Bardi Reserve near Al Dhaid City, you can reach this beautiful lush green Park via a 5-minute drive on the Sharjah-Khorfakkan Road.
A 40-50 minute drive from Fujairah, Dubai, Ajman, or Umm Al Quwain will take you to this destination. Parking facilities are near the main entrance if you bring your own car.
Safari Park Tickets
The Sharjah Safari Park tickets can be individually purchased in three packs – Bronze, Silver, and Gold. The Bronze pack charges AED 40 per adult and AED 15 per child, whereas the Silver pack charges AED 120 per adult and AED 50 per child, with the Gold pack charging AED 275 per adult and AED 120 per child.
The Silver and Gold pack takes you through a shared vehicle as you browse the dense landscapes of the various regions. You get to enjoy the Safari camp where your little ones can enjoy themselves in the children’s zone. A Gold pack provides a private guide that will help you holistically gain deeper insights into the fascinating elements of this wonderful Park. All packages give you access to walking tours in Into Africa and Zanzibar Village, along with the amphitheater.
The private tour gives you three options – a shared 6-seater, a 9-seater, and a 15-seater vehicle, with the provisions across all three shared vehicles being predominantly the same. Irrespective of whether the vehicle is fully occupied, the charges for the private tour for the 6-seater, 9-seater, and 15-seater are AED 1,500, AED 2,250, and AED 3,500 per vehicle, respectively.
Additional taxes may apply for all the prices stated above.
Sharjah Safari Park Timings
The Sharjah Safari Park welcomes visitors and tourists daily from 8:30am till your last entry time, which can vary depending on your purchased ticket package. The last entry for Gold and Silver packages is scheduled at 1:30pm, with the Safari departing at 2pm. The last entry is scheduled for all the Bronze package holders at 4pm. During the holy Ramadan, the timings are reduced to 8:30am to 1:30pm, except each Friday when it is closed.
Zones in the Safari Park
Inspired by its African cousin, the Sharjah Safari Park constitutes 12 different environments or zones representing the fabulous terrain and life of the continent and the subsequent animals and birds who have made it their own home. The most prominent zones are as follows:
Birds of Africa
Enjoy the aviary experience as the popular and iconic African birds flock to Flamingo Lake. It’s an amazing experience witnessing the beautiful birds relax and move around in their natural habitat.
To Africa
The visitors and tourists get a unique experience as they walk and browse the wildlife endemic, archipelagos, and islands decorating the landscape on the African eastern coast in the Indian Ocean
Zanzibar Village
This zone is a relaxing and lounging area where you can take a break during your discovery journey. Browse this zone’s wonderfully themed restaurants, cafes, and shops to fulfill your gastronomical and souvenir desires.
The Sahel
This zone represents the deserts, pastures, and diverse wildlife prospering in the region found from the Atlantic coast of Mauritania to the Red Sea’s east and west of Eritrea.
The Savannah
This zone represents the eastern and southern African region on the northern coastline and towards the Kalahari region in the southwest. This tropical grassland decorates more than half the area of the African continent. It proudly houses the largest concentration of biodiversity found on planet Earth.
The Serengeti
This region witnesses the largest animal migration yearly across the Serengeti plains, crossing the dangerous Mara River while maintaining a perfect balance across the food chain among herbivores, carnivores, reptiles, and birds.
Ngorongoro
This region was incepted from an extinct crater and forms a unique ecosystem that houses some of Africa’s iconic animal species.
Moremi
This region is inspired by the valleys and canyons of the southwest African region that have incepted from the heavy monsoon rains from the last century. This dry and sandy riverbed features aquifers forming a major life support system during the dry season.
Trip Essentials
We recommend you prepare and plan for your Sharjah Safari Park visit. We bring you some key trip essentials you should note for your trip.
- Hot weather demands you to protect your skin against ultra-violent and harmful sun rays. Hence, a good pair of shades, sunscreen, and a hat to cool yourself is necessary.
- As the trip involves a fair set of walking and exploring, a comfortable pair of shoes that will not tire your feet after you cover a fair distance would be recommended.
- You may not be up close with all the animals in the Park. Some may be spotted quite far away. Hence, a good camera and binoculars will help you seize the moment and capture those memorable sightings.
- Several water refill stations are available throughout the Park to keep you hydrated in the hot weather.
Explore the gorgeous animal kingdom
The Sharjah Safari Park gives you a wonderful opportunity to get up close to the animal kingdom, where you get to discover more than 1,200+ animal species, such as Lesser Flamingo, African Openbill, Aldabra Giant Tortoise, Radiated Tortoise, Ring-tailed Lemur, Madagascar Teal, Watusi Cattle, Dorcas Gazelle, Northern African Ostrich, Common Wildebeest, Nile Crocodile, Lion, African Elephant, Western Roan Antelope, Southern Ground-hornbill, Great White Pelican, Marabou, Southern White Rhinoceros, Plains Zebra, Cape Buffalo, Impala, Southern Giraffe, Springbok, Banded Mongoose, Pancake Tortoise, Donkey, Pygmy Goat, Helmeted Guineafowl, White-throated Monitor, Scimitar-horned Oryx, Common Eland, Eastern Black Rhino, Gemsbok, Nyala, and Red Lechwe.
Conclusion
The largest safari outside the African world brings the unique perspective of the African wilderness right to your doorstep, where you can browse diverse ecosystems and deeply understand the challenges and entertaining aspects of the wildlife system. If you are in Sharjah, then the Sharjah Safari Park is one destination you should not even think of skipping, no matter your travel interests and preferences. So, what are you waiting for? Book your African adventure today.!