In and around Jerusalem

Developing Gazelle Valley Park was a struggle involving real estate developers versus local citizens, environmental organizations and the press who wanted to preserve this natural piece of land. The greens won - with a bit of help from town hall. This is a wonderful place for kids to learn about plants, trees and wildlife. And with a bit of luck they may even see some gazelle.

Gazelle Valley Park is designed to be a natural reserve in which wild life and human visitors can exist in harmony. It contains a herd of Israeli Mountain Gazelle that once lived on the slopes of Beit Hakerem, Malha and Emek Rephaim, but who were trapped by construction of Begin Highway. The gazelles are now protected in the park. Some of the water for the pools in the park comes from surface run-off water and is somewhat polluted. Therefore, the water is cycled and pumped from the lower pool back to the upper pool where it is purified by natural filters. This area was once an apple orchard and there are efforts to bring back these and other trees. 

BACKGROUND

GAZELLE AND IBEX

Gazelles are antelopes. They are seen in most parts of the country other than the coastal plain. Two species are found in Israel. The Mountain gazelle is seen in the northern two-thirds of the country and the Negev gazelle in the southern desert. The gazelle is known in Hebrew as the tzvi (צבי). It is fawn to dark-brown in color, but its buttocks and belly are pure white. This is very noticeable when it runs away from you - which it is likely to do as it is a very shy animal. The horns of the male are long and straight, whereas those of the female are shorter and may be bent, crooked or broken. Gazelle are best seen at dawn or early evening - so that if you go to the reserve/park in the daytime, you may not even see them.

The gazelle should not be confused with the ibex, which is a wild goat seen around springs in the Negev and Judean desert. It is known in Hebrew as the ya'el ( יעל). It has long thin horns which extend up, back and then down. In males they can be as long as a meter in length, while they are shorter in females.  

Distance: 2¼ Km

Time: Allow at least 45-60 minutes to walk through the park, and more time to observe, explore or just relax on the deckchairs provided.

Starting point: The park is on the outskirts of Givat Mordechai. By car, turn off Harav Herzog Street onto Shehal St., and then follow the signs to Gazelle Park. (On Waze :enter Gazelle Park, Jerusalem or עמק הצבאים). Park at the entrance to the park. 

Public transport. Many buses pass by the park, namely 5, 6, 17, 19, 19A, 32, 32, 42, 851 and 267. From the bus stop, cut through to the park from Harav Herzog Street or head towards the entrance to the park.

Difficulty: This walk is on flat paths and dirt roads. It is very stroller and wheelchair friendly. There is a playground area just outside the park.

• At the entrance to the park is a visitor’s center where one can obtain a map of the park.

• Stroll on the paths, read the signposts about the nature in the park, look at the pools and the central protected area where the gazelle live, and relax on the benches by the water. 

Overlooking the Big Lake. One can hear the buzz of traffice in the distance. Nevertheless, this is still a great park to view nature, to take the kids for a walk, or to just relax by the water.