Ein Mabu'a is a stunningly beautiful oasis in Nahal Prat only a short distance from Jerusalem. There is a pool for swimming, and you can hike along the path by the stream or wade in the shallow water that flows even in the middle of summer. There is no admission charge.
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Time: Allow several hours for swimming and hiking
Distance: About 3½ Km
Type of hike: There and back the same way
Difficulty: The dirt footpath is easy walking. You will need to cross the shallow stream on two occasions, and a walking stick can be helpful to maintain one's balance on the rocks.
Security: The 3 springs in Nachal Prat are in area C and beyond the Green Line. However, Ein Mabua is regarded as being quite safe. It has park rangers and there are usually plenty of people around.
Starting point: The parking lot at Ein Mabu'a.
Driving directions and parking: Enter "Ein Mabu'a" into Waze. The parking lot is at the bottom of the wadi.
Public transport: There is no convenient public transport for Ein Mabu'a.
Swimming and hiking:
Do not be surprised if the pool suddenly empties on you, especially in the summer. It’s not a ranger playing a joke. The pool is fed by from an underground basin that empties into the pool by a siphon effect. Once the basin is emptied, it needs to refill before more water can be released. This is fairly rapid in the winter, but can take longer in the summer. In the meantime, water in the pool discharges into the stream and the pool empties. You will pass other pools as you walk along the spring, although they are not as large and deep as this one.
It is possible to hike from Ein Mabu'a to Mitzpe Yericho along the wadi, although you need to be an experienced hiker. It takes about 5 hours and you will need to have a second car waiting for you at Mitzpe Yericho. Do not go alone and tell the park ranger where you are going
Nearby places of interest:
Eretz Bereshit (Genesis Land): Experience life as it was in biblical times! Visitors are greeted by Eliezer, Abraham's manservant, and by a train of camels, and are then led to Abraham's tent where they experience his legendary hospitality. Fresh pita making and shepherding are among the different workshops offered, as well as kosher meals and other activities. Directions: Turn off route 1 onto route 458. The turning to Eretz Bereshit is on your right shortly before the settlement of Alon.Tel: (02) 997-4477.
Images from Ein Mabua
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