Sharjah Safari Park

The Closest Thing to Africa You Will Find in the UAE

Sharjah Safari Park genuinely surprised us. Eight square kilometres of open African habitats — savannahs, Serengeti plains, a Ngorongoro crater zone — with lions, giraffes, rhinos, zebras and over 120 species roaming in spaces large enough that you actually forget you are an hour from Dubai. What made it for us was that the animals are not caged. The enclosures are vast and designed to disappear, and the bird enclosure in particular is something else — African species in a naturalistic setting that is worth the visit on its own.

There are three ticket levels: Bronze (AED 40 adults, AED 15 children) covers a walking safari through Into Africa and Zanzibar Village with a bird amphitheatre show included. Silver (AED 120 adults, AED 50 children) adds a guided bus safari through the main animal zones. Gold (AED 275 adults, AED 120 children) adds a private guide, luxury 4x4, and a walking safari in the Serengeti. For families with young children the Silver ticket is the sweet spot — the bus keeps smaller kids comfortable and the guided commentary holds their attention. Under-3s are free on all tickets.

Insider tip: book in advance — safari slots fill up, especially on weekends, and the last entry for Silver and Gold tickets is strictly 2pm. The park is seasonal so check the official site before making the drive, and go in the cooler months between October and March when the animals are most active.