Mike Smith
Cosmopolitan Abu Dhabi is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna; the parks there are testamentary to this fact with gorgeous landscaped gardens and well equipped children's play areas.
Set up in 2007 Sheik Khalifa Park is a beautiful oasis in the middle of the city centre. The park is home to beautiful water fountains and a large kiddie's play area. There, parents can sit back and relax as children play in a safe and beautiful environment. The park is located at Al Alam Street on the Mangrove Corniche and entrance is free.
Al Ain Zoo is an enormous 900 hectare parkland home to over 4,000 animal species and a 180 of these species are on the endangered list. These include the treasured white lion species, Arabian Antelopes, pumas, Oryx, jaguars, gazelle, leopards and many more exotic groups. The zoo sits at the base of the Jebel Hafeet Mountain range in Al Ain. Kids especially will love the interactive activities there such as camel riding and feeding the animals.
Located in the Al Bahia area the huge Emirates Park Zoo is home to over 1,700 animal species. There you can look forward to spotting exotic white tigers, lions, cheetahs, zebras and Siberian bears. The contemporary zoo is known for their state of the art facilities such as the misting system which helps in cooling down the animals when the desert heat gets too high.
The ultimate Arabian desert island experience awaits you at the Sir Bani Yas Island. The place is home to the Arabian Wildlife Park as well as the Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara. There almost 10,000 animals enjoy a free range to roam about. A thrilling jeep ride across the rugged environs will reward you with sights of gazelle, Oryx, ostrich and giraffe amongst a few. The 1,400 hectare parkland is ideal for enjoying the jeep safaris organised by Sir Bani Yas Island hotels while the luxury resorts also provide you a chance to dive and explore the gorgeous depths of the ocean surrounding the island. nature lovers will find visiting the animal conservation projects on the island quite a thrill.
The Abu Dhabi Wildlife Centre is dedicated to protecting and preserving endangered wildlife species. The non-profit organisation offers shelter and medical aid to a variety of species that cover huge mammals as well as the smallest of birds. The wildlife centre also has an ongoing project to initiate awareness and interest in the preservation and protection of endangered animal species.
This park is treasured as Abu Dhabi's ecological jewel. The place is located right smack in the city centre and contributes to almost 70% of the mangrove forests in Abu Dhabi. Visit there and you can explore the verdant mangrove forests, salt marshes, mud flats and observe various types of algae plants. The bio diverse environ is also home to many animal species such as mud crabs and herons; it is a rare treat for all nature lovers and is a must visit.
