Gangaroo

Gangaroo (or Gan Garoo) – It sounds like “kangaroo” and it’s a sort of wordplay that means the “Kangaroo Park.” Opened in 1996, it is run by the kibbutz Nir David and is a fully accredited zoo. 

An amazing park dedicated primarily to kangaroos, and more broadly, antipodean animals. The kangaroos are free to wander – or should that be that the humans are free to wander amongst the kangaroos and to feed them?

The fun of wandering, feeding and jumping with the kangaroos makes this a firm favorite with the children and with any adult who has a healthy curiosity. It is fiercely hot here during the summer. But fortunately, there are some good options to cool off (see Sachne below).

Apart from the kangaroos, there are other animals and birds from the Down Under.

Gangaroo is a one-of-a-kind zoo in Israel. This really is a very special place, apparently an officially recognized Australian wildlife resort outside of Australia. Most of the park is flat and should be reasonably accessible. A great place to get some special photos and confuse everybody – where did you go?

Kids will surely love this delightful “little Australia” here. Not only they can see the free, free-range kangaroos up close, they can also pet and feed them.

Another popular attraction in the zoo is the aviary, where guests can also feed apple slivers to several species of parrots such as cockatiels and lorikeets. These smart and resourceful feathered friends have developed a habit of jumping onto people’s shirts and lick sweat from their necks for salt content.

The zoo is also home to numerous other animals such as cassowaries, emus, and flying foxes.

Sadly, Milo — the last koala in Israel — passed away in 2018. For the past few years, the Gangaroo team has been trying to import additional koalas from Australia but so far, it has been unsuccessful. The intention is to bring in koalas only as part of a conservation program and in coordination with the Australian authorities. Therefore, this task takes a lot of time.

There is also a souvenir store where you can purchase keepsakes that will remind you of your wonderful and unforgettable visit to the zoo.

See more photos in our Gangaroo Gallery.

The Joint Ticket

Gangaroo is co-located with Sachne – Gan HeShelosha. You can get a joint ticket to both Sachne and Gangaroo and it certainly can save.

However, this depends how determined you are to see both in one day. In our experience, it is easy to be engrossed with the animals for several hours and you can spend an equal amount of time wandering around the park and swimming in the pools at Sachne. Together with the historical tour, this can take a full day, especially in the heat and if you favor a leisurely lunch. Of course it is possible to see both and if your time is limited it would be a shame to miss one at the expense of the other. So plan your time and consider your plans.