At the heart of Jerusalem’s urban landscape lies the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Gazelle Valley, a unique wildlife park in the city center where urban life and nature meet. Home to freely roaming gazelles, olive and fruit groves, streams, lakes, and open walking paths, the valley offers a rare opportunity to experience nature and wildlife within the city itself.
In honor of Tu Be’shvat, the festival of trees, Gazelle Valley invites the public to celebrate nature through a month-long series of weekend activities designed for families, children, and visitors of all ages. Rather than marking Tu Be’shvat on a single day, the valley opens its gates to an extended seasonal celebration, allowing visitors to experience the park at its most vibrant and green while strengthening their connection to the natural environment.
Throughout the month of Sh’vat, the valley will host hands on, outdoor activities that encourage exploration, curiosity, and engagement with urban nature. At the Education and Observation Center, visitors can take part in “Forest Detectives,” a roaming puppet theater experience that transforms the landscape into a living stage. Children are invited to actively participate, move through the park, and solve a mystery woven into the natural surroundings, blending imagination, movement, and learning.
“A Window to the Valley” offers interactive guided tours and family friendly experiences that reveal the hidden stories of the park’s ecosystem. These activities provide opportunities to observe wildlife, learn about biodiversity, and gain a deeper understanding of how nature can thrive within a city.
The program is supported by the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation in partnership with the Jerusalem Foundation, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, and the Municipality of Jerusalem. Together, these Tu Be’shvat activities invite visitors to slow down, explore, and reconnect with nature and wildlife, celebrating the New Year of the Trees in the natural heart of Jerusalem.