Sharjah Safari, believed to be the largest safari park outside Africa, opened recently in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The park, located 60 kilometers (37 miles) to the east of the Emirate of Sharjah, expands over an area of 8 square kilometers (3 square miles). It is part of Al-Bardi Reserve, which covers a surface area of 16 square kilometers, in the city of al-Dhaid.
According to Emirati media, the park is the largest safari project outside the African continent, and it competes with the Dubai Safari Park, which opened in 2016 and maintained its uniqueness until the opening of Sharjah Safari.
On Feb. 23, Sharjah ruler Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi announced on his Twitter account the opening of this massive touristic project, which is considered the first of its kind in the Middle East.
“The park is home to more than 50,000 animals belonging to 120 species that live in Africa, in addition to 1,000 bird species, including rare birds, specifically the Northern Bald Ibis. The black rhino is one of the most important, rare and endangered animals inside this safari park. It was brought here to preserve it and help it reproduce, in addition to other endangered animals, most notably giraffes, elephants and various types of lions. More than 100,000 African acacia trees were planted, as well as a group of diverse local and African plants,” Umniah al-Hammadi, the project's media officer, told Al-Monitor.
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