Sharjah Safari reopens for fifth season with 186 new animal births

The park is run by the Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) at Al Bardi Reserve near Al Dhaid. It now holds more than 120 species and about 50,000 animals across 12 Africa-themed habitat zones. Sharjah Safari shuts for the hottest months, when daytime heat makes open-air animal viewing impractical, then reopens once temperatures ease. This year's pause ran from May to September.

EPAA said 186 animals were born at the reserve during the second quarter of 2026. The list includes South African giraffes, elephants, lions, oryx, blue wildebeest, impala, nyala, zebra, and six hatchlings of the critically endangered radiated tortoise. Spread across an 8 square kilometre site, Sharjah Safari is described by EPAA as the largest safari park outside Africa.

EPAA chairperson Aisha Rashid Deemas said the new season aims to bring visitors closer to wildlife and deepen appreciation of conservation. The park is adding behind-the-scenes tours during selected periods alongside its usual habitat drives through zones named for African regions including the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Kalahari.

Ticket pricing for the new season runs across three tiers. A bronze walking-tour pass costs 40 dirhams for adults and Dh15 for children. A silver pass, which includes a shared vehicle with a guide, costs Dh120 for adults and Dh50 for children. The gold package, with a private guide and a walk through the Serengeti zone, costs Dh275 for adults and Dh120 for children. Families wanting a private vehicle can book a six-seater for Dh1,500 or a 15-seat minibus for Dh3,500.

The park opens daily from 8:30 am to 6 pm at its site on the Sharjah-Khorfakkan Road, about 5 km from Al Dhaid. Residents have grown used to the four-month closure. This reopening marks the start of the only stretch of the year when the reserve's full drive-through experience is available, running through the cooler months until the next summer pause.