The new park contains up to 50,000 animals within the Al Bridi Reserve in the city of Al Dhaid.

After a long wait, the much-anticipated massive safari park of the Middle East opens in Sharjah. Been under development for the last seven years, the Albridi Reserve finally opened its doors to visitors on Thursday.

Home to over 50,000 wild animals located within the Al Bridi Reserve in the city of Al Dhaid, the Albridi Reserve is spread across 800-hectare and claims to be the largest outside Africa.

Developed by the Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) in Sharjah in collaboration with Maguari-One Zoo and Wildlife Consultants, Sharjah Safari features 12 different environments that represent the life and terrain in Africa.

In a bid to replicate a real African safari, the park is four times the size of Monaco wherein wildlife has a free wandering space, spread across the vast land.

While the online ticket portal is not yet open, one can get their tickets at the park. Open from 8:30 AM to 6:40 PM, the permits have been categorised into three segments – Gold and Silver and Bronze tickets.

The wildlife park is home to various animals and birds with a special section for giraffes. Around 121 different types of mammals, reptiles and birds were released into the park, back in April 2021, to adapt to its atmosphere.

Wildlife including gazelles, giraffes, lions, rhinos, African rock pythons, elephants, flamingos African wild turtles, crocodiles among others are some of the animals residing in the reserve.

While Sharjah’s Al Bardi Park initially opened in 2007 as a conservation park in an effort to protect biodiversity and natural ecosystems, the park now plans to expand it, in order to accommodate the large number of animals that will make new homes in the new safari park.

The security of the reserve has been kept at utmost priority as well. A perimeter fence has been installed to secure the animals inside Sharjah Safari, with each section having its own security boundary to stop animals from leaving the park.

Through the launch of the park, Sharjah’s Environment and Protected Areas Authority aims to protect the environment, natural reserves, wildlife and their biodiversity through scientific studies and research.