Complete Guide to Sharjah Safari Park [Entry Fees + All Zones + Facilities]

Sharjah Safari Park is the biggest safari park outside of Africa, and if you’re in the UAE, it’s worth the drive. 

The park opened in February 2022 in Al Dhaid, which is about 50 km from Dubai and 49 km from Sharjah city, and also has over 50,000 animals from more than 120 species living in 8 square kilometers of re-created African settings. 

A walking tour (Bronze) at Sharjah Safari Park costs AED 40, a safari bus ride (Silver) costs AED 120, and the VIP Gold package with a private guide and access to lions in the Serengeti zone costs AED 275. 

Morover, the park is open every day from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM, and the best time to go is between October and March, when the weather is nice, and the animals are most active. 

Here inthis guide, we will give you a complete Sharjah safari park review, like how much tickets cost and when they’re available, what you’ll see inside, and how to make the most of your day.

Sharjah Safari Park Quick Review

Quick Facts	Details
Location	Al Bridi Reserve, Al Dhaid, Sharjah (Sharjah-Khorfakkan Road S142)
Sharjah Safari Price	AED 40 (Bronze) / AED 120 (Silver) / AED 275 (Gold) + VAT
Sharjah Safari Park Timings	8:30 AM – 6:00 PM (Daily)
Last Entry	Gold/Silver: 1:30 PM / Bronze: 4:00 PM
Best Time to Visit	October to March (cooler weather)
Distance from Dubai	50-60 km / 50-60 minutes drive
Distance from Sharjah City	49 km / 40-50 minutes drive
Visitor Rating	4.5/5 (based on Google & TripAdvisor reviews)
Kids Under 3 Years	Free entry (all ticket types)
Parking	Free parking at the main entrance
Contact	+971-6-803-7666

Sharjah Safari Park Tickets & Prices

Safari Park in Sharjah has 3 ticket options that include Bronze, Silver, and Gold.

• Bronze (AED 40) is the walking-only ticket, where you’ll see birds and small animals in the Into Africa zone. 
• Silver (AED 120) adds the safari bus tour, which takes you through zones with elephants, giraffes, zebras, and rhinos. 
• Gold (AED 275) includes everything plus a private guide and access to the Serengeti area where lions live. 

Kids under 3 can enter Sharjah Safari Park for free, and children 3-12 years get discounted rates. Also, all prices have 5% VAT added at checkout. Here are the types of Sharjah safari park tickets:

1. Bronze Ticket for Walking Only

Category	Price	Duration
Adults (12+ years)	AED 40 + VAT	1-2 hours
Children (3-12 years)	AED 15 + VAT	1-2 hours
Under 3 years	FREE	–

You Get:

• Walking access to the Into Africa zone
• Zanzibar Village
• Bird show
• Boma area

You Don’t Get:

• Safari bus
• Big animals (lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras)

Good For: Tight budgets, bird lovers, quick visits under 2 hours

2. Silver Ticket with Safari Bus Tour

Category	Price	Duration
Adults (12+ years)	AED 120 + VAT	2-4 hours
Children (3-12 years)	AED 50 + VAT	2-4 hours
Under 3 years	FREE	–

You Get:

• Everything in Bronze
• Air-conditioned safari bus
• Sahel, Savannah, Ngorongoro, and Moremi zones
• See elephants, giraffes, zebras, rhinos, antelopes, gazelles
• Stop at Safari Camp

You Don’t Get:

• Serengeti zone with lions
• Private guide
• Walking in animal areas

Good For: First-time visitors, families, best value for most people

3. Gold Ticket for VIP Experience

Category	Price	Duration
Adults (12+ years)	AED 275 + VAT	3-5 hours
Children (3-12 years)	AED 120 + VAT	3-5 hours
Under 3 years	FREE	–

You Get:

• Everything in Silver
• Private guide
• Luxury vehicle (not crowded bus)
• Walking safari in Serengeti
• See lions behind glass
• Crocodile viewing
• More photo stops

Good For: Wildlife photographers, lion lovers, people wanting a private, uncrowded experience

4. Sharjah Safari Park Tickets & Prices for Private Tours

Sharjah Safari Park private tours include all Gold benefits with a private vehicle and guide. All these prices for Safari Park are per vehicle, and you can split the cost with your group.

Vehicle Type	Seats	Price
Game Viewer	6	AED 1,500 + VAT
Safari Van	9	AED 2,250 + VAT
Safari Coach	15	AED 3,500 + VAT

How to Choose the Right Sharjah Safari Park Tickets

You can choose the best ticket based on three factors: 

• Your income
• The animals you want to see
• Your available time.

Your Situation	Recommended Ticket	Why
Budget Under AED 60	Bronze	Only affordable option, but you’ll miss elephants, giraffes, lions, and zebras
Budget AED 120-150	Silver	Best value to see 90% of the park for half the Gold price
Budget AED 300+	Gold	Access to lions in Serengeti + private guide and luxury vehicle
First-Time Visitor	Silver	Perfect balance of animals, experience, and price
Kids Under 8	Silver	Safari bus keeps them entertained, playground at Safari Camp
Photographer	Gold	More time at stops, better angles, walking access in Serengeti
Lion Lovers	Gold	The only way to see lions since the Serengeti zone is Gold-only
Limited Time (Under 2 hours)	Bronze or Skip	Silver/Gold needs 3-5 hours minimum
Summer Visit (June-Aug)	Silver	An AC bus is necessary in 40°C+ heat. Book an early morning slot
Teenagers	Silver or Gold	Silver if casual interest, Gold if passionate about wildlife/photography
Absolute Best Experience	Gold	Weekday morning in October-March for perfect weather and fewer crowds

Sharjah Safari Park 12 Zones & What to See

Sharjah Safari Park is split into 12 different African environments, and each one feels completely different from the last. 

You’ll either walk through them (if you bought Bronze) or ride in a safari vehicle (Silver and Gold tickets). Some zones have lions and elephants, others have birds and lemurs, and it all depends on which ticket you picked.

Zone	Access	Main Animals	Time Needed
Into Africa	All tickets	Birds, lemurs, and small mammals	20-30 min
Zanzibar Village	All tickets	None (dining & culture area)	30-60 min
Sahel	Silver/Gold	Gazelles, antelopes, ostriches	15-20 min
Savannah	Silver/Gold	Zebras, wildebeests, antelopes	20-30 min
Serengeti	Gold only	Lions, crocodiles, wild dogs	30-40 min
Ngorongoro	Silver/Gold	Black rhinos, elephants	15-20 min
Moremi	Silver/Gold	Giraffes, white rhinos, elephants	20-30 min
Kalahari	Silver/Gold	Desert-adapted species	Part of the tour
Tswalu	Silver/Gold	Rocky terrain animals	Part of the tour
Niger Valley	Silver/Gold	Riverine species	Part of the tour
Safari Camp	Silver/Gold	None (rest stop)	15-20 min
Boma	All tickets	Educational displays	10-15 min

1. Into Africa (Walking Zone)

• Who can visit: Bronze, Silver, Gold
• Time: 20-30 minutes

Everyone starts from the Into Africa zone. You’ll see animals from East African countries as you walk along Baobab Avenue, which got its name from the huge African trees that line both sides of it. 

Into Africa Animals:

• Ring-tailed lemurs (the ones with striped tails from Madagascar)
• Colorful birds flying around in the aviary
• Pancake tortoises (flat shells help them hide in rock crevices)
• Small reptiles and mammals

The aviary section lets birds fly freely overhead, and is perfect for kids love. Also, lemurs jump between branches and platforms, and you can get pretty close to them. 

2. Zanzibar Village (Walking + Dining Zone)

• Who can visit: Bronze, Silver, Gold
• Time: 10 minutes if passing through, 30-60 minutes if eating

Zanzibar Village is designed to look like an African village and serves as the park’s main dining and rest area.

What’s here:

• Restaurants with African-style décor
• Coffee shops and snack bars
• Gift shops
• Restrooms (clean, air-conditioned)
• Shaded seating if you just want to rest

Food prices:

• Full meals: AED 30-80 per person
• Snacks: AED 10-30
• Coffee/drinks: AED 8-15

3. Sahel (Safari Vehicle Zone)

• Who can visit: Silver, Gold only (Bronze doesn’t get the safari tour)
• Time: 15-20 minutes

This is a ground mixed with patches of dry grass and scattered acacia trees. At first, your driver takes you through an open area while a guide explains what you’re seeing. Animals roam freely, so sometimes they’re close to the road, and sometimes they’re far off. 

Animals:

• Dorcas gazelles (small, fast antelopes)
• Ostriches (you can’t miss them – they’re huge)
• Various desert birds

4. Savannah (Safari Vehicle Zone)

• Who can visit: Silver, Gold only
• Time: 20-30 minutes

The Savannah zone has golden grasslands that stretch way out, and it’s packed with animals. It looks just like in nature movies, with lots of grass, acacia trees that look like umbrellas, and watering holes where animals meet to drink.

Animals:

• Zebras – sometimes 50+ in a single herd
• Wildebeests
• Different types of antelopes
• Scimitar oryx (the ones with long curved horns)

5. Serengeti (Gold Ticket Only – The Lions!)

• Who can visit: Gold only
• Time: 30-40 minutes

If you bought Gold, the Serengeti zone is your big moment since it has lions, and you can walk through it with a guide to see them up close behind glass. The Serengeti zone in the safari park gives you the chance to be about 2 to 3 meters away from lions that are resting behind thick glass walls. 

Animals:

• Lions (the main reason people upgrade to Gold)
• Nile crocodiles in water enclosures
• African wild dogs
• Maybe cheetahs, if you’re lucky

6. Ngorongoro Crater (Safari Vehicle Zone)

• Who can visit: Silver, Gold
• Time: 15-20 minutes

Some of the park’s strangest animals live in this area, which looks like an environment in a volcanic basin.

With its green plants and water features, it’s meant to look like you’re inside a crater. You’ll be driven through this area while a guide talks about why black rhinos are so rare and what the park does to keep them safe. 

Animals:

• Black rhinoceros (critically endangered – fewer than 5,500 left in the wild)
• African elephants
• Antelopes
• Birds of prey

7. Moremi (Safari Vehicle Zone)

• Who can visit: Silver, Gold
• Time: 20-30 minutes

Moremi is usually the last major stop on the safari tour, and it’s where you’ll see giraffes running through rocky terrain. It is mostly rocky valleys and gorges with dry riverbeds. 

Animals:

• Giraffes (families and herds)
• White rhinos, including Wuhaida (the famous baby rhino born in the park)
• Elephants
• Zebras

8. Kalahari, Tswalu, and Niger Valley Zone

• Who can visit: Silver, Gold
• Time: Part of the overall tour

These 3 zones are part of the tour, but don’t get individual stops like the others. In all these 3 Sharjah Safari Park zones, you’ll pass through them on the vehicle, and the guide points out animals and explains each habitat. In fact, it’s more about showing you the landscape variety than stopping for specific animals.

What they are:

• Kalahari: Desert with drought-resistant animals
• Tswalu: Rocky mountains with specialized species
• Niger Valley: River areas with water-dependent wildlife

9. Safari Camp (Rest Stop)

• Who can visit: Silver, Gold (Bronze tickets don’t get here)
• Time: 15-20 minutes

The bus stop is here, so everyone can go to the bathroom and stretch their legs, and of course, this is not an animal safe zone. 

What’s available in Safari Camp:

• Restrooms (clean, AC)
• Snack bar (chips, ice cream, drinks)
• Water refill stations (free)
• Playground for kids
• Shaded benches
• Small gift shop

 Safari Camp Prices:

• Snacks: AED 10-20
• Drinks: AED 5-12
• Ice cream: AED 8-15

10. Boma (Educational Area)

• Who can visit: Bronze, Silver, Gold
• Time: 10-15 minutes

It is an educational display about the animals you’re seeing and is good for kids learning about wildlife.

What’s here:

• Information panels
• Conservation education
• Interactive displays for children

Sharjah Safari Park Timings

Sharjah safari park opening date is at 8:30 AM and closes at 6:00 PM, but the last entry time depends on which ticket you buy. For example, Gold and Silver ticket holders need to enter by 1:30 PM because the safari tours stop running at 2:00 PM, while Bronze ticket holders have more flexibility since they’re just walking, so you can enter as late as 4:00 PM. 

Sharjah Safari Park Regular Operating Hours

Open and Close	Time
Park Opens	8:30 AM
Park Closes	6:00 PM
Days Open	7 days a week

Sharjah Safari Park Last Entry Times (Important!)

Different tickets have different cutoff times, and if you miss these ticket timings, you won’t get in.

Ticket Type	Last Entry	Why
Gold	1:30 PM	Safari tours stop departing at 2:00 PM
Silver	1:30 PM	Safari tours stop departing at 2:00 PM
Bronze	4:00 PM	Walking only, no time restrictions on tours

Sharjah Safari Park Special Hours During Ramadan

Check the official Sharjah Safari Park website before visiting in Ramadan since these hours change yearly.

But in general, the park runs shorter hours during the holy month:

• Opening: 8:30 AM
• Closing: 1:30 PM
• Closed: Fridays during Ramadan only

Best Time to Arrive at Sharjah Safari Park

When you get to Sharjah Safari Park right when the park opens at 8:30 AM, things are much better. Animals are out and about after a cool night, the weather is nice for walks, and there won’t be many people there during the week. 

In addition, the soft, golden light in the morning is better for taking pictures than the hard light of the middle of the day. To be honest, those who get there at 1:00 PM often feel bad about it because they paid for four hours of fun but only get 2 or 3 hours before everything shuts down. 

Arrival Time	Temperature	Animal Activity	Crowds	Photo Quality	Verdict
8:30-9:00 AM	Cool (20-25°C)	Very Active	Light	Excellent	Best Choice
10:00-11:00 AM	Warm (25-30°C)	Active	Moderate	Good	Still Good
12:00-1:30 PM	Hot (30-35°C)	Resting	Heavy	Harsh Light	Not Ideal
After 2:00 PM	Hot (30-35°C)	Hiding	Moderate	Poor	Bronze Only

How Long to Spend in Sharjah Safari Park?

Plan your visit based on which ticket you have:

Ticket	Minimum Time	Recommended Time
Bronze	1 hour	1.5-2 hours
Silver	2.5 hours	3-4 hours
Gold	3 hours	4-5 hours

Why should you plan these times?

• Bronze is walking only, so you can move at your own pace
• Silver includes a 90-minute safari bus tour plus walking zones
• Gold adds a Serengeti walking safari and more photo stops with your guide

Best Days to Visit Sharjah Safari Park

Without a doubt, weekdays are better than weekends to visit Sharjah Safari Park. Well, better to know that the entrance is free on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the tour buses have empty seats so you can move around for better pictures, and it’s easy to find a place to park.

But Fridays are very busy with families and tourists from around the area, and to buy tickets, you have to wait in line for 20 to 30 minutes, sit on the bus with strangers, and circle the parking lot several times. 

Day Type	Crowds	Ticket Lines	Safari Bus	Parking	Booking Needed	Best For
Sunday-Thursday	Light	5-10 min	Plenty of space	Easy	3-5 days ahead	Relaxed visit
Friday-Saturday	Very Heavy	15-30 min	Packed buses	Fills by 10 AM	1-2 weeks ahead	If weekdays impossible
Public Holidays	Extremely Heavy	30+ min	Fully booked	Fills by 9 AM	2-3 weeks ahead	Avoid if possible

Sharjah Safari Park Facilities & Amenities

The Sharjah Safari Park has clean restrooms in multiple spots, two dining areas for meals and snacks, and wheelchairs available at the entrance if you need one. Food is acceptable in Sharjah Safari Park, but expect to pay theme park prices (around AED 50-80 per person for lunch), and the gift shop has the usual stuffed animals and t-shirts at inflated prices.

Facility	Location	Cost	Quality
Restaurants	Zanzibar Village	AED 30-80 per person	Good, but pricey
Snack Bar	Safari Camp	AED 10-30	Basic options
Restrooms	Multiple locations	Free	Clean, AC
Prayer Rooms	Near entrance	Free	Separate M/F
First Aid	Entrance area	Free	Staffed
WiFi	Select areas	Free	Spotty coverage
Water Refills	Throughout park	Free	Bring bottle
Gift Shop	Zanzibar Village	AED 10-150	Standard souvenirs
Wheelchairs/Strollers	Entrance desk	Free rental	Limited quantity
Parking	Main entrance	Free	Fills up early

Other 7 Sharjah Safari Park Amenities

• Free WiFi is available at the entrance area and Zanzibar Village. 
• Water Refill Stations with cold, pure water are all over the park. 
• The gift shop is located in Zanzibar Village with the usual suspects, such as stuffed animals (AED 25-100), t-shirts (AED 40-80), caps, magnets, and postcards.
• Sharjah Safari Park has limited charging stations. So, bring a power bank if you’re taking lots of photos.
• First aid room at the entrance area with basic medical supplies. 
• Lost & Found and even the Customer Service desk at the entrance.

Sharjah Safari Park Facilities Rating (My Take)

Facility	Rating	Notes
Restrooms	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Surprisingly clean and well-maintained
Food Quality	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Decent but expensive
Food Pricing	⭐⭐	Theme park prices and bring a budget
Accessibility	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Wheelchairs, ramps, and easy navigation
WiFi	⭐⭐	Spotty, only works in some areas
Water Access	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Free refills throughout – excellent
Gift Shop	⭐⭐⭐	Standard tourist stuff, overpriced
Overall Comfort	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Well thought out for families

Sharjah Safari Park Animals & Wildlife You’ll See

Over 50,000 animals from more than 120 species live in the Sharjah Safari Park, and you can see everything from huge herds of elephants and tall giraffes to rare black rhinos and colorful flamingos. 

Animal Type	What You’ll See	Ticket Needed	Best Viewing Zones
Big Cats	Lions, cheetahs, African wild dogs	Gold only	Serengeti (walking area)
Large Herbivores	Elephants, giraffes, zebras, rhinos (black & white), wildebeests	Silver or Gold	Savannah, Ngorongoro, Moremi
Medium Animals	Antelopes, gazelles, impalas, Scimitar Oryx, ostriches	Silver or Gold	Sahel, Savannah
Primates	Ring-tailed lemurs	Bronze, Silver, Gold	Into Africa (walking)
Reptiles	Nile crocodiles, pancake tortoises, and lizards	Gold (crocs), Bronze (tortoises)	Serengeti, Into Africa
Birds	Flamingos, parrots, eagles, hawks, 100+ African species	Bronze, Silver, Gold	Into Africa, throughout the park

Sharjah Safari Park Contact Information & Booking

You can book tickets online through the official Sharjah Safari website (easiest option), call the booking line, or buy at the gate on arrival. But in general, online booking is smarter for weekends and peak season (October-March) since Gold and Silver tickets sell out, and you’ll skip the ticket counter lines completely.

Contact Type	Details
General Inquiries	+971-6-803-7777
Ticket Bookings	+971-6-803-7666
Gold Service Booking	+971-6-803-7770
Email	booking.safari@epaa.shj.ae
Official Website	[Sharjah Safari Booking Portal]
Location	Al Bridi Reserve, Al Dhaid, Sharjah
GPS Coordinates	25.228497, 55.951584
Social Media	@shjsafari (Instagram, Facebook)

Sharjah Safari Park Nearby Attractions

You might want to combine your visit to the Sharjah Safari Park with other nearby places to make it a full day, since you’re already driving more than 50 km to the Al Dhaid area. 

The Al Dhaid Date Market is the closest attraction (10 km away), and the Mleiha Archaeological Centre, which has desert activities, is about 25 km away from the park. Other nearby attractions are:

Attraction	Distance from Safari	What It Is	Entry Fee	Time Needed
Al Dhaid Date Market	10 km (10 min)	Traditional market with fresh dates, honey, and local produce	Free	30-45 min
Mleiha Archaeological Centre	25 km (20 min)	Ancient fossils, artifacts, desert activities (dune bashing, camel rides)	AED 30-200	2-3 hours
Sharjah Aquarium	50 km (40 min)	Marine life exhibits, touch tanks, and a maritime museum	AED 25 adults, AED 15 kids	1.5-2 hours
Al Qasba	48 km (40 min)	Waterfront area with restaurants, shops, Eye of the Emirates wheel	Free entry, pay per activity	2-3 hours
Museum of Islamic Civilization	50 km (40 min)	Islamic art, artifacts, and history exhibits	AED 10	1-2 hours
Sharjah Desert Park	45 km (35 min)	Natural History Museum, Arabian Wildlife Centre, Children’s Farm	AED 15-30	2-3 hours
Al Noor Mosque	52 km (45 min)	Beautiful mosque open for non-Muslim tours	Free (donations)	45 min
Khorfakkan Beach	60 km (45 min)	East coast beach with snorkeling, watersports	Free	2-4 hours

My Personal Experience in Sharjah Safari Park

Aspect	Rating	Comments
Animals & Habitats	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Genuinely impressive – animals look healthy and happy
Value for Money	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Silver ticket (AED 120) is worth every dirham
Facilities	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Clean restrooms, decent food, and well-maintained paths
Crowds	⭐⭐⭐	Packed on weekends, perfect on weekdays
Distance	⭐⭐⭐	1 hour from Dubai – not close but manageable
Overall Experience	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	One of the best wildlife experiences in the UAE

What shocked me the most in Sharjah Safari Park was how natural everything felt compared to regular parks. The animals weren’t walking around in small pens looking sad; they had huge areas to run around in and seemed happy. 

Animals like zebras and giraffes were feeding happily, and rhinos also seemed at ease in their natural environment.

The bad thing, though, is that it took us 55 minutes to get there from Dubai in light traffic. Plus, the food inside is expensive (AED 60 for a simple sandwich and a drink), and if you go on a Friday, as my neighbor did, the buses are packed, and there are 30-minute lines for tickets.

FAQs: Sharjah Safari Park