National Parks and Nature Reserves – Accessibility

Israel Nature and Parks Authority has worked in recent years to make our sites accessible to persons with disabilities. In all national parks, nature reserves, antiquities sites and heritage sites with entry fees work is underway to upgrade accessibility and provide access aids.
We are doing everything possible so increasing numbers of visitors with disabilities can tour and enjoy our sites, with all the activities they have to offer.

Principles of Site Accessibility

1. Preserving values of nature, landscape and heritage.
2. Providing access through development that supports the resource and does no harm.
3. All new planning takes persons with disabilities into consideration. Existing sites are upgraded as much as possible.

For more information on access please call the information hotline *3639
Edna Zaken, Israel Nature and Parks Authority access coordinator
Tel: 020-5005444
Fax: 02-6529232
Email: kesher@npa.org.il
Mailing address: Israel Nature and Parks Authority, 3 Am Veolamo St. Givat Shaul, Jerusalem 95463
At our sites, please ask the cashier at the entrance about access.

Standard Procedures and Rules at All Sites

1. Waiting in line – Persons with disabilities holding cards issued by the National Insurance Institute or the Defense Ministry do not have to wait in line. This does to apply to vehicles, such as a line of cars waiting to pay and entry fee.
2. Entry fees – Persons with disabilities pay full entrance fees like any other visitor.
3. Waiver of entry fee –Entry is free for the person accompanying the person with disability holding a valid disability card from the National Insurance Institute or the Defense Ministry.

• Entry is free only for an accompanying person present when service is given to the eligible person with disability.
• Free entry does not apply to an accompanying person receiving a specific service such as overnight camping or a reserved seat.
• Entry is not free for a person accompanying a disabled person to the Makhtesh Ramon Visitors Center or the Hula Nature Reserve.

4. Entry with service animal – A person with a disability with a service animal (usually a guide dog) may bring the animal to all sites, including those where entry to pets is banned, on the following conditions:

• The owner of the animal is the person with the disability whom the animal serves, and can show the appropriate documentation.
• The animal is leashed during the entire visit.
• Service dogs are not allowed in the En Avdat Nature Reserve or the En Gedi Nature Reserve due to fear of harm to wildlife in these reserves. At both sites animals can be left at the entrance during the visit.

5. Assistance in mobility on site and information – Visitors with disabilities can receive assistance from site staff in terms of mobility, orientation and reading or hearing explanatory signs.

• Request for such assistance must coordinated a few days ahead of your visit.
• This service is available when there are relatively few visitors at the site.

6. Special authorization for vehicle entry – In some sites, vehicles are allowed into areas usually barred for vehicles.

• This applies only to persons with disabilities who have an official handicapped parking sign in their car.
• Entry to such vehicles will be permitted only when the person to whom the vehicle is registered is in the vehicle.
• Request to enter such zones must be coordinated a few days in advance with the site director and once on site, rules given by the site staff must be strictly followed.
• On days when a site is crowded, visitor-driven vehicles will not be permitted among pedestrians.