Golan - Gamla Nature Reserve  

The splendid landscape of Gamla Nature Reserve contains a host of animals and many well-preserved remnants of the past. The trails through the Gamla Nature Reserve  which are well marked vary between  entire family trails  and the ones for good hikers.
The reserve boasts both a phenomenal concentration of birds of prey, some of them rare, living in a relatively small area, and the earliest known synagogue in the world.

Scores of pairs of Griffon vultures nest on the cliffs, making up the largest flock of Griffon vultures in Israel.  The vulture population can be observed from a special birdwatching point on the north bank of Nahal Gamla.
Another observation terrace overlooks the 50-meter Gamla Fall, the highest perennial waterfall in Israel. En route to the fall visitors will pass the field of dolmens. Built of massive basalt rocks, placed together to form rectangles with one short side open, dolmens served as graves for nomads who lived in the Golan Heights four millennia ago.

Gamla was an important city at the end of the Second Temple period and it is possible that Jesus visited Gamla. The city catapulted to fame because of its role in early days of the Great Revolt (67 C.E.). Its remains from the ancient settlement of Gamla are at the foot of the observation point. The steep descent to the settlement takes about 20 minutes.

 

 

 

 

To reach for the reserve, turn off the Sea of Galilee road at Gamla junction and then take Route 869 to Daliyot junction, turning north after about 2 kilometers. A sign posted dirt road leads to the reserve.

Phone # 972-4-6822282/3
Open daily 8am-5pm (Apr-Sep) 8am-4pm (Oct-Mar)