Hula Nature Reserve

Hula Nature Reserve and Agamon Hula Park are not far from each other, the Hula Nature Reserve being to the south of Agamon Hula Park. The aim of both sites is to preserve aspects of the former Hula Lake and its swamps. Given a choice between the two, the Agamon Hula Park offers a more interesting and comprehensive experience. Nevertheless, they are different from each other and the Hula Nature Reserve does have something to say. It also shows the impressive 3-D stereoscopic movie Euphoria about bird migration over Israel.

Bird watching is a major activity in the park from October to November when birds migrate to Africa for the winter from Europe and Asia. Israel is their fueling stop before their 5-day journey across the Sahara Desert. They fly in the opposite direction from March to April.

The draining of the 15,000 acres of the Hula Lake and swamps began in 1951. At the urging of nature conservationists, 800 acres of the swamp were left as a nature reserve to preserve its unique flora and fauna - minus its malaria-bearing mosquitoes. This was the first nature reserve created in Israel. However, water escaped from the dikes and the peat soil dried out, such that the preservation site itself needed preservation! All this was fixed many years ago and this site now nicely fulfills its objectives.

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Directions: Enter “Hula” into Waze and click on “Hula Valley Nature Reserve, Hula Valley”.

Time: Allow about 1¼ to 1½ hours to complete the walk.

Admission: This is a site of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. Summer hours are Sunday to Thursday and Saturday 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., with the last entrance being at 4.00 p.m., and Fridays and holiday eves 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Closing time in the winter is 1 hour earlier. There is a gift shop that sells hot and cold drinks. There are restrooms. There are shaded picnic tables close to the Visitor Center. Their telephone number is ‎04 693-7069, and for the Visitor Center 04-686 0114.

Public transport: There are frequent buses between Kiryat Shmona and Tel Aviv and between Kiryat Shmona and Afulla that stop at the Shemurat HaHula Junction. From here it is a 2.3 Km/29 minute walk to the Reserve.

For the overview "Reeds, papyrus and bullrushes" — see my book "The North of Israel for Everyone: The Best Family Activities, Hikes and Historic Sites."

A bullrush plant.

Once growing extensively in Israel, the papyrus plant now grows mainly in the Hula Valley.

Reeds have a silky crown.

WALKING THROUGH THE RESERVE:

Head towards the Visitor Center to begin the walk. The 1½-Km path is short relative to the size of the reserve. The nature of the swamp is clearly apparent as you walk past by the dikes. There are signs explaining the plant and animal life in the reserve. A wooden walkway projects into the lake and is nicely set up for bird observation. There is also an Observation Point near the Visitor Center with an Observation Tower.

A highly recommended stereoscopic movie about bird migration is shown in the Visitor Center called Euphoria. Its aim is to provide a sensory experience akin to being a bird, and it has moving seats and the sounds of wind and splashing water. It is shown every hour on the hour. The 15-minute movie can also be shown in English, but this needs to be requested in advance. If you choose this option there is no opportunity to see the rests of the displays (which are in Hebrew) except by coming back an hour later.