Sharjah Natural History and Botanical Museum and the Islamic Botanic Gardens are so often forgotten and yet well worth a visit!
Located in Sharjah Desert Park along with the Arabian Wildlife Centre and Children’s Farm, the museum is a great learning experience and has several interactive displays.
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Sharjah Natural History Museum
You’ll learn about different types of rocks, gemstones and sand and about the history going back hundreds of millions of years when Sharjah was under water and also about wildlife and see many types of fossils and a dinosaur display.
From there you’ll go to the next section which is Botanical Museum. On the way, you’ll pass a gift shop which has some interesting things for children related to natural history, plants, animals and science. We often used to buy children’s gifts there.
In Sharjah Botanical Museum, there are many interactive stations where children can, for example, test which natural materials produce more electricity and try out traditional musical instruments made out of natural substances.
Sharjah Natural History and Botanical Museum
Islamic Botanic Gardens
The next stop is the Islamic Botanic Gardens. Again reference is made throughout to the Quran as many plants are mentioned in its verses. It also make mention of traditional medicine, particularly in the early Islamic days. The herbs and small plants are at the front and Islamic garden is at the back. There is a display inside.
Notice the geometrical designs, symmetry, the water and canals, all a main feature of Islamic gardens.
Be sure to plan a whole day there to do all of the areas of the Desert Park. In the cooler months, you could have a picnic or just a play in the garden next to Sharjah Natural History Museum.
Arabian Wildlife Centre
The Arabian Wildlife Centre is connected to the programme for Breeding of Endangered Species and has only animals that either currently live in Arabia or did but are now endangered or extinct.
You can see different types of birds, snakes and lizards, toads, hedgehogs, badgers, porcupines, foxes, wild cats, bats, etc and outdoors are ostriches, gazelles, oryx, big cats, wolves and baboons but you’ll view them from indoors. This makes it perfect for a summer day out.
There is a large cafeteria with a viewing area near the end of the route through the Arabian Wildlife Centre. They serve a variety of hot dishes, sandwiches, milk shakes and fresh juices and their prices are very reasonable.
Children’s Petting Farm
At the children’s petting farm at Sharjah Desert Park, you can feed hay to goats and sheep, see cows, horses, ponies, donkeys and camels. At the weekend, there are pony rides. Indoors there are rabbits and guinea pigs. It’s best to time this for the coolest time of you visit, preferably later afternoon.
Sharjah Desert Park Timings
Mon-Thurs 9am – 6:30pm, Friday 2-6:30pm, Sat & Sun 11am-6:30pm, last entry 5:15pm. Closed Tuesday
Sharjah Desert Park Ticket Prices
21 dhs for all museums/centres in park, up to 12, People of Determination and resident seniors (60+) free
Other EPAA Sharjah locations to visit
- Wasit Wetlands
- Kalba Bird of Prey Centre
- Kalba Mountain Conservation Centre
- Khor Kalba Mangrove Centre
- Buhais Geology Park
- Dhaid Wildlife Centre
- Sharjah Safari
EPAA Sharjah is the Environment and Protected Areas Authority in the emirate of Sharjah. There are many more protected areas, some can be visited and some not. You can learn more about EPAA Sharjah here.
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