Al Areen Wildlife Park

Al Areen was established in the 1970s as a reserve for Arabian species, and its most important work has been with the Arabian oryx - the desert antelope that was hunted to extinction in the wild and brought back through captive breeding programmes across the Gulf, of which Bahrain's was one. The park holds oryx, sand gazelle, Arabian tahr, ostriches and a range of birds across an enclosed desert plain, with a bus tour through the larger enclosures and walking areas for the smaller ones. Half the reserve is closed to visitors entirely as a protected breeding area.

What you actually see

• Arabian oryx - the species saved from extinction by Gulf breeding programmes.
• Sand gazelle and tahr - other native Arabian species.
• The bus tour - the circuit through the large open enclosures.
• Bird collections - regional and migratory species.

When to go

The cool season from November to March is best for both animals and visitors; animals shelter through the heat of summer days and are barely visible. Early morning and late afternoon are the active hours. Weekends bring local families.

Honest expectations

It is a zoo and wildlife park rather than a wild reserve, and enclosures vary in size and quality - visitors uncomfortable with captive animals should weigh that. The bus tour is fixed and does not stop long. Shade is limited. It works best combined with the nearby Tree of Life and the Formula One circuit area on a southern-Bahrain day.

Nearby

The Tree of Life, the Bahrain International Circuit and Zallaq beach.