Yeroẖam: Nature, Community and Encounters

Yeroẖam combines community-based tourism with nature-focused activities and local stories. When planning your trip, it is worth considering the different focuses: encounters and community projects, guided activities, and the landscape and wildlife. The offerings and locations differ not only in form, but also in whether they are directly in Yeroẖam or in the surrounding area. The Avdat National Park is part of the wider Southern District travel destination; it lies along the route of the ancient Incense Road in the Negev Highlands and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Community Tourism and Encounters

Founded in 1990, the Atid Bamidbar association develops community-based tourism in Yeroẖam as a means of social change and of strengthening residents economically and socially. Its offerings include encounters with Bedouin women and Yeroẖam’s neighboring Bedouin community, as well as talks about the community. For choosing between them, the format is a useful distinction: encounters focus on personal exchange, while talks provide thematic context.

Food, Stories and Glantz

Atid Bamidbar’s cooking project combines homemade food and warm hospitality with personal stories from Yeroẖam’s residents. Catering is offered to groups taking part in guided activities in Yeroẖam.

Another local story lies behind the boutique beer brand Glantz. It was created in Yeroẖam out of a passion for craft beer and the desert; with original flavors and aromas, the brand tells the story of Yeroẖam. While the cooking project brings together personal stories and hospitality, Glantz conveys its connection to the place through taste and aromas.

Wildlife Tours by Advance Arrangement

The Duchifat Birding and Ecology association and its Israel Scorpion Research Laboratory offer the public bird and arthropod tours, guidance on bird ringing, scorpion tours and night safaris. Information about a light trap is also available. Advance registration or coordination is required for these activities. The offerings differ by animal group and format: tours and guidance sit alongside night safaris and explanations at a light trap.

Nature Around Yeroẖam

Nahal Shu'alim lies in the vicinity of Yeroẖam. Water pools, viewpoints, prehistoric rock art and high cliffs characterize the area; the cliffs provide habitat for a variety of wildlife. Autumn crocuses bloom there seasonally in fall. The park around Lake Yeroẖam lies west of the town. The lake’s ecosystem is home to numerous fish and amphibian species, as well as waterbirds and migratory birds. The natural features differ notably: Nahal Shu'alim brings together landforms, rock art and seasonal blooms, while the lake’s ecosystem and wildlife are the focus there.

Planning conditions also vary: Duchifat’s activities require advance coordination, while the autumn crocus bloom is seasonal.

Discover more destinations: Kfar Ruppin, Jabneel, Manot, Maagan, Vered Hagalil, Sde Nehemia, Even Menachem, Keramim

For the broader travel overview: Israel.