Set in the Arava, a unique desert area in the Jordan rift, this nature reserve abounds in wildlife. The Bible is filled with numerous references to flora and fauna. Unfortunately, over the course of human history much of the region's wildlife has become sparse, and in some cases extinct.

The Hai Bar Nature Reserve near Yotvata (north of Eilat) is attempting to reintroduce Biblical species into their natural Israeli habitats. It also aims to preserve for posterity those animals who still freely roam the Land of Israel.

Visitors to the Hai Bar take a safari ride through the wilderness of this reserve, at one point passing a number of wild asses (a special species of donkey). As it says in the Bible, "Who let the wild donkey go free? Who untied his ropes? I gave him the wasteland as his home, the salt flats as his habitat" [Job 39:5-6]. Other animals on view include the Arabian oryx, which disappeared from the landscape over a decade ago, lots of speckled ostriches, and the Somali wild ass.