Touring Israel with a tour guide

  🐍 ⚠️ Venomous Visitor Alert! ⚠️ 🐍 This Palestine viper (Daboia palaestinae) spotted last week - is one of Israel’s most venomous snakes! It is also known as the Palestinian Viper, as the snake is endemic to the Levant region - northern & central Israel, Judea, Samaria, western Syria, northwestern Jordan & Lebanon. In 2017 a specimen was found in Turkey. Both terms are acceptable & refer to the same species, Daboia palaestinae or Vipera palaestinae. Notice its triangular head, zigzag pattern & thick body & all classic signs of a viper. These incredible predators help control rodent populations, but they’re extremely dangerous to humans and pets. 🚫 If you see one: Don’t try to touch, catch, or kill it. Keep a safe distance. Call local wildlife authorities for safe relocation. In case of a bite, seek immediate medical attention. Respect nature, keep your distance, and stay safe! 🌿 🐾 #WildlifeSafety #snakeawareness #palestineviper #israelnature #venom...

The ‘Room of the Last Supper’: on Mount Zion in Jerusalem is the location of ‘the Cenacle’, traditionally revered as the site of the Last Supper. For centuries, Christian pilgrims have climbed these steps to where they believe Jesus & his disciples gathered for their final meal together - the Passover supper. The Christian bible speaks of the Last Supper taking place in an “upper room” in Jerusalem. By the 4th century, Christian pilgrims were already being shown this site on Mount Zion. Yet even earlier, Jewish life here was vibrant: Epiphanius, a 4th-century church father, records that a Jewish-Christian synagogue once stood on this very spot, proof that Jewish believers in Jesus maintained their presence in Jerusalem long after the destruction of the Temple by the Romans in 70 CE. Over time, the site was transformed again & again: Crusaders rebuilt the current Gothic-style hall in the 12th century. Ottomans later converted it into a mosque, adding Arabic inscriptions, linkin...

🌸 Autumn Garlic / Autumnal Allium -Shum Stav'i 🌸 This wild Allium is from the same family as garlic & onions. It typically blooms in autumn and can be found across all parts of Israel. Its delicate flower clusters are a sign of the changing seasons, often appearing just as the heat & humidity of summer fades & cooler weather begins. Garlic & other Alliums are mentioned in the Bible itself. When the Israelites wandered in the desert, they longed for the flavours of Egypt, saying: "We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost - also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions & garlic." (Numbers 11:5) Even this tiny autumn flower reminds us of that history - a symbol of the deep connection between the people, the land & its natural gifts. #ImagineIsraelTours #SimonOsterTourGuideIsrael #VisitIsrael #TourGuideIsrael #israeltourism #floraandfauna #israeltourguide #botanica At Imagine Israel Tours we love to notice not just the big moments of history, ...

The historic photo on the left, taken in 1917, captures the 'Saraya House & Gardens' located in Be’er Sheva; today known as a vibrant student city in Israel’s Negev region, it looked very different in 1917. Then it was a strategic desert town, established by the Ottomans as part of their efforts to strengthen control over the Negev & southern Palestine. It was a key administrative & military centre, especially during World War I, when the Ottoman Empire, allied with Germany, fought against British & ANZAC forces. The Saraya House (from the Arabic  saraya , meaning "government house") was the central administrative building for the region, housing Ottoman officials, tax collectors & military commanders. The population of Be’er Sheva at this time was a mix of Bedouin, Jews & Ottoman officials. In front of the Saraya was a carefully planned public garden, designed to show the Ottoman government’s efforts to bring urban planning & elegance to t...

The Hoopoe (Upupa epops) is a medium-sized bird with a long, thin, slightly curved bill & very striking plumage. It has a cinnamon-brown body, black-&-white striped wings & tail & a distinctive crest of feathers on its head that can be raised or lowered as a warning when threatened. The hoopoe is the national bird of Israel, declared offiially in May 2008 after a national public vote was held for the country's 60th anniversary. It is mentioned in the Torah & is featured in a well-known legend where it carried King Solomon's message to the Queen of Sheba leading to an exchange of gifts. The Hoopoe is found widely throughout Israel, especially in open countryside, orchards & olive groves, preferring places with bare or lightly vegetated ground for foraging, plus vertical surfaces, tree cavities crevices or walls for nesting, where it lays 4-7 eggs - with both parents sharing in the feeding of the chicks. It eats insects (beetles, larvae, ants, etc.), plus...

🌿 Mount Hermon Cousinia – A Wild Beauty of Israel’s Hills 🌿 Known in Hebrew as קוצן קיפח מירון, this is one of Israel’s most iconic wild thistles. With its sharp spines & vibrant purple blooms, this hardy plant thrives in rocky, dry landscapes, bringing a splash of colour to the rugged hillsides. I spotted this thistle in the Upper Galilee where it blooms in the summer months, providing nectar for bees and other pollinators. It looks fierce with its spiky prickles, but the Mt. Hermon Cousinia plays an important role in the ecosystem, offering food & shelter for insects & helping to stabilise Israel’s hillside soils. #ImagineIsraelTours #SimonOsterTourGuideIsrael #VisitIsrael #TourGuideIsrael #IsraelTourism #NatureInIsrael #IsraeliWildflowers #GalileeAdventures #MountMeron #floraandfauna At Imagine Israel Tours we love to notice not just the big moments of history, but also the small details of nature that make Israel unique I’m a licensed tour guide with experience drivi...

🕊️ Yellow-Legged Gulls - Israel’s Coastal Companions These are Yellow-legged Gulls (Larus michahellis), & are some of the most familiar sights along Israel’s coastline, lakes & inland wetlands. The gulls in this photo are juveniles, easy to spot with their mottled brown & grey feathers. As they mature, their plumage will change to bright white & soft grey, along with vivid yellow legs & a distinctive red spot on their bill. In Israel, Yellow-legged Gulls are often seen high above Mediterranean beaches, perched near Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), or gathered around fishponds. They play an important role in the ecosystem by cleaning up scraps & helping to keep environments balanced. Their adaptability and resilience make them one of the region’s most fascinating avian residents. #ImagineIsraelTours #SimonOsterTourGuideIsrael #VisitIsrael #TourGuideIsrael #IsraelTourism #BirdingIsrael #NatureInIsrael #WildlifeIsrael #SeaOfGalilee #Mediterranean #floraandfauna #t...