We used our “Green Pass” to enter Ein Gedi.
It is a lush oasis in an otherwise barren landscape.
There are a series of waterfalls up the main gorge, many of which were being enjoyed by bathers.
The area is renowned for its wild life but with the exception of birds (notably the lovely local starlings), we did not see any anything – probably because there were so many people there. However, there are other longer walks in the park away from the stream where it is probably more likely to see the local wild residents.
Definitely worth a visit if you are staying at the Dead Sea. We also visited the nearby botanical gardens which were stunning (and free).

We visited Ein Gedi in March and were blessed with a crisp and pleasant weather. Our guide was knowledgeable not only about history but also about flora and fauna. He pointed out many animals we wouldn't otherwise pay attention to, like the agile rock conies. We walked from the entrance up to Shulamit and David Falls, the walk is not difficult even for the seniors. The legend about David and king Saul makes this place even more interesting, This beautiful dessert oasis is definitely worth to see as a stop on the way to Masada or Dead Sea resort.

This is an incredible hike up to a beautiful waterfall! If you're in Israel, it's a must see destination!

We were lucky to be able to view about 1/2 of the trail as the other 1/2 was closed due to recent flush flooding. Water from the waterfalls was clean and the upper pools were excellent for wading. Lots of tourists (especially kids) around.