Sights The most interesting places in the crater are typically several kilometers into the pit. This means it’s desirable to have a method of transportation to the trail-head, such as the bus. The bus to Eilat will take you along the main highway through the crater and spit you out wherever you choose. You’ll have to consult the visitors’ center to get detailed directions about where to get off and where to go once you do get off. Places you should inquire about are the Carpenter’s Workshop (a wood-like rock formation), Ein Saharonim, Ramat Saharonim, and Ardan Stream. Hitchhiking is a possible solution to the problem of getting out of the hole, so to speak, and back into town; women should never hitch alone.

Of course, if temperatures are bearable you can walk from town. A footpath leading down into the crater starts at a huge metal ball and its offspring on the canyon rim, southwest of the visitors’ center. Follow the promenade past the youth hostel to the big balls, then get onto the trail with the green and white markers. At the floor of the crater you have several options; ask at the visitors’ center beforehand.

A memorable sight is the llama and alpaca farm (tel. 588 047), about 2km west of town. (Approximately 0.5km north of the field school, off the main road west out of town. Follow the llama-shaped signs. Open Sun.-Thurs. 9am-4pm, Fri. 9am-2pm.) These wacky-looking South American imports (the alpacas resemble creatures from a Star Wars film) live off of Negev scrub, hay, and water and arc raised for their wool. Admission NIS5, children NIS3.80.

The town has developed the edge of the crater beautifully; a stone promenade leads you through a desert sculpture garden all along the cliff edge (turn right after the gas station on the road below the visitors’ center). Negev critters reside in their natural habitat (more or less) at the Zoological Garden (tel. 58 86 91), located directly across from the visitors’ center. (Nominal entrance fee.) The music and cultural center on 73 Ben-Gurion St. (tel. 58 84 42, 58 88 65, or 58 83 46) hosts Israeli folk dancing (Sun. at 8pm) and movies (Sat. and Mon. at 8:30pm, 8pm in winter).