David and Pola Ben Gurion graves, Memorial garden and national park in Sde Boker, Israel
The graves of David and Paula Ben-Gurion sit on a cliff edge overlooking the Negev desert and the Wadi Tzin valley below. The memorial site combines a burial ground with gardens and a visitor center on this exposed plateau.
This location was the home of Israel's first Prime Minister before becoming a burial site. The couple deliberately chose the desert as their resting place to demonstrate their belief in developing this region.
The site reflects the vision of developing the Negev desert, with gardens of native plants surrounding the burial grounds. The design shows how this leader saw the arid landscape as a homeland for a new nation.
The site is accessible via marked paths from Midreshet Ben-Gurion, with informational plaques at key points. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes since the paths are uneven and the sun is strong on the open plateau.
Wild ibexes regularly roam the grounds and offer visitors unexpected encounters with desert wildlife. These animals are accustomed to human presence and often approach the gravesites.
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