Jeep Safari in Cyprus
Cyprus is waiting to be explored with dramatic mountain scenery, pretty little villages and a warm welcome from the villagers who live life exactly as their parents and grandparents did before them. Whilst the towns have kept pace with changing European trends and fashions, the rural areas of Cyprus remain unaffected and the pace of life is set by the passing seasons and the perfect place for a day ‘off the beaten track’ is the Akamas peninsula, north west of Paphos.
Hiring a car and buying a good map is certainly a great way to explore, although for the driver it can be a little frustrating as he has to keep his eyes firmly on the road! If you really want to head off the beaten track many of the tracks in the Akamas are unsuitable for normal saloon cars and there is always the worry of getting lost or having a flat tyre! One good alternative is to join one of the safari tours -; you can relax and enjoy the fun of learning all about the places you visit from someone who has grown up locally. There are several different companies based in each of the main towns, each offering a slightly different package (including ones with more detailed information on flora, fauna and archaeology. The safaris are available with Greek, German and English speaking guides and one (Oberon Excursions in Paphos) has facilities for disabled travellers too.
The wild and rugged peninsula that lies north-west of the town. The land rovers leave the bustle of the town behind and heads through banana plantations to the Avakas Gorge where they stop amidst the oleander bushes and everyone heads for the entrance of the gorge on foot. After a short distance the valley walls narrow dramatically into spectacular cliffs that almost touch in places, ferns and rare orchids cling to the rocky crevices where sunlight rarely penetrates. The small stream trickles along the boulder strewn river bed, providing the background melody and the distant sound of goat bells can be heard far above.
Back in the land-rover the journey continues through gorse and wild juniper towards Lara, a magnificent long sandy beach fringed by azure sea with the smoky silhouette of the Akamas hills as a dramatic backdrop.
The little huddle of wooden huts on the beach is home to the Lara Turtle Station, a very special project which was established more than twenty years ago to protect and conserve the diminishing numbers of Green and Loggerhead turtles that come ashore to lay their eggs in the area each summer. The colourful display boards in the information hut tell the story of these fascinating marine animals.
The rest of the day is spent enjoying a delicious barbecue either at Ayios Kononas, the site of one of the oldest settlements on the island, or under the leafycanopy at Smiyes where, legend tells, Aphrodite used to meet her lover Adonis.
Lunchtime on safari is a time to relax, talk to other passengers and usually partake in some informal entertainment- the safari drivers are a versatile crowd so this can be in the form of quizzes, singing competitions and magic shows, all over a hearty lunch served straight from the charcoal, with a glass or two of local wine to put you in fine voice!
Other highlights of the Akamas trip include the Baths of Aphrodite, the fig shrouded pool where the Greek Goddess bathed and first met Adonis, and the sleepy harbour of Latchi with its cluster of tavernas and plethora of little boats where the fishermen sit quietly mending their nets. Passing through the little market town of Polis, the safari travels through the citrus groves and often makes one last stop at the snake exhibition at Skoulli, if it has not stopped at Snake George's in Peyia earlier in the day. Both exhibitions give visitors an interesting look at some of the wildlife in Cyprus including snakes, chameleons, lizards and fresh water terrapins.
The villages of the Paphos District are very beautiful and a day spent exploring them on safari can be very rewarding. At Lemba excavations have revealed Chalcolithic houses that date back to 3500 BC and at Krtiou Terra there are strange washing holes cut into the rock that were used by the villagers until the beginning of this century and the donkey saddle maker can still be seen at work. Phiti has long had a reputation for its colourful woven embroidery made on large wooden looms, whilst the village of Episkopi lies in the shadow of its dramatic inland cliff.
One of the new safaris available from Limassol and Paphos explores several of the villages in the southern foothills of the Troodos mountains which are famous for their Commanderia, the sweet Cyprus dessert wine which was first made by the Crusaders at Kolossi Castle in the Middle Ages. The safari also visits the Ostrich Park at Ayios Ioannis tis Malountas, which is the largest in Europe, and offers a fascinating a train trip around the farm
There are many interesting places to explore from Ayia Napa and Larnaca and these include Khirokitia with its 'round houses,' which is the oldest settlement on the island and dates back 7,000 years. Several of the houses have been reconstructed so that visitors can see how sophisticated life was in those early times. Phinikaria, Arakapas and Kalo Chorio are all attractive rural communities whose inhabitants have earned their living from the land whilst Kornos has long been known for its red clay pottery. Phikardou is a beautiful village which is preserved for its remarkable architecture with beautiful wooden carved doors and windows, whilst nearer Nicosia, Tamasos was once one of the island's twelve ancient city kingdoms and was famous for its copper mines.
Throughout the year Troodos mountains offer a stunning contrast to the coastal scenery and are a popular destination with all the safari companies. On the way to there are numerous little villages to explore including Omodhos with its little cobbled streets where the village women sit making beautiful lace and Lania which is affectionately known as "the village of the artists" Phini with its narrow winding streets and steeply pitched roofs has made red clay pottery for generations and a lady potter can still be seen at work there.
