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SAFARI ON A DONKEY AND NIGHT LIFE IN CYPRUS: A CURIOUS COMBINATION
An excursion to the Donkey Farm at Kelokedara
Paphos has something unique to offer. If you want to do something
different during your stay in Cyprus, then this donkey riding trip is made for
you. A donkey ride gives you a real feel of the area, as you ride through
picturesque orange groves and quaint villages, all the way to an ancient
Monastery recognised as a World Cultural Heritage. It is one of the places to
see in Cyprus.
The Donkey Farm Concept: In 1998, the entrepreneurs behind
this scheme came up with the idea of creating a donkey farm where they would
provide shelter and veterinary care for the Cyprus Donkey−on the verge of
becoming an endangered species. The second part of the idea was to create an
exclusive and out of the ordinary excursion product, a way to bring the project
into the public eye and make it available for adventurous tourists to enjoy.
This enabled them to give their clients the chance to see the donkeys in their
own environment and blend it with a physical feel of real Cyprus countryside,
original hospitality, fun, adventure, good food and unexpected entertainment.
The whole ambience is exceptional; you have to experience it
yourself to understand it! It's a unique
day out for all ages, from children to grandparents. The aim is not only to
satisfy of the guests, but also to augment the healthy breeding program
instituted for the benefit of the 90 donkeys owned by them. Each donkey bears a
sub-skin microchip and the owners have a strong program of preventive medical
treatment for all the animals. It is a simple solution to what to see in Cyprus.
ARGONAFTIS Donkey Farm: The farm is situated in 19 hectares
of land near the village of Kelokedara, approximately 30 km East of Paphos in
the Xeros river valley, one of the most untouched and tranquil parts of the
island, the perfect setting for nature lovers. Local facilities blend in with
the natural environment. The main materials of the central hall are stone and
wood and up to 160 people can be accommodated for lunch or dinner during winter
and 300 people or more in the summer.
Kelokedara Village is part of a special environmentalist
tourism project, dealing with concepts known as ‘sustainable’ and/or
agro-tourism. The idea is to help local village economies participate in
tourism without changing their traditional lifestyles. The village lies on the
eastern slope of the Xeros River. Kelokedara has less than 300 inhabitants with
an average age of 55 years. A short time will be given to wander around the
village and enjoy the typical Cypriot architecture and atmosphere, found only
in such remote areas of Cyprus, yet an integral part of Cyprus tours.
After leaving Limassol for the Donkey Farm, tourists will
change buses at Kelokedara, to get into another vehicle that is an institution
by itself, an old Bedford bus affectionately known as the ‘Village Bus’. Some
things just keep on running, like this ‘chicken bus’, still in action with Mr.
Christodoulos as the driver. Mr. Christodoulos bought the bus new in 1969, and
for the past 35 years he and his bus have acted as a life-line for the village,
transporting villagers down to the towns and urban centres. This bus was the
only means for locals to go do their shopping or for older students to reach
their school in Paphos. The village bus also supplies the village with basic daily
needs and brings in the daily post. Argonaftis has added vehicular grandeur to
the tour by using this bus to bring all prospective Donkey Riders to the Farm, a 15-minute
journey through picturesque landscape dotted with orange groves.
On arrival at the farm, guests will sample many of local
delicacies such as halloumi cheese, ‘sushukko’ (an unusual tubular shaped concoction made of grape
syrup and almonds), village bread, olives, cucumber, all of them produced and
made in the village, as well as the famous local distilled strong Zivania brew,
a 90 proof liquor. Scotch Whisky is 70 proof!
Donkey Riding: All visitors will have a chance to meet and
pet the friendly foals before a demonstration and a safety briefing on how to
ride and control the Cyprus Donkey. Each rider will be allotted an appropriate
donkey based on his/her weight. The ride will take about 25 minutes through the
riverbed and along country tracks passing local shepherds with the flocks of
grazing sheep and goats. The entire ride is conducted under the watchful
supervision of professional staff to ensure the safety and comfort of all. At
the far end of the valley nestled in the hills the riders will find the ancient
and abandoned 16th century Sindi monastery. There will be a 20-minute
break at the monastery for light refreshments and wandering around.
The Sindi Monastery is an abandoned 16th century
monastery, restored by UNESCO and recognised as a World Cultural Heritage
monument. It is surrounded by some spectacular landscapes in Cyprus. There are
ruins of four watermills in the area, remnants of an era long past, when wheat
and barley were cultivated widely and abundant amounts of water flowed
regularly through the valley. Now the river flows only during the winter months
December to May and is dry during the rest of the year.
Lunch or Dinner: The meal is usually a mix of typical Cypriot
homemade dishes, such as afelia (pork with wine and coriander), pourgouri
(cracked Bulgar wheat) tzatziki (yogurt dip), mixed vegetables, souvla (BBQ
pork with oregano & Chicken), potatoes in the oven, village bread, salad
and lemon. Village wine and Zivania will be served through the meal, with
squash for children. The Bar is fully stocked with soft drinks, beer and other
imported alcoholic drinks at reasonable prices.
Party Time: After the meal, guests are entertained with Greek
and Cypriot music and dancing, including the famous sirtaki, which will tempt
you to join in. The Argonaftis Donkey Farm team will be there to entertain you
and to make sure that all your questions and requests will be fulfilled. After
some Latin and English music, slow and romantic music is played for dancing
under the stars. A final sirtaki will signal an end to the festivities.
Certificates: A diploma will be handed out to every
participant who completed all the ‘tests', i.e., drinking Zivania, dancing the sirtaki,
and riding a donkey. This is to be taken home as a souvenir and as proof that
you were initiated into traditional Cyprus village culture and that you were
able to capture the original spirit of the island. At the end of the tour you
will return to Limassol.
Note:
Please check your visa and passport prior to departure from Limassol.
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