The park was well sign posted along the main round from Coral Bay near Kato Paphos. There were numerous signs making the park very easy to find. The car park is large and finding a space was simple but may be packed at the height of the season. The entrance fees were not displayed at all in the entrance to the park and as they were not printed on any of the leaflets we had amassed over our week, I had to ask the attendant for the price. He said it was €15.30, which at this moment in time equates to £15.30! Now I’m not sure what entrance fees are like in the UK but £15.30 seemed a little steep to me! I would at least have felt better if the prices had been on display, as you always feel uncertain as to what the next person is paying! Anyway as they took visa and every other plastic we decided to go in as we hoped we could get some half decent animal shots on our new camera.
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There is a free transfer bus which will take you from Paphos to the park. |
On paying the entrance fee you are handed a map which is also printed up large on a board right in front of you. We were also advised of the parrot show times. As we had 2 hours to go until the next show we set off wandering. The whole place is not big enough to get lost so we threw caution to the wind and just wandered aimlessly down the paths. The paths were all flat and wide so prams or wheelchairs would have no issues. I’m always wary of going in any zoo / animal park abroad as so many countries do not have the same standards as the UK and it can be distressing to see the animals in any less than perfect circumstances. In the guide book of Cyprus I had there was mention of the animal park in Limossol not being up to scratch. You are always going to get issues but you hope with visiting these places they put your entrance fee money to good use to improve the lives of the animals.
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The first enclosure we came across was the meercats. Of course they were kids crowding round repeating the now famous quotes on the meercat advert! If it wasn’t for that advert we would not even have recognised a meercat! There is a barrier of taut wire round most of the enclosures so you cant go right up to the cages, although you always find some muppet climbing over to take a better picture. Remember those barriers are they for your protection. |
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As you wander round there are hundreds of free roaming peacocks, none that came up and bothered you or pecked you. In fact when we approached any of them to try to take a close up picture they would shy away. So they are not a nuisance. In fact by the end of the day we had reels of pictures of their beautiful feather displays. As they are large birds I found it amusing to be walking past a shed or a small tree and to see a peacock perched up above you. Unlike the rest of Cyprus they are very few stray cats wandering though the park – quite amazing judging by the fact cats are everywhere else! |
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There are probably more cages with birds in than animals overall in the park. Lots of parrots and exotic birds and then wood pigeons and budgies – a proper mixture! There is a stop where you can have your photo taken with two huge parrots in the park – of course there is a cost involved! I think the photos were €9 each but you did get a certificate and photo for that! |
There was a Shetland pony that the children could ride which was extra, and you could feed the two giraffes and have a photo taken for another €9 but they were the only extras, everything else including the parrot show is free. There are a couple of eating places in there but you could take your own pack lunch to save on cost. In the restaurant they have a parrot type bird (forgive my lack of identification) which wanders on the tables which the kids and adults love and find highly amusing. The toilets in the restaurant and in fact the public loos in the park were all clean and well kept.
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Although most animals are in enclosures, it is still possible to take a good photo by zooming through the gaps in the fence. |
There is a petting area for the children that is a walled off safe environment. In there you can pet the rabbits, mini pigs, guinea pigs, goose, turkey and couple of cats that were all living together quite happily. Quite bemused me to see a miniature pig (how cute?) licking a rabbit clean. There is a seating area built around a tree and you can sit and pet the bunnies. With all the recent publicity with E-Coli passed on at petting farms make sure you all wash your hands in the washbasins at the side of the petting area. The signs are not prominent but they are they advising of hygiene. Next to the petting area is the home for the new birds, you can peer through the window to see the newborn (and I have to say very ugly) featherless parrots and other birds.
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The Duck pond is full of ducks and mallards, it is especially funny when the Rabbit gets in the duck enclosure and chases them into the water. |
The parrot show was great, what intelligent birds! But very noisy! The auditorium echoes all the squawking and it can be overpowering for an adult let alone a small child. So don’t forget the earplugs if you have them! They do lots of tricks and fly around the auditorium. You are free to take pictures and videos and just as they are about to finish they bring out the owls! They then do a bit of a display with owls, one of which is absolutely massive and when that one is flying around you can feel the wind in its wings!
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At the emu enclosure there is a sign up saying these birds have recently being donated in the condition they are in, which is completely featherless and red raw round their backsides. They are under the care of a vet and should be improving soon so don’t be alarmed! |
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