The Unspoilt Wilderness in Paphos, Cyprus
I have lived in Paphos for a few years now and after the
euphoria of living in the sun, going to the beach, seeing the
sea every day and watching fabulous coastal sunsets every night,
had settled to an acceptable level, I then discovered that
Paphos has so much more to offer.
Don't get me wrong, all of the above still excite me beyond
belief and the 'Med' lifestyle is all it is cracked up to be,
but behind the mask of simply being a tourist attraction,
offering all that the discerning holiday maker could be looking
for, there is another face to Paphos. Not many visitors will see
or experience this face because they are taking a break from
their daily lives and looking for fabulous beaches, water
sports, great restaurants and total relaxation. But, I have
found out what is going on in the background.
Cyprus is an extremely interesting place for nature lovers.
Paphos is home to a very rare and very shy wild sheep called the
Moufflon that has magnificent curving horns. These heraldic
animals, although roaming wild, can be seen at the forestry
station in Paphos forest (Stavros tis Psokas). Another delight
is that the island has visiting Loggerhead and Green turtles
that come ashore to nest every year on the sandy beaches around
Paphos. These marine turtles are strictly protected and if you
do decide to venture further afield than the local sunbathing
beaches and seek out the areas of unspoilt wilderness, you may
come across frames on the beach which warn you of a turtle nest
and kindly ask you not to disturb. I have also found that many
University students studying marine biology spend their holiday
time here helping out with the research into these fabulous
marine creatures. What a holiday!
Cyprus is also heaven for bird watchers. The island has become a
stop over for many migratory birds on their travels from Europe
to Africa during the autumn and back again in spring. More than
300 different bird species have been seen and recorded and the
island has two endemic species which are often seen in the
coastal regions, which are the Cyprus Pied Wheatear and the
Cyprus Warbler. One of the islands larger varieties of bird is
now very much under threat and conservationists battle hard to
save it from extinction. The Griffin Vulture was once a common
sight on the island but now their numbers have dwindled to less
than 50.
So to those of you that have visited before and enjoyed your
summer holidays in Cyprus, why not try an autumn visit. Most of
the tourists have returned home and the beaches once again
become the domain of our wildlife. You will of course have to
make an effort as not all these areas are easily accessed and
the areas around Paphos, namely the Akamas Peninsula, can only
be accessed by four wheel drive. This will be a unique
experience that you will take home and treasure. Imagine walking
a beach with no sun beds, no shops, no noise apart from the surf
and often nobody else but you! Enjoy the fresh air, the scenery,
the forests and keep an eye out for the elusive Moufflon. Then,
before leaving our wonderful wilderness find yourselves a
comfortable place on the rocks or lay that blanket on the beach
and experience some of the best sunsets in the Mediterranean.
Paphos behind the mask is a memorable place!