Limassol Zoo is the favorite place in Cyprus for families with kids. Locals and numerous tourists come here and spend the whole day among cute animals. A distinctive feature of the zoo is the fact that it is surprisingly comfortable for guests and animals. Conditions have been created for everyone, allowing both animals and people to contact each other to the great pleasure.
Limassol Zoo: description (general)
The zoo is located in the city garden, which is fairly easy to reach by public transport. At the moment, there are more than fourteen species of animals, reptiles and thirty-two species of birds. The pride of the menagerie is the mouflon reserve, which once became a symbol of the island of Cyprus.
Dr. Lambrou - director of the zoo - spends a lot of time here and does everything possible to ensure that the Limassol zoo develops and the animals feelcomfortable. To this end, a few years ago, the menagerie underwent a slight restructuring, and now it is the real pride of Cyprus. Almost the entire zoo is decorated with natural materials (jute ropes, stone and wood), so literally from the first steps, visitors plunge into the atmosphere of nature. This helps children not only to observe the animals in the enclosures, but also to study with interest the information about them presented on the stands near each fence. It is worth noting that it is very convenient for small visitors to the zoo, because each enclosure is made taking into account the growth of children. They don't have to reach out or ask to be held by their parents to see another funny little animal.
Zoo history
Locals still remember how the Limassol Zoo opened. In 1956, it was created on a voluntary basis, and most of the guests were brought by the Cypriots themselves. The favorite of the kids was the monkey Julia, in addition to her, there were several species of animals and birds in the menagerie. In those years, the zoo did not bear much resemblance to the beautiful and comfortable territory that it represents now. Initially, it was a small menagerie, located in the corner of the city park, but by the seventies the number of animals had increased significantly, and the nursery turned into a real zoo.
From the seventies to the nineties of the last century, the zoo experienced a serious decline due to the division of the island into Greek and Turkish. Most of the animals died from starvation and disease. It was only in 1993 that the revival of the zoo began, where a largethe number of new animals, and the territory has completely changed its appearance, turning into a real area for family recreation.
Description of the territory
Almost the entire territory of the zoo is covered with green spaces and lovely lawns where you can sit down to relax. In addition, in the shade of the alleys there are benches and gazebos where restless kids like to hide.
Water fountains have been built in many corners of the zoo. Here you can wash your hands and drink (the water is purified and drinkable). In case of unforeseen situations, you can contact the first-aid post, and young mothers have the opportunity to feed the baby in specially equipped rooms.
After the reconstruction, people with limited mobility feel comfortable in the zoo. For them, wide paths and lifts are equipped here. If you are hungry, Flamingo Cafe is waiting for you. It boasts sea views, and the menu includes simple and tasty dishes suitable for adults and children. It's great that you can bring your own food to the zoo and sit on the grass in the picnic area.
The zoo has a colorful playground for kids. It has a special coating that allows you to play barefoot. All buildings are made of environmentally friendly materials.
Zoo Training Center
Limassol Zoo pays great attention to educational programs. Schoolchildren and kindergartners come here for open lessons in biology. They can learn about various representatives of the animal worldislands, Australia, America and Asia. In order to make the classes more interesting, director Lambrou ordered the construction of a small amphitheater. It is located next to the enclosures, which allows you to listen to lectures about animals and watch them at the same time.
Mini farm and petting zoo
What do all kids love without exception? Of course, pet and feed the animals. At the zoo, they will have such an opportunity. The mini-farm contains poultry and animals. Here you can get up close and personal with goats, turkeys, sheep, donkeys and zebu. Toddlers are given a chance to ride the animals, and then feed them with various goodies bought here.
Conditions for keeping animals in enclosures
Since the zoo does not have a large territory, many animals coexist in the enclosure. They are grouped according to different criteria and do not interfere with each other. This feature gives the zoo a certain zest, because visitors watch with great interest the quarrels and friendship of some animals. And there is something to see in the zoo: monkeys, antelopes, kangaroos, mouflons, meerkats and ground squirrels live in enclosures. And this is not a complete list of all the guests of the zoo.
All enclosures are spacious enough to allow the animals to feel at home.
Reptile House
An entire building has been set aside for these representatives of the animal world. In addition to numerous species of snakes, there are lizards, monitor lizards and even a caiman that lives in a special pool. Many visitors are in this partzoos spend most of their time, because such a variety of reptiles cannot be found anywhere else in Cyprus.
Collection of birds
The zoo in Limassol has always been famous for its birds. This collection is quite rich and is the envy of many large zoos. Visitors can meet cranes, parrots, owls, flamingos and other representatives born to conquer the sky.
Zoo opening hours
The working hours of the zoo in Limassol are very unusual. It depends on the season, although the opening time always remains the same - nine o'clock in the morning. In winter, from November to January, the menagerie is open until four in the afternoon. In February, the working day is extended by half an hour, and in the first spring months it is extended by another thirty minutes.
From May to September, visitors can stay at the zoo until six o'clock in the evening. However, from June to August, the working day increases by one hour.
How to get to the zoo?
In order to get to the zoo in Limassol (whose opening hours we have already indicated in the article), you will need public transport. There are many bus routes to the city park. The six most convenient are:
- 3;
- 11;
- 12;
- 13;
- 25;
- 31.
Any one of them will get you to your destination in about twenty minutes.
Limassol Zoo: entry price
Free access tothe zoo is disabled and kids under five years old. Older kids - from five to fifteen years old - can purchase a ticket for two euros. Admission is available for adults for five euros.
There is also a privileged category of visitors. These include:
- groups from sixteen people (the cost of an adult ticket is four euros, a child ticket is two euros);
- pensioners, military personnel and university students (a ticket costs three euros);
- families of four (total ticket will cost twelve euros).
Keep in mind that some representatives of the privileged category need to confirm their status with special documents.
Limassol Zoo is a great place where adults and children can spend time together and get acquainted with the diversity of the animal world of our planet.
