Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

Our ladies craft group would like a day out and I am trying to organise a trip to a place we have heard of in Alsancak or Lapta.
I think it is mainly a garden centre with a restaurant where we can have lunch, it has animals in cages and also has some lovely walks. Can anyone tell me the correct name and clear directions on how to get there. We will be travelling from the Esentepe area.


The butlers wife

I think you are referring to a place called Green Heights. If you take the turning opposite the Mediterranean Gardener in Alsancak towards the mountain, sign posted to Yesiltepe & Ilgaz, Green Heights is a short way up on the left hand side.
Hope this helps.

Thank you so much for your reply, I will now do a recci to see where exactly it is and to see if they can cater for 30 ladies
for lunch in April.



The butlers wife

Thank you so much for your reply, I will now do a recci to see where exactly it is and to see if they can cater for 30 ladies
for lunch in April.



The butlers wife

I would think a lunch for 30 would be no problem as they regularly host do's there.

We've been there countless times and with visiting guests. Superb gardens, pool, restaurant and service - caged animals a bit dodgy! A real gem for peace and quiet and we live 60 kms from it.

Why would anyone want to go and see animals in cages . Most people here are trying to re-educate people to NOT put animals in cages, never mind encouraging them by taking day trips to see them.- horrific.

Recommend "Gardens of Babel" lovely tropical gardens, there is a garden centre too, nice café eat in or out and no caged animals. tel 0392 821 8232. sign posted on the main road through Lapta.

Stellastar,

I totally agree with you, I haven't even been to a well run zoo since I went on safari to Kenya over 20 years ago and saw animals
how they should live, in their own habitat in the wild. Unfortunately this outing is not my choice, I am only making the enquiries on
behalf of others and I don't make judgements on other peoples wishes.

The butlers wife

Hello The butlers wife,
I totally understand the reason for your post was to make enquiries on behalf of a suggestion put forward..
Difficult to choose a venue to suit all.
On recommendation I visited this place a couple of years ago. seeing the caged animals & the conditions in which they were kept I ventured no further, just sat by the pool drank my coffee eager to leave & never to return
It's a shame because it's a pretty peaceful little oasis. You can lunch & swim in the pool if you can overlook the caged animal part. I couldn't but guess not everyone feels the same.
If it's gardens the ladies are looking for maybe investigate woodspeckies suggestion of The Gardens of Baybel for suitability.

Can some one direct me to Gardens of babel please ?

The butlers wife can I ask more about your craft group and where it is held please ?

Going from Girne through Lapta along the main road there is an Orange sign post on the left for the gardens, turn left and follow the road, a lovely spot for lunch.

Bonnie you are spot on. We went a couple of years ago and have never returned since. We complained about the animals to the owner (how they were being treated) and all he did was shrug his shoulders. We also know others that have complained but nothing ever gets done.

Been once ....never again because of the animals .....all depends on whether you are in the animal lover group or not
As there is nothing that will be done about the animals to my mind it's hit the owners in their pockets .

I sent a pm to the original enquirer because I thought there is no point in being too contentious as i loathe and despise the place, but now other people have voiced their opinions then I'll voice mine!! The place is an absolute disgrace, I can't understand why any right thinking person would want to go there. The bird crap hasn't been cleaned out for years, the peacocks are quite literally "mad" and haven't been able to stretch their wings for years, the rabbits, last time I saw them were barely alive because of lack of water and the dogs (little cyprus poodles were in the same condition) I went 5 days running to check on whether they had any water and the answer was NO. If anyone wants to go on to Cyp44 and follow the thread there they will see how upset everyone was at the time. Locals go there all the time, and don't care a "monkeys" about the animals. There was talk two years ago about having a donkey throughout the summer going round and round all day in the heat of the day we have here, so that tourist could see how olives were pressed for their oil. When I spoke to them about it I was told it was for educational purposes. I beg you, don't go, there are masses of other places and Gardens of Babel is one of them.

I am so glad I read this thread. I have wanted to go there, not knowing about the animals. I have been to the Gardens of Babel and loved it. Will definitely not be going to Green Heights. I don't even like birds in cages!!

Sophie I do so agree with you, I didn't want to write anything contentious either. I live a little way up from Green Heights but we never visit because of the animals in cages. It's a shame as it is a lovely spot and very popular with locals for weddings etc, there are usually cars parked everywhere on a Sunday afternoon. I believe someone from KAR went to visit a few years back to give some friendly advice, but reading here it doesn't seem to have been acted on for very long.
The Gardens of Babel are lovely and they have been very helpful in sourcing materials we wanted for the garden.

Thanks for directions Woodspeckle .