Camels, dozens of them, all desperate for cuddles! We’d been told that the Mazotos Camel Park is a great place to take kids. It was. But I don’t know who loved it more; me or Goobie.

The Mazotos Camel Park can be found off the A1 motorway between Limassol and Larnaca. It isn’t a massive place so there isn’t lots of walking involved – great if you are going on a hot summer’s day with young children. It’s good value for money too. The price depends on what you want to do there. Entry to just the park costs €2 for children/€3 for adults. Camel rides cost €6 for children/€9 for adults, which includes park entry fee and use of the swimming pool. Use of just the pool is €3 for children/€4 for adults (the price includes entry to the park and use of a sunbed). You can buy bags of carobs to feed the animals for €1.

The park has a mix of things to do, though obviously the main attraction is the camels. There are loads of them!! All with friendly faces, putting their heads over the fences for carobs and cuddles. They are well-mannered and gentle – Goobie loved feeding them. There are baby camels at the far end of the park who are particularly cute and eager for attention.

There are other animals at the Camel Park too: llamas, an ostrich, goats, deer, donkeys, ponies, porcupines, rabbits, wallabies and peacocks. The enclosures aren’t huge, though I saw camels grazing in a field outside the park so hopefully the bigger animals get turned out after closing time.

The highlight for me was the 15-minute camel ride. The ride takes you out of the park and around an adjoining field, the head of the camel behind resting on the bum of the camel in front. There’s a photographer who takes your picture which you can buy for a fiver in the shop. Although it’s a bit bumpy when the camel initially stands up, I find camels quite a comfortable ride. Goobie found it a bit too comfortable and refused to hold on. The dismount can feel as though you are going to be pitched over the camel’s head as it sits down, but just hold on tight and lean right back and you’ll feel more balanced.  

Goobie also had a 5-minute donkey ride around the main paddock – great for the young ones who may feel too scared to go on a camel.

The park has other attractions, some for a small extra cost, usually €2. There’s a play park, bucking bronco, bumper cars, go-carts, silly mirror room, a little train, pool table and a mini crazy golf course. Don’t be put off if it looks like the rides are closed. Just pay the person in the refreshments kiosk and they will come and switch it on for you. These areas are shaded, so you won’t swelter too much.

We spent a couple of hours enjoying the park, then stopped for something to eat. There’s the refreshments kiosk, which sells drinks and snacks. You can eat them on picnic tables under the trees.

Try some camel milk! You can buy a small glass from the kiosk or a 50ml bottle for €10. It smells a bit pungent but tastes similar to cows’ milk and is apparently very good for you.  For €10 euros it had better be!

If you want something more substantial to eat, there’s an affordable restaurant. Main courses are from around €8 and the restaurant is in a pretty spot surrounded by lush plants and flowers.

The Camel Park has thought of everything. Once you’ve had lunch and finished looking around the park, you can go for a swim in the pool to cool down. There’s also a toddler pool, sun loungers, basic changing rooms and an outside shower. The day we went the pool water looked cloudy, but that didn’t put us off, we just made sure we didn’t swallow any of it!

We’ve been to the Camel Park twice now and enjoyed it as much the second time round. It’s a winner with kids and a great place to take visitors. We’ll definitely go back again!