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Snakes in North Cyprus

As the month of May is usually the time of year such things appear from their hibernation slumber, we thought we would give you a run down of the various species of snake in North Cyprus!  Those of us who live here are fairly familiar with the varieties that we may all come across and, as most of them are pretty harmless, we would advise you not to panic should you come upon one!  Most of us treat snakes with a kind of scared disgust, imagining them to be slippery reptiles that will leap out of bushes and bite us, when in all honesty all they want is to be left alone to live quiet lives! Read more

Flora of North Cyprus

North Cyprus has a huge variety of stunning flora, much of which you can see in any garden or field. North Cyprus is also home to many species of orchids, with visitors and eager botanists coming from far and wide to find them on the hillsides and mountains in the spring.

Springtime, or anytime after February, is special in North Cyprus with many plants and trees bursting into bloom, and you can often walk through carpets of anemones, rock roses and other colourful flowers such as iris and narcissi. Festivals in North Cyprus include a Tulip event held yearly in Tepebaşı which is a village located between Kyrenia and Güzelyurt on the north west of the island.  There is also the very popular Ozanköy Flower Show in May time every year. Read more

Fauna of North Cyprus

North Cyprus is host to an eclectic mix of unusual wildlife, and some fascinating species can be seen at any time of year. North Cyprus is also home to common and recognisable species such as hedgehogs, foxes and tortoises, although the latter is not native to the island but was probably brought from Turkey and left free to roam the countryside!

There are an abundance of butterflies and also mammal, reptile and sea species, and you can find examples of wildlife anywhere in the mountains and along the unpopulated coastal areas. The flora in North Cyprus is also famous too, especially the rare orchids that attract travellers from all over the world. Read more

Hunting in North Cyprus

Love it or hate it, both sides of the island of Cyprus have a culture of hunting, and a culture which has been embraced for many generations.

There are two hunting seasons in North Cyprus, and at the time of writing the first season ran from late November through to late December, with hunting only allowed each Sunday. Normally running from October, the 2008 season was shortened due to concerns about the lack of game available as a result of the recent long hot summers which have affected game breeding rates. Read more

Herbarium, North Cyprus

North Cyprus has its own Herbarium, located at the Alevkaya Forest Station up in the mountain area between Esentepe and Değirminlik on the east coast. The first Herbarium in Cyprus was actually located in Lefkoşa, and its collection was built over many years during the British colonial era, but it was subsequently cut off from North Cyprus in the divisions of 1974.

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Birds of North Cyprus

North Cyprus is a must-visit for bird lovers because it’s a major migration route for many species, and it’s also a permanent home for many others. The majority of migration is from March through to May when you will see northward migration, and then again between August and October when you can see the migration heading southwards. However, it is entirely possible to see birds migrating beyond these months Read more

National Park, Karpaz, North Cyprus

The National Park of North Cyprus is located on the Karpaz Peninsula and is an extremely important biologically diverse area, as well as being historically and archaeologically rich as well. You can find many birds within the National Park, as well as rare flora and fauna and feral donkeys which are allowed to roam free. Read more