Pakize and Bülent's Tractor Safari in the Karpaz North Cyprus

dippersgirl



Joined: 04/05/2010
Posts: 795

Message Posted:
09/04/2011 12:08

My Turkish friend and her husband have started 'Tractor Safaries'. It starts in Dipkarpaz and you travel sitting on a bench in the trailer, with Pakize, who speaks English very well, explaining the location and pointing out items of interest

The journey takes you up to the mountain ridge, stopping for a freshly made coffee and visiting the'Yellow Rock', then on to the old little church up along the track. Fantastic views, seeing both sides of the coast. The ride takes you through fantastic scenery with chances to see lots of wild animals and birds and plants. The tractor takes you to the old catacombes and then on to a lovely little beach on the North side near the end of the island. Pakize and Bülent will have set up a little feast, all with table chairs, cold drinks and lovely homemade food. A chance for a swim also. On the return journey we stop to look at the old churches at Afendrika and also the basilica at Ayfilon. Then back to base for

dippersgirl



Joined: 04/05/2010
Posts: 795

Message Posted:
09/04/2011 13:05

Then back to base for another coffee and your car. The price for this including the food and soft drinks is £30 (wine and beer to order seperately). There have to be at least 4 people and a maximum of six.

I'm helping them by hopefully getting a little website organised, but in the meantime if you would like more information, call me on 053308206798

If you want to make a weekend of it, Cebilers Guest house is a loveley place to stay, tel Murat on 05338810161. He speaks English and some German

dippersgirl



Joined: 04/05/2010
Posts: 795

Message Posted:
15/04/2011 13:05

back to top

Ruyaed


Joined: 21/11/2010
Posts: 13

Message Posted:
16/04/2011 22:29

We've done it. We went last September and it was fabulous - very interesting and opened up a part of Cyprus that we couldn't have seen any other way. The lunch was delicious - the special koftes were the best ever. Before that we stopped at the Yellow Mountain/Rock? and had coffee on top of the ridge with amazing views of both coastlines. You couldn't possibly get to this amazing spine of the island any way apart from hiking.



Pakize and Bulent couldn't have been more hospitable and agreeable company. We thought it a unique chance to see the old Cyprus through the eyes of a couple who live in this landscape. The high pastures are where they grazed their flocks of goats.



It was a magical day. The best things were the views, the picnic lunch on an idyllic beach which few people know and the chance to venture into unknown Cyprus. The tractor ride is exhilarating but it is what it says on the package - not for the wusses looking for a luxurious coach with a/c.



We will do it

dublinderm


Joined: 26/09/2009
Posts: 538

Message Posted:
17/04/2011 15:18

This sounds very interesting and fun.



Will definitely give it a go when over in September.



Thanks for the info - just what a Forum like this is for.



DD

Ruyaed


Joined: 21/11/2010
Posts: 13

Message Posted:
17/04/2011 22:05

Pakize ran the little Damla restaurant in Dipkarpaz on the road out of town as you go towards Apostolis Andrea so that's why the food for the picnic was so good.



The Yellow Rock on the spine of the island is what you see from the road that runs along the coast below. We thought it amazing with lots of colours. In fact we photographed it and use the image as a screen saver.



We ran out of space on the last posting and what we intended to say was that we look forward to repeating the trip next summer. It was a unique and special Cyprus experience that you could get nowhere else.

shrimp


Joined: 01/09/2010
Posts: 939

Message Posted:
17/04/2011 22:38

This has got to be a must next time we are over, sounds wonderful..........wishing you continued success........

prettynear


Joined: 09/06/2009
Posts: 10

Message Posted:
18/04/2011 10:54

dippersgirl, tried calling you on the telephone number you gave (053308206798) but kept being told its a wrong number. Need to contact you about these trips.

negativenick


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 6023

Message Posted:
18/04/2011 11:44

mess 1 - good old "dipper" as uncle percy used to say................

martinD41


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 3001

Message Posted:
18/04/2011 11:59

msg 1.. Sounds good,and presumably he is "Covered" by comprehensive public liability insurance. And his Tractor has passed an MOT ?...........And the trailer is" rigged" with the usual safety equipment ,,,,

dippersgirl



Joined: 04/05/2010
Posts: 795

Message Posted:
18/04/2011 12:12

OHH NO.............I'M SO SORRY!!!!!!!!



TEL NO SHOULD BE 0533 820 6798

dippersgirl



Joined: 04/05/2010
Posts: 795

Message Posted:
18/04/2011 12:30

PRETTYNEAR... SORRY...PLEASE CONTACT ME ON 0533 820 6798

Chicken


Joined: 29/06/2009
Posts: 190

Message Posted:
18/04/2011 12:53

What are the timings for this?

Denise1947


Joined: 03/07/2009
Posts: 34

Message Posted:
18/04/2011 12:54

Hi Sounds just what we are looking for ... over on the 21st May can we book through you and you send me all the details to my email ? say the 24th or 25th May for 4 people



Regards

Denise1947


Joined: 03/07/2009
Posts: 34

Message Posted:
18/04/2011 14:24

Message 14

Oops sorry deniseturner.1@virgin.net

kathsj


Joined: 25/06/2009
Posts: 72

Message Posted:
18/04/2011 15:16

Sounds good. Can you please email me. kathsjames@gmail.com

ruggy


Joined: 02/05/2009
Posts: 757

Message Posted:
18/04/2011 15:43

Dippersgirl, i tried to call you but no joy. Can you e-mail me details or call 0533 8777 003.

dippersgirl



Joined: 04/05/2010
Posts: 795

Message Posted:
18/04/2011 19:51

Hi everybody,



I have now emailed everybody, please contact me if you have further queries.

dippersgirl



Joined: 04/05/2010
Posts: 795

Message Posted:
18/04/2011 19:53

For some nice photos from the last trip look here



http://www.flickr.com/photos/karpazsafari

mrdoodle


Joined: 21/04/2011
Posts: 22

Message Posted:
24/04/2011 10:07

Went on it last year, absolutely fantastic and Pakize's 'bulgur Köfte are out of this world!!!!!!

Ruyaed


Joined: 21/11/2010
Posts: 13

Message Posted:
25/04/2011 21:11

One problem now is that the wretched speed cameras have made the drive from Girne to Dipkarpas so slow that it isn't any longer as easy to spend a day at the end of the island as it was. So I guess it is an early-ish start to get to Dipkarpas or to Oasis in order to get up into the wilds and to make as much of the tractor safari as possible. Of course if you start nearer Dipkarpas it isn't a problem.



Mr Doodle - Pakize should be marketing those bulgur Koftes of hers. I didn't know what they were but they were terrific. Did you get the recipe? More importantly...Are you sharing it?

dippersgirl



Joined: 04/05/2010
Posts: 795

Message Posted:
26/04/2011 09:30

I also loved the Bulgur Köfte. I have now learned to make them, but I have to say that Pakize's are so much better.

BoTanica


Joined: 22/12/2009
Posts: 714

Message Posted:
26/04/2011 15:42

Lovely pictures!!

dippersgirl



Joined: 04/05/2010
Posts: 795

Message Posted:
26/04/2011 16:42

Here in Dipkarpaz she is famous for her good food

Ruyaed


Joined: 21/11/2010
Posts: 13

Message Posted:
26/04/2011 21:23

Dippersgirl you have it? Pakize's Bulgar Kofte recipe? Are you going to share the secret or do we have to repeat the safari... Not such a bad idea but then, if there is an easier way... She obviously should be marketing the koftes and doing picnic packs.



I think a lot of people going through Dipkarpas would be interested in picking up a picnic lunch of freshly cooked delicious authentic food to go. I must say our picnic on the tractor safari was the best local food we have had since Koshi Bashi closed down on the roundabout in Girne.



There seems to be a missed opportunity here.

dippersgirl



Joined: 04/05/2010
Posts: 795

Message Posted:
28/04/2011 11:37

message 25



The ingredients are not the problem, it's the making thats tricky, my husband said mine were good to use as a cricket ball!!

The outside too thick, but if you make it too thin they break!!

mrdoodle


Joined: 21/04/2011
Posts: 22

Message Posted:
28/04/2011 15:51

re mess.21

The speed cameras aren't that bad, it's not really adding much to the journey

dippersgirl



Joined: 04/05/2010
Posts: 795

Message Posted:
28/04/2011 20:23

Saw the first bee eaters when out on a mountain walk!!! They are fantastic to watch when you are up in the mountains.

Ruyaed


Joined: 21/11/2010
Posts: 13

Message Posted:
01/05/2011 21:30

We were amazed by the flocks of chirruping high-flying birds for year at Ozankoy. t wasn't until we had a meal at Pakize's restaurant Damla that we saw them close-up on the telegraph wires and learned that they were bee-eaters. Beautiful birds with their little black masks and amazing kingfisher colours.



Another reason to investigate the remote regions above Dipkarpaz I'd say.



But Dippersgirl... apart from the David Attenborough stuff did you get to actually make the kofte's as good as Pakize's?



It reminds me of the wonderful Fanny Craddock moment when Johnny announced that if you followed the programme precisely you could make doughnuts just like Fanny's.

TheScarlets



Joined: 14/04/2009
Posts: 877

Message Posted:
01/05/2011 22:31

Hi Dippers, we are coming up to the Dipkarpaz area for a couple of nights in August from Girne and normally stay at the Villas Carparis which is very modern and comfortable can you recommend a nice place at the waters edge further up the island? We've always had great evenings at the restaurant a few yards up the road from there over the past few years so no hardship going back again!



Do you run your trips during the summer? What is the cost pp and how long is the trip/excursion?



Is there somewhere to sample this wonderful cooking in Dipkarpaz?



Thank you

Ian

dippersgirl



Joined: 04/05/2010
Posts: 795

Message Posted:
04/05/2011 22:02

Pakize and Buelent do trips in August as well. There won't be as many flowers or birds, but the scenery is still stunning and having a swim at the little picnic beach makes up for it. There is a lovely big fig tree to sit under and have lunch. Pakize and Bülent bring tables and chairs as well as an ice box or two for cold drinks. They will do a lovely lunch, catering for any special requests.

The price is £30 per person and will include all soft drinks and food. beer or Winer can be purchased separately.

email tractorsafari@gmail.com or tel. 0533 820 6798

Look here for pictures:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/karpazsafari

dippersgirl



Joined: 04/05/2010
Posts: 795

Message Posted:
05/05/2011 21:32

Mess 29

Ruyaed, not my Köfte were not really up to scratch, so Pakize was kind enough to say that I managed better than some. You must come and try her vegetarian version!!!!

dippersgirl



Joined: 04/05/2010
Posts: 795

Message Posted:
06/05/2011 14:30

Ruyaed, started a thread about favourite food, have you got any requests, when you are coming the the Tractor Safari (other than the Köfte)

dippersgirl



Joined: 04/05/2010
Posts: 795

Message Posted:
07/05/2011 16:01

The Tractor safaris start from 'Damla restaurant'. This is a small place on the edge of Dipkarpaz on the Golden Beach/Monastery Road. It's having a facelift this week, but look out for the 'Donkey' signs being erected shortly.