Donkey Farm : Close to the Clouds

Discovering Albania’s Hidden Gem

What were the first things you thought about Albania? Not sure that donkey was included on your list.

However Albanian Donkeys are very delicate animal, (their coat is grey, black, reddish, or “purple”) are referred to as “gomari”, have a long history in Albania, especially in coastal and hilly regions, and are believed to have migrated into the country originally from the Adriatic coast centuries ago with the development of trade connections between Persia, Egypt, and Greece. They evolved locally more by natural selection (because of conditions in Albania, they are small averaging 107 cm at the withers) they continue to be useful in rural area where the conditions are harsh.
If you get known that in 2013 there were roughly 55,000 Albanian donkeys (with 750 000 bunquers) unfortunately their numbers are diminishing, so you may understand how important notice, that small family farmers have turned increasingly to raise more animals on farms because of rising high prices for donkey milk and farm products.

In the EU there are geographical indications that identify a good as originating in the territory of a country, or from a region or locality within that territory, where a given quality, reputation, or other characteristic of the good is essentially attributable to its geographic origin.

Around Saranda thanks to its typical Mediterranean climate along the cost and its continental climate in the hinterland mountainous areas, together with its rich and very productive soil. On a sunny afternoon we visited a family, who runs a donkey farm about 30 minutes diriving from Saranda, up to the Rrezoma Rezerve area.

Close to the clouds on the mountain area throughout its territory, there are many cultivation of citrus fruits, olive trees, nuts, with many apiaries (bee yards) in between, mostly rural and of different sizes, producing distinctive types of honey based on local vegetation. On a sunny afternoon we visited a family , who runs a donkey farm around Saranda, in the Rrezoma Rezerve, under the highest pick of the montain where the earth laughs in flowers. The family work with 30 lovely donkeys, whose comfortable lifestyle on the farm is a welcome respite from their traditional roles as beasts of burden.

Our host family, one of in Albania to raise donkeys for their milk for over ten years aficionados are convinced its nutritional profile – which is close to human milk – helps strengthen the body’s natural defences. Scientist claims donkey’s milk could be a good natural remedy for the respiratory system. With a maximum production of milk and meat very limited and delicate.

As it was noticed the family is bigger concerns to animal welfare, there is no opening time and no donkey riding program on the visit.
Respecting the daily routine of the family and the animals on the farm visiting this Donkey Farm is possible only with prior registration, more information can be requested at the We Love Saranda site.

This private and unique program is about helping consumers connect the dots between the farming families that raise livestock and the local farm products. To taste the donkey products and traditional and of the mountain. Our cooperation with the family and the tour guide about how we can help the shoppers to engage with the region and eating “less and better” production types in this geographic locations.

CONTACT:
We Love Saranda Tour

Article was first published  in Travel Magazin Balkan Summer 2023/39 Nr