Getting in Touch with Nature in Malta

By: Luciano Borg
Submitted: 2009-10-12 17:55:30
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The Maltese countryside is small and, like that of many other countries, threatened by over development. Thankfully, there is still enough of it that is protected to help one get away from the urban areas on the Island to be able to get in touch with nature.

It is a countryside that has its unique characteristics and where, incredibly, you can come face to face with rare and indigenous specimens of wild flowers, butterflies, animals and birds. So diverse and ever-changing is it, that it has been scientifically proved, for example, that tiny Malta has as many different species of wild flowers as Holland which is, of course, considerably bigger, but has a more or less unchanging type of countryside.

Both Malta and Gozo offer ideal countryside walks that provide you with some outstanding views and a lot of good exercise. Ramblers' associations from all over the world have put Malta on their map. In return, the Malta Tourism Authority has produced a series of ten countryside walks, five in Malta and five in Gozo. Ten light coloured pamphlets show ramblers how to get to the respective location, and from a start point indicate which way to follow and what to look out for on the way.

Archaeological remains, geological features, endemic flora of the area, niches, plaques and landmarks of historical or traditional interest and a lot more are combined with panoramic landscapes and sea views that are unique to the Maltese archipelago. Included in every booklet is an easy-to-read map that not only indicates the path to follow but also gives useful information regarding services, eating places, transport, etc.

The very mention of the Knights of Malta provokes images of shining armour on horseback, of clashing swords and colourful shields, of the smell of gun-powder and the gargantuan lines of fortifications.

The Knights, being the European nobles of their time, would not be seen anywhere without their favourite horse, also in armour. Their centuries-long presence on the Island gradually led to the replacement with horses of the traditional bulls and donkeys that had featured in the Maltese countryside since the Romans. In Malta of the 21st Century, you too can become a knight as you join one of the many horse-riding sessions that are on offer all over the Maltese Islands.

Luckily the armour is no longer a requirement which is a relief considering the general temperatures on the island. Sandy rides are a joy to behold as you elegantly guide your horse across the fresh, glimmering sand of the northern beaches of Malta and Gozo. Other rides will take you deep into the strange, uneven countryside where the horses seem to instinctively know their way along the narrow alley-ways between the small, chequered fields where time seems to have stood still for centuries. There are rides for everyone, from beginners to aspiring jockeys, and there are horses for everyone too, from the timid and the obedient to the mischievous and the arrogant. After all, horses are like people.

They have their characters and their moods and their favourite riders. There is, especially, a mutual bond between horses and children. The nobler of the species will openly court you as you step forward to make your pick. Somehow, you feel like having been chosen, knighted almost... Horse-riding schools in both Malta and Gozo are relatively cheap and easy to find. And hard not to go back to again.

There are different ways how to get in touch with nature in Malta, but countryside walks and horse-rides provide the ultimate when you not only feel spiritually at one with nature, but are also looking forward to the next for more exciting discoveries....

Despite the small size of the Maltese Islands there is still plenty of nature around to enjoy. The countryside is, as you would imagine, all around. You could catch a bus and explore or maybe ask a local where they advise as certain areas are more interesting at certain times of year. We, for example, just love a wander around Buskett Gardens. Highly recommended.

Malta Travel Guide 101Malta.com - 101 Things To Do In Malta takes an honest look at the many, many things you can do whilst in Malta and Gozo, ranging from the adventurous to the relaxing and from the culinary to the cultural.

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