Ever been walking with llamas?
We offer a weekly guided walk with llamas - yes, walking with llamas! It is a hit for big and small and the tours can be varied depending on the level of the group.
For example, we can take the circuit down to the Bodenalm or around the Wildsee. For those who are a bit more ambitious, we can head up to the Reitherjoch Alm or even into the Karwendel mountains - as mentioned, it depends on you.
Everything you might want to know about llamas :
The Guanako is thought to be the ancestor of the llama and the animals were already domesticated in the third century BC. There are some, however, who believe that the llama is an individual species which is now extinct in the wild. It's almost impossible to know the real truth, especially since there has been so much interbreeding between the related species of alpacas, vikunjas and guanakos.
Llamas were used by all the races of the Andes as a beast of burden and especially for their wool. The alpaca was especially prized for its wool, which is still the case to the present day. The Indians also used the skin as leather, used the fat for candles and the droppings as fuel. And, of course, they also appeared on the dinner table.
Llamas are still used a working animals in the Andes, especially in the areas which are difficult to reach, and for their wool and meat. Estimates reckon that there are around 3 million animals used there.
Outside South America there are around 100,000 llamas in countries like the USA where they are bred and farmed. The animals are sheared and the wool used for various purposes. Interest in llama farming has also been growing in Europe.
Some llama owners, like ourselves, take their llamas on walking tours, and the animals can also carry up to 30kg of baggage. This has become a popular sight for visitors and tourists in these areas.
Llamas are also used in AAT Llama-Therapy (AAT means "animal assisted therapy“) and are especially suited because of their placid nature.
So do llamas really spit …
Llamas tend to spit when they get annoyed or irritated. They are amazingly accurate with their aim (although humans are rarely the target!).
Llamas also spit at one another to establish the hierarchy and distance in a group. In this case, the saliva is used as an early warning and, in serious disputes, the participants will spit small quantities of half-digested food...