Camel rides - a warning
Discussion
(Something I posted on a Fuertventura forum, but feel compelled to post here also)
Just returned from Fuerteventura, and feel compelled to share our experience from Oasis Park.
Despite reservations about the camel ride excursion, I agreed with my wife to take our 2 kids, aged 21 months and 3.5 on a camel trip.
We were on the final camel in a long line of around 11 camels, with 2 guides. It appears men were placed on the left, women on the right, and young children (under 10 or so) on the peak of the camel. Our young daughter sat with my wife with one seatbelt between them, and our son sat on the peak - no seatbelt. We did wonder about this, but decided it must be safe if the rides are so popular and so common.
We set off up the mountain, without any problems, although with the way the camels are placed, to the left or right of the camel in front, I was the furthermost to the left camel in the entire chain. This led to some interesting moments with my face planted in to some trees, and at the mountain top, my camel was right on the edge of a cliff face.
Problems started on the descent. The weight of the passengers is pushed forward on the camel, and we were straining against our seatbelts. This was not comfortable for our daughter!
At one of the hairpin bends, a camel in the middle of the chain, with the largest passenger of the trip, decided it wasn't happy. There were some loud grunts and groans, and then all hell broke loose. The camel, and the one in front started to buck - like a horse at a rodeo. There was a young girl of around 7 years on top of the camel who was thrown from the camel - falling some 8-10 foot to the ground.
The chain behind the upset camel broke, and the front group bolted - taking the parents of the unfortunate girl away at some speed. The guides ran off to chase down the errant camels. The rear 5 camels were making scary noises, and the fear and panic was tangible. Luckily the front camel of our group decided to come to the rear where we were, and we were able to grab the chain from it's neck, and create a small circle. Our camels soon became placid again, and merely circled for a small while before stopping.
For 10 minutes we were stranded on our camels, while the poor girl who was thrown was lying on the floor. Luckily she fell on sand, and after a while was able to sit up - before one of the guides led 2 camels, including the girl's group back to our spot. These camels were tethered and relieved of their load, before being tied up behind us (we were not happy about this, but seemingly the camels were much happier!).
The poor girl was reunited with her group, and we were led back down to the staging post for the camels, before being allowed to disembark.
As you can imagine, this episode was utterly terrifying, but fortunately our 2 children were too young to fully understand the significance. My son remained in the 'danger position' for the rest of our trip - and in our mind in perilous danger.
I'd urge anyone considering this camel ride to think again if they have children who cannot sit alone in a seat with the rudimentary seat belt.
For our family - there will never be a camel ride again!
We spoke to our holiday reps about this experience, as they offer it as a packaged excursion. They advised us this kind of information must be presented to their head office, in order to ascertain if the excursion should be amended.
I appreciate it was a significantly rare event - but having witnessed it with my own eyes, I'm also aware how close I was to witnessing a fatality. Fortunately the girl appeared to suffer no physical damage...
Just returned from Fuerteventura, and feel compelled to share our experience from Oasis Park.
Despite reservations about the camel ride excursion, I agreed with my wife to take our 2 kids, aged 21 months and 3.5 on a camel trip.
We were on the final camel in a long line of around 11 camels, with 2 guides. It appears men were placed on the left, women on the right, and young children (under 10 or so) on the peak of the camel. Our young daughter sat with my wife with one seatbelt between them, and our son sat on the peak - no seatbelt. We did wonder about this, but decided it must be safe if the rides are so popular and so common.
We set off up the mountain, without any problems, although with the way the camels are placed, to the left or right of the camel in front, I was the furthermost to the left camel in the entire chain. This led to some interesting moments with my face planted in to some trees, and at the mountain top, my camel was right on the edge of a cliff face.
Problems started on the descent. The weight of the passengers is pushed forward on the camel, and we were straining against our seatbelts. This was not comfortable for our daughter!
At one of the hairpin bends, a camel in the middle of the chain, with the largest passenger of the trip, decided it wasn't happy. There were some loud grunts and groans, and then all hell broke loose. The camel, and the one in front started to buck - like a horse at a rodeo. There was a young girl of around 7 years on top of the camel who was thrown from the camel - falling some 8-10 foot to the ground.
The chain behind the upset camel broke, and the front group bolted - taking the parents of the unfortunate girl away at some speed. The guides ran off to chase down the errant camels. The rear 5 camels were making scary noises, and the fear and panic was tangible. Luckily the front camel of our group decided to come to the rear where we were, and we were able to grab the chain from it's neck, and create a small circle. Our camels soon became placid again, and merely circled for a small while before stopping.
For 10 minutes we were stranded on our camels, while the poor girl who was thrown was lying on the floor. Luckily she fell on sand, and after a while was able to sit up - before one of the guides led 2 camels, including the girl's group back to our spot. These camels were tethered and relieved of their load, before being tied up behind us (we were not happy about this, but seemingly the camels were much happier!).
The poor girl was reunited with her group, and we were led back down to the staging post for the camels, before being allowed to disembark.
As you can imagine, this episode was utterly terrifying, but fortunately our 2 children were too young to fully understand the significance. My son remained in the 'danger position' for the rest of our trip - and in our mind in perilous danger.
I'd urge anyone considering this camel ride to think again if they have children who cannot sit alone in a seat with the rudimentary seat belt.
For our family - there will never be a camel ride again!
We spoke to our holiday reps about this experience, as they offer it as a packaged excursion. They advised us this kind of information must be presented to their head office, in order to ascertain if the excursion should be amended.
I appreciate it was a significantly rare event - but having witnessed it with my own eyes, I'm also aware how close I was to witnessing a fatality. Fortunately the girl appeared to suffer no physical damage...
Doesn't sound like fun, but all least all ended relatively well for you. Nothing strikes me as 'safe' about sitting on top of a 10ft tall wild animal, which is then chained to a line of other 10ft tall, wild animals. As a petrol head, you should try quad biking as an alternative. At least they do what you want them to!
Have you ever ridden a horse or seen what they can do? How strong they are?
Did you really think that there were no dangers in riding an animal?
I'm curious that you would think it appropriate to take very young children on such a trip. As for seat belts, what would you have done if the animal felt the need to roll?
Did you really think that there were no dangers in riding an animal?
I'm curious that you would think it appropriate to take very young children on such a trip. As for seat belts, what would you have done if the animal felt the need to roll?
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