Kelechyn Eco Park, Kelechyn

Kelechyn Eco Park is a small petting park in the village of Kelechyn in Zakarpattia, on the road from Mizhhiria towards Volovets. Many travellers come across it by chance on their way to Pylypets, Lake Synevyr or the Shypit waterfall – and stop for an hour or two so their children can meet alpacas, deer and ostriches. The park is well kept and set in a picturesque valley among forested mountains, so even a short stop turns into a little adventure. If you are looking for a petting zoo in Zakarpattia near Pylypets, Kelechyn is a handy option.

Who lives here

Spacious wooden paddocks are home to alpacas and llamas – fluffy, calm and very photogenic. Nearby graze red deer, ostriches, ponies and goats of various breeds walk about, and sheep rest in the straw. Visitors are especially drawn to the shaggy ginger Highland cattle with their long horns and to a musk ox, a big northern animal with a thick coat that is rarely seen in Ukrainian parks. The animals are well looked after and used to people, so they readily come up to the fence.

For children it is a great chance to learn something new. Alpacas and llamas come from the high Andes of South America, where they have been bred for their warm wool for thousands of years. The musk ox lives in the Arctic tundra, withstands forty-degree frosts and is a survivor from the age of mammoths. Highland cattle, thanks to their long coats, happily winter outdoors, so the Carpathian climate suits them well.

What to do with kids

The park’s main appeal is that you can not only look but actually interact with the animals. Visitors may enter some of the paddocks and hand-feed the animals with feed sold at the entrance. Guests warn that the animals in the first enclosure are particularly insistent when they spot a bag of feed – so children should hold on tight and parents stay close. A walk around the grounds takes about an hour, which makes Kelechyn easy to combine with other trips in the area on the same day.

Next to the park is the Kelechynskyi Kvas mineral spring with iron-rich water, which many visitors bottle to take home. There is a small shop and a souvenir market on site, as well as a clean toilet.

Practical information

Address: 249 Kelechyn village, Khust district, Zakarpattia region. Phone: +38 068 068 66 88.

Opening hours: daily 08:00–21:00 (according to Google Maps). The animals are best visited during daylight hours – check the exact times by phone.

Prices: entry and animal feed are paid; visitors describe the tickets as affordable, but there is no official price list, so check before you go.

The park is open all year, but it is most comfortable from spring to autumn. In winter and after rain the paddocks can be muddy, so wear shoes you don’t mind getting dirty. According to Google Maps dogs are allowed, but keep them on a lead and away from the enclosures.

How to get there

Kelechyn is about 10–12 km from both Mizhhiria and Pylypets. By car, drive from Mizhhiria on the road towards Volovets – the park is right by the road and has parking. From Volovets, the nearest railway station, the drive takes about half an hour. Without a car, the easiest option is to get to Mizhhiria or Volovets and take a taxi from there.

At a glance

• Address: Kelechyn
• Opening hours: Daily 08:00–21:00 (per Google Maps; check the times for visiting the animals)
• Season: All year round
• Prices: Entry ticket and animal feed are paid; current prices are not published, ask by phone.
• Phone: +380680686688

Website and social media: kelechyn.choiceqr.com

Photos: lh3.googleusercontent.com.