Blog. Llama walk on the Wattenberg
An adventurous family hike on the Wattenberg with Hans Geisler and his four llamas, Shayen, Berlingo, Winny and Balu.
Together with a family of Israeli holidaymakers and my children, we visited Hans Geisler and his llamas at the Wattenberg last Saturday. Even from far below, we could spot the jolly four-legged friends as they peered over the fence down into the valley.
Hans gave us a warm welcome at his farm. As well as the four male llamas – Shayen, Winny, Berlingo and Balu – he also has five female llamas. The Oberfelderhof on the Wattenberg is home not only to llamas, but also to a few chickens and dairy cows, which spend the summer on his alpine pasture in the Wattental valley.
Incidentally, the delicious Wattener Almkäse is produced at the local alpine dairy in the alpine village of Melang, which we were later able to sample.
We’re going to fetch the llamas
Together with four enthusiastic children, Hans fetches the llamas from their paddock and gets them ready for our hike. Shayen and Berlingo are fitted with pack saddles, whilst Balu is given a sort of saddle onto which we can hang or pack our rucksacks. Hans explains to us in detail why llamas are, on the one hand, well-suited to the mountains and, on the other, excellent pack animals.
Llamas originate from the highlands of the Andes. They were, and still are, used there as pack animals, as other pack animals and means of transport are unthinkable in the mountains of South America. They move with ease and sure-footedness over difficult terrain, as the underside of their feet consists of two leathery pads (calloused soles). They do not need hooves or shoes to protect these astonishingly resilient feet. Llamas have low protein requirements and therefore thrive on extensively farmed land. They are thus animals that can make do with the fodder grown locally.
The walk begins
Hans stows his personal belongings in Shayen’s large saddlebag. Then we set off on our tour. The children are thrilled, as they can now lead these good-natured and intelligent animals all by themselves, thereby taking on a great deal of responsibility.
The battle with the voracious llamas
First, we walk along the road towards the forest. At the start, the group (children and llamas) isn’t quite in sync, mainly because the animals are constantly tempted by the lush greenery at the side of the path. Hans explains to us that they aren’t given fresh grass to eat on a regular basis, as otherwise they would put on too much weight. Time and again, we help the children to encourage the playful llamas to keep moving. We all have a drink at a small fountain before continuing our climb.
Stunning views
Our guests are absolutely thrilled by the view and the breathtaking scenery. Although I’ve been to the Wattenberg and the surrounding area many times myself, I can only confirm this. The view of the Karwendel Mountains opposite and across the Inn Valley invites you to pause and reflect. It almost seems as though even the llamas are enjoying the tranquillity and the view.
A well-deserved snack
We stop for a break in a clearing in the woods. Hans pulls a wonderful selection of local treats out of his panniers: homemade bread and cheese, as well as elderflower syrup, home-grown tomatoes, gherkins and eggs, and sausage – all lovingly garnished with edible flowers.
During the short break, the question inevitably arises as to whether llamas do indeed spit. Hans confirms this, explaining that spitting is a way of expressing the hierarchy within the herd. Llamas very rarely spit at people. They only do so when they are extremely provoked or feel threatened by humans.
On the way back through the woods
After a bite to eat, we continue our walk along a forest track. Towards the end, the track descends steeply and Hans asks us to help guide the children. Although llamas are very considerate and look after the children well, they do move quite briskly on the way back. Time and again, we come across walkers or cyclists along the way who are delighted by our cheerful group.
To finish off, a ride on the llama
We’ll soon be back near the farm. The children are allowed to go for another short ride on Balu. Everyone’s having an absolute blast!
Afterwards, we say goodbye to Hans and his llamas. It was a wonderful day out in the countryside, one that will remain unforgettable thanks to these unique animals.
If you’d like to find out more about Hans, his llamas and his tours, take a look at his Instagram channel ...
