Meet the Animals at Amani Farm

Amani Farm is a working farm, and that means guests share the property with a small cast of animals who have been here longer than most visitors. Some wander up to the fence on their own. Others you'll hear before you see them.

The Alpacas

The alpacas are usually the first thing guests notice. They're curious and will come close to investigate, though they prefer to decide that on their own terms. In the morning, before the sun gets high, they're often grazing near the cottage fence line.

Alpacas are quiet animals. The hum they make when content is one of the stranger and more pleasant sounds you'll hear on the property. Children in particular seem to find them endlessly absorbing.

James the Pig

James is hard to miss. He is large, he is confident, and he has strong opinions about mealtimes. He has been at Amani Farm long enough that he treats the property as his own, which in many respects it is.

Guests who arrive expecting a polite farm animal are sometimes surprised by James. He is not aggressive, but he is not shy either. He will come to the fence and look at you directly until he decides you're interesting enough to approach.

The pig stared at me for about two minutes before slowly walking away. I felt judged. I respected it.

The Peacocks

The peacocks announce themselves. When a male fans his tail at full display, it stops most guests mid-sentence. It happens most often in the late morning and has no reliable trigger beyond the peacock deciding the moment is right.

There are also a number of guinea fowl and chickens on the property. They tend to move in loose groups and are more interested in food than in guests, which feels honest.

What to Know Before You Arrive

The animals at Amani Farm are not pets in the usual sense. They live on the property, they have their own routines, and they will interact with guests on their own terms. Feeding them outside of their regular schedule is not recommended.

If you have young children, they will almost certainly want to spend time at the fence. That's fine. The animals are accustomed to visitors and are not easily startled. Quiet and patience go a long way.

Mornings are the best time to see most of the animals active. By mid-afternoon in warm weather, many of them find shade and stay there. The valley is warmer than the coast, and they've learned to work with it.