Nature at Ahãma

Ahãma sits within the protected landscape of Günlüklü Bay, home to one of the world's few remaining forests of Liquidambar orientalis, the rare Oriental Sweetgum native to southwestern Türkiye. Here, nature is not a backdrop. It shapes the rhythm of every day.

The grounds are shared with rescued emus, peacocks, swans, turtles and more, while nearly fifty bird species move through the surrounding woodland across the seasons. A place in genuine balance with its landscape.

Forest & Plants

The forests surrounding Ahãma are defined by the Oriental Sweetgum (Liquidambar orientalis), one of the rarest tree species in the world and native to a small stretch of southwestern Türkiye. Ancient, broad-canopied and slow-growing, these trees are the foundation of a protected landscape that has evolved largely undisturbed along the shores of Günlüklü Bay.

Beneath the sweetgum canopy, the forest floor gives way to a rich Mediterranean understory, wild myrtle, bay laurel, rockrose and strawberry tree among them, plants that have shaped the scent, flavour and folk traditions of this coastline for centuries. Seasonal wildflowers move through the grounds with the calendar, marking the quiet transitions between one part of the year and the next.

Aromatic herbs grow throughout the property, some cultivated in Ahãma's gardens, others self-seeded along the paths and margins where the managed landscape meets the wild. Rosemary, thyme, sage and oregano are familiar presences, their fragrance released by the warmth of the afternoon sun.

The ecosystem here is not incidental. It is the reason this bay has been protected, and it remains the organising principle behind how Ahãma has been built and cared for.

Rabbits
Often found sheltering beneath the trees, our rabbits bring a gentle calm to the gardens. Social and inquisitive, they spend their days moving between shade and open ground.

Swans
Both white and black swans glide across the water at Ahãma. Calm, unhurried and striking in equal measure, they have long been associated with harmony and loyalty, qualities that feel fitting here.

Koi Fish
Beneath the surface of the ponds, koi move in slow, vivid arcs. In many cultures they are symbols of perseverance and prosperity, here, they are simply a beautiful thing to pause and watch.

Chickens
Our flock includes four breeds, Lohmann Brown, Brahma, Ameraucana Blue and Ameraucana Green. Their eggs are collected fresh each morning and served daily at Glasshouse, a small but direct connection between the grounds and the breakfast table.

Ducks
A constant, cheerful presence along the waterways. Ducks bring movement and a certain ease to the landscape, particularly in the quieter hours of the morning.

Geese
Intelligent and deeply social, our geese are devoted to one another and attentive to everything around them. They are among the most watchful members of the Ahãma community.

Turtles
Often found resting on lily pads in the afternoon sun, the turtles of Ahãma's ponds embody the unhurried pace of life on the bay. Their quiet presence is easy to miss, and all the more rewarding when you notice them.

Forest Birdlife
Nearly fifty bird species inhabit the forests surrounding Ahãma across the seasons. Their calls move through the trees from early morning, and their migrations mark the turning of the year as reliably as anything else on the bay.

Ahãma Residents

Ahãma is shared with a community of animals, each a genuine part of life on the property. Some were rescued, some arrived naturally, and all have made this landscape their home.

Emus

Our two rescued emus are among Ahãma's most recognisable presences. Native to Australia and remarkable in scale, they move through the grounds with an unhurried curiosity that tends to stop guests in their tracks.

Peacocks

Ahãma is home to both male and female peafowl. The males are impossible to miss, their displays sudden and spectacular. The females carry a quieter elegance, and are every bit as important to the group.

Squirrels<br>
Quick and largely unbothered by guests, the squirrels of the surrounding forest are a sign of a healthy ecosystem. Their constant movement through the canopy is one of the small details that makes the grounds feel alive.

Rabbits

Often found sheltering beneath the trees, our rabbits bring a gentle calm to the gardens. Social and inquisitive, they spend their days moving between shade and open ground.

Koi Fish

Beneath the surface of the ponds, koi move in slow, vivid arcs. In many cultures they are symbols of perseverance and prosperity, here, they are simply a beautiful thing to pause and watch.

Swans

Both white and black swans glide across the water at Ahãma. Calm, unhurried and striking in equal measure, they have long been associated with harmony and loyalty, qualities that feel fitting here.

Chickens

Our flock includes four breeds, Lohmann Brown, Brahma, Ameraucana Blue and Ameraucana Green. Their eggs are collected fresh each morning and served daily at Glasshouse, a small but direct connection between the grounds and the breakfast table.

Ducks

A constant, cheerful presence along the waterways. Ducks bring movement and a certain ease to the landscape, particularly in the quieter hours of the morning.

Geese

Intelligent and deeply social, our geese are devoted to one another and attentive to everything around them. They are among the most watchful members of the Ahãma community.

Turtles

Often found resting on lily pads in the afternoon sun, the turtles of Ahãma's ponds embody the unhurried pace of life on the bay. Their quiet presence is easy to miss, and all the more rewarding when you notice them.

Forest Birdlife

Nearly fifty bird species inhabit the forests surrounding Ahãma across the seasons. Their calls move through the trees from early morning, and their migrations mark the turning of the year as reliably as anything else on the bay.