Zawita

Zawita sits in the hills north of Duhok among stands of pine and oak, one of the better patches of forest left in a region where woodland has been heavily reduced, and it functions as the local escape: picnic areas laid out under the trees, teahouses and restaurants, paths through the woods, and springs that people fill bottles from. Families come up from Duhok and further afield through the summer to sit in the shade, and Newroz in March fills the woods. There are walking routes into the hills behind and a cave in the area. It is not dramatic country, but the shade and the cool air are the point in a region where summer temperatures on the plain are extreme.

What you actually see

• Pine and oak woods - surviving forest on the hills above Duhok.
• Picnic grounds - tables and grills laid out under the trees.
• Springs - water sources people come to fill from.
• Forest paths - walking routes into the hills behind the village.

When to go

April to June for green woods and wildflowers, September to November for cooler air and autumn colour. Summer weekends are packed with picnickers. Newroz in March brings crowds.

Honest expectations

Litter at the picnic sites is a serious problem after busy weekends. The forest has been reduced over the decades and the remaining patches are small. Facilities are teahouses and grills rather than anything organised. Traffic on the road up jams at weekends.

Nearby

Duhok lies south; the Duhok dam lake is between them.