Romanian destinations for animal lovers: Where to see bears, bison or deer
Home to the Carpathian Mountains and the Danube Delta, Romania is known for its natural beauties and rich wildlife, being a great destination for animal lovers. In places such as the Zarnesti Bear Sanctuary or the Hateg Bison Reserve,…
Irina Marica · Journalist
· Updated · 4 min read
Home to the Carpathian Mountains and the Danube Delta, Romania is known for its natural beauties and rich wildlife, being a great destination for animal lovers. In places such as the Zarnesti Bear Sanctuary or the Hateg Bison Reserve, tourists can safely live the extraordinary experience of seeing wild animals in their natural habitat. Below we've listed a few ideas for your next vacation in Romania.
- The Libearty Bear Sanctuary
Estimates say Romania is home to the largest population of brown bears in the European Union, with tourists having high chances of spotting one during their hikes in the Carpathians. However, there is a special place where animal lovers can see these large carnivores safely - the Libearty Bear Sanctuary in Zarnesti, Brasov county.
Covering almost 70 hectares of forests, the sanctuary hosts over 130 bears rescued from inadequate living conditions in captivity. Here, they can climb trees, splash in swimming pools, and get the food and medical care they need.
Tourists can visit the bear sanctuary from Tuesday to Sunday, but only as part of a guided tour. For safety reasons, children under the age of five are not allowed inside the sanctuary.
The visiting schedule varies depending on the season, and tourists can choose between several types of guided tours (which are also available in English). Tickets are available for purchase online. Further details here.
- The Hateg-Slivut Bison Reserve
Thanks to various reintroduction programs, animal lovers visiting Romania also have the chance to see the European bison, the heaviest wild land animal in Europe. And a special place to spot these gentle giants is the Hateg-Slivut Bison Reserve in Hunedoara county.
The Hateg Reserve, which currently covers about 50 hectares, was established by Romanian foresters in 1958 when two bison were brought to the country from Poland. Another pair of bison was brought here in 1963. According to data made available by forest management company Romsilva in the summer of 2021, this nature reserve in Romania is home to nine bison.
Romsilva manages three bison reserves in Bucsani, Hateg, and Vanatori Neamt. Plus, other European bison can also be found in Tarcu Mountains, where WWF-Romania and Rewilding Europe have been carrying out a reintroduction program, and in Fagaras Mountains.
