Bear Watching in Slovakia - Trip Report by Mark Wright

"We've arrived at the ranger's cottage deep in the Tatras for two days.


Accommodation is ok, an old wood cottage straight out of Red Riding Hood. Although facilities are pretty simple it's a real privilege to be allowed up here in the midst of nature in the park - Projekt Medved (project Bear) works with the national park authorities to allow a select few tourists to stay and visit and see wildlife. There are NO other tourists up here and we have the entire park ourselves.

It's our first day and we have struck lucky. Observing the avalanche slopes between stands of fir trees we spot a solitary brown bear high on the upper slopes. Binoculars and telescope at the ready, we are delighted to see that three young cubs are in hot pursuit of their mother. We watch with fascination for a few minutes until the four figures lumber and toddle away into the dwarf pine and are then lost from view.

We walk through incredible mountain landscapes for the rest of the day, but see no more bears. Plenty of evidence on the trail of bear activity, but no more sightings today.

Tomorrow we'll be out at 5am to look for more."

Bear Watching in Slovakia - Trip Report by Mark Wright

Maths homework in the Tatras

Soon to be added to Wildlife Worldwide's European Bear Watching Holidays, Mark Wright is in the Tatras with his son Joe on a recce trip for Families Worldwide:

"As I get deeper into this trip in Slovakia I realise the importance of Project Bear. Throughout Europe, bear-watching tourists are attracted to sit in hides and wait for sightings. Bears are attracted to the hides by food being regularly placed outside the hides. The ethics and wisdom of this is very questionable; bears that become accustomed to being fed can become dependent upon such food sources and seek out places with people and problems start as bears become more aggressive and are then shot by fearful humans.

This project, where tourism works hand in hand with national parks and a research project, allows bears to be seen in their natural habitat without the need for baiting.

The project is terribly underfunded. It needs help as tourism alone may not be able to provide enough support for this worthwhile cause."

Mark Wright
Families Worldwide

Bear Watching in Finland - August 2010 (Customer Comment)

"Thank you all at Wildlife Worldwide for organising such a unforgetable trip to Finland to see Brown Bears. Even after my reservations concerning my final flight were allayed. Martinselkonen was a superb base, food accomodation guides were all first class. The Bears played ball and I have some beautiful images from the trip, attached will one of the cubs. There will be more on our website if you care to have a look at. Once again a very big thank you all, I will continue to reccomend your fine company to all."

Ron & Maggie T. August 2010

Bear Watching Holidays in Finland - Click here

Customer Comment - Iceland - Mrs Sutton - June 2008

"I've just come back from a holiday in Iceland and feel a need to give feedback.

Everything was very well organised. The excursions were brilliant with a very knowledgeable driver who talked about everything about from the island's history to it's economics and even the elves. The hotel was very interesting! and the staff/owner very friendly.

We couldn't have been looked after better, the lady from the whale watching company (couldn't pronounce her name let alone spell it) made our holiday. Excellent. For example, we had decided on an extra whale watching trip but it was cancelled due to rough seas, so she took it upon her self to give us a tour of Reykyavik and the surrounding area (with stop offs) on the way to the airport."

Customer Review - The Carbols in Finland

As we hiked into the towering trees of the Finnish forest, we were struck by the lush, green, peaceful setting. The quiet and tranquility were a welcome escape from the harsh sights and sounds of modern day civilization. Martinselkonen is a nature park of around 6000 hectares and sits in the wilderness of the Kainuu region. Accessed by dirt road, it takes you deep into the realm where moose and bear are more common than human...

Click here for the full review and photos

Staff Report - Sarah - 'Bearing it all - Hiding in Finland'

Wildlife Consultant - Sarah Williams went in search of Brown Bears in Spring 2007: There I was, sharing a small log cabin deep in the Taiga forest, close to the Russian border, with six relative strangers.... certainly an unusual way to spend a Saturday night! ....

Click Here for full report