A beary special picnic

Meet the bear in its natural habitat

Enter the mysterious world of the Kočevje forests, where nature still shows its wildest face. The Kočevje forests have the highest brown bear population density and largest number of remaining primeval forests in Europe. Experience the spirit of the ancient forest and enjoy the wild taste of delicious forest meals.

During this all-day adventure an experienced local guide introduces the visitors to the world of bears. The adventure begins in Kočevje. More specifically, at the Bearlog hostel, whose very name lets you know you have entered the land of bears. The largest European member of the Carnivora order feels great here. The size of the population has been growing in recent years, along with popular interest in these mighty, yet adorable furry creatures.

Before we enter the forest, we need to prepare. The guide first explains the rules of conduct everyone has to know before wandering around in the bear kingdom. Only a short ride later, you get the chance to put the theory into practice. Deep in the heart of the Kočevje forest, it is easy to spot the tracks left by wild animals. The guide will help you follow the animals and discover different signs of the game in their natural habitat. These signs and the stories they tell will teach you many interesting and useful facts about life in the forest. But exploring is hungry work, and what follows is…

A picnic in the forest!

In a clearing in the depths of the forest, a gourmet picnic basket is already waiting for you. It is full of completely local delicious bites. There is homemade bread, the essential ingredient of any picnic basket. There are organic dairy products, including several types of cheese and yogurt. There is, as befits a picnic in the forest, a venison salami. There is natural apple juice to quench your thirst, and Kočevje honey with a protected designation of origin for your sweet tooth. And there are other local delicacies, depending on the season.

The main course is a forest risotto. It will be prepared by the guide, but you will be responsible for making it taste wild and delicious. To really get to know the forest, you have to learn about the local herbs and pick some for the picnic. Every forest risotto is different, depending on the season, the meadow, and of course, on the inspiration of the visitors. Some of the aromatic herbs you can expect are ribwort plantain, common plantain, hoary plantain, common sorrel, wood sorrel, ground elder, dandelion, bristly hawkbit, daisy…

Bear-friendly

You might be tempted to take a nap in the clearing, after enjoying the delicious meal, but the adventure must go on. Excitement rises as the evening comes closer, bringing with it the meeting with a bear. On his turf. But first we have to refresh our bear knowledge and learn how to behave at the watch station during our evening observation. This way you can be comfortable while bear watching, without disturbing the wildlife.

In the Bear room, children can have fun learning with didactic tools while the guide talks about the “Bear-friendly” label, which was designed to connect grazing animal farmers, beekeepers, fruit growers and other farmers, as well as tourist accommodation providers, companies and artisans who contribute to the cohabitation of bears and humans by using bear-friendly methods, or by actively promoting the conservation of the bear population in the local environment.

Bears, wolves, deer, birds...

The last thing before the evening wildlife observation is a late lunch at a local restaurant famous for its venison goulash. It is served with a side dish, and any wishes and preferences are taken into account (vegetarian, vegan, etc.). The food is always as local as possible. After the meal, a hunter will take you to the evening bear observation from the safety of the observation platform in the heart of the dense Kočevje forests.

Sitting completely silently on the observation platform, you can enjoy the sounds of nature and observe the animals. With a bit of luck you can see a wolf, different kinds of deer, forest birds, owls, water birds and even the brown bear going about his evening routine. Bears are creatures of habit, and usually take the same paths, so it is very likely that you will get to see one. But you have to keep in mind that nature is very unpredictable and all the more charming because of this fact. However, there is no doubt about the small gift given to every visitor. A wooden bear, made by a local artisan, will go with you to bring you luck and guard the memories of this adventure.

The entire experience is in line with sustainable tourism, aiming for the lightest possible impact on the environment, especially wild animals.