Bison watching map & highlights

Białowieża National Park in eastern Poland provides protection for an ancient old growth forest that once stretched across the whole of Europe. Wild bison were reintroduced to Białowieża in the 1950s and staying at a guesthouse in Białowieża village, around four hours’ drive from Warsaw, is the best way to explore the area on a small group tour. Bison in Yellowstone National Park, on the other hand, have been around since prehistoric times with hotspots such as Lamar Valley and Mammoth Hot Springs providing a protected environment to support a bison population upwards of 5,500. Bozeman in Montana is the best base for a bison watching holiday here as it sits between the park’s north and west entrances, and just a 2.5-hour drive from Old Faithful geyser.

The incredible aspect about visiting Yellowstone in the winter is how quiet the park is. The lack of human traffic and noise disturbance also encourages wildlife to roam with a lot more freedom. Winter in Yellowstone reminded me of the rawness of nature and how we are only visitors in its domain.

“The sheer size of bison and the volume of herds in Yellowstone are both really unexpected. I think many people forget that Yellowstone is actually a wilderness area and wildlife, including bison, call this park home. It’s their natural habitat as opposed to being a zoo simulation of what a wilderness wildlife park should be like. I feel Yellowstone does a great job informing people how to interact with wildlife and for this reason bison have learned to live simultaneously with humans in the park.”

“Lamar Valley is a popular place to watch bison and other animals throughout the year. Being the size they are, bison are incredibly easy to spot but can also be quite dangerous if calves are with the herd or if people get too close. Yellowstone authorities give visitors a map and booklet when they enter the park and this has important information on how to safely interact with wildlife, but having a tour leader and specialist guide is definitely the best way to see bison in the safest way possible.”

Tip: Have a listen to this TED podcast which discusses how the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone has affected every aspect of the national park, from deer numbers to water courses.