BEAR WATCHING HOLIDAYS IN ROMANIA
Here, Romania’s mistreated bears were rescued and welcomed into vast natural enclosures where they were safe and looked after. Libearty Bear Sanctuary is not a zoo, you understand; it’s for animals not for humans. Bears are cared for when they need it, and left to roam within the wooded slopes of the Carpathian Mountains. Rehabilitation projects allow some bears to be freed into the wild. For others, a life of peace and safety is the best way for them to end their days as naturally and happily as could be hoped for.
Wild bears are also a Romanian success story. There are an estimated 6,000 wild bears in the Carpathian Mountains, and ongoing conservation initiatives and responsible wildlife holidays mean these numbers are increasing. Volunteering at Libearty Bear Sanctuary or tracking bears with an expert guide are the best ways to have an unforgettable, up-close, experience. They’ll also mean you are helping bears and remote Romanian communities.
Unfortunately, the more brown bears there are in the wilds of Romania the more chances there are that they’ll come into contact with areas inhabited by humans. Livestock farmers living in remote villages are increasingly aware of bears and despite a national hunting ban on large carnivores there’s a whiff of revolution in the air when it comes to dealing with ‘problem animals’. The more income generated for people living in rural regions of Romania through bear watching holdiays, the more chances there are that bear populations will be protected.
Our Romania wildlife Holidays
Carpathian Mountains holiday, conservation & culture
Wolves, bears and sightseeing
Volunteering with bears in Romania
Volunteer at an inspiring bear sanctuary in Transylvania
Romania wildlife holiday, bear watching and tracking
Memorable trip in Romania focused on wild bears
Transylvania wildlife holiday, lynx watching and tracking
Lynx watching and tracking in the land of Dracula
Danube Delta birding tour in Romania
Birdwatching tour around the beautiful Danube Delta!
Romania wildlife holiday, bear tracking and birdwatching
Bear tracking and birdwatching holiday in the Carpathians
Birding tour in the Danube Delta, Romania
Bird watching tour around the beautiful Danube Delta!
Romania wildlife holiday stay in wildlife hides
-Explore some of the wildest forests of Europe.
Romania's natural wonders holiday, small group
Natural and cultural highlights - Danube Delta, mountains, bears
Transylvania short break, small group
Romanian short break in the home of Dracula
Wolf tracking and watching holiday in Transylvania
Wolf watching and trekking in Transylvania (mid Jan-Feb)
Walking in the Picos de Europa holiday
Explore the Picos de Europa on a self guided walking holiday
Danube Delta birdwatching in Romania
An incredible Danube Delta birdwatching experience!
Family volunteering with bears in Romania
Unique family volunteering holiday at a bear sanctuary
Romania bird watching and bear tracking holiday
Wild brown bears and birdwatching in the Carpathians
HOW TO WATCH BEARS IN ROMANIA
Volunteering with captive bears
An ironic consequence of Romania’s previously poor relationship with bears is that the country now boasts the largest and safest bear sanctuary in Eastern Europe. Since 2006, Libearty Bear Sanctuary has provided a secure, natural environment for rescued bears. Vast forested enclosures complete with swimming pools and climbing trees allow previously abused and caged bears to remember what it’s like to be free. Some may never have experienced this sensation before. The younger the bear the more chances they’ll have to be rehabilitated before being released into the wild. This is also the case for wild bears that have been injured or orphaned. Others are fed, cared for and left to live out the rest of their lives free from harm.Volunteering at the sanctuary is an insightful experience and a brilliant way to watch bears in what is essentially their natural habitat. From preparing food and assisting full time staff to watching new bears adapt to their surroundings, this is the best way to get up close to the animals as well as contributing to ongoing conservation initiatives. While Romania’s caged bears disappeared long ago, bears are still being brought to the sanctuary after being freed from captivity in areas outside the EU, including Armenia, so Liberaty is an ongoing project – and a vital one.
Volunteering holidays last a week, giving you time to learn the ropes. You’ll volunteer for five days, with weekends free to explore, and these tailor made trips depart all through the year. Remember, this might be a holiday but hard work is required to ensure you and the bears get the most from your stay. You will get mucky so pack old clothes, decent rubber gloves and solid footwear so you can really get stuck in.
Tracking wild bears
Following an expert naturalist guide into the mountain foothills of Romania is the best way to catch a glimpse of bears in the wild. Although the bears won’t appear on demand, they do have certain habits and habitats. An experienced guide will know the tell-tale signs of bear activity as well as the best trails to take travellers right into the heart of brown bear country. Early morning starts take you to observe bears in atmospheric settings amongst the limestone gorges and forested valleys of the Carpathians.Although there are over 6,000 wild bears in Romania, as well as wolves and lynx, sightings are never guaranteed. And therein lies the thrill. Best advice is to bring binoculars for bee-eaters, black storks, eagles and Ural owls. Your guide will impart their expert knowledge on how to track and what to look out for. Bears are always the big hitters but when it comes to Transylvania, you never know what might turn up.
An evening in a bear hide is a particularly exciting way to watch bears in the wild. You’ll be fully briefed as to what to expect and how to behave but nothing can prepare you for the actual event of seeing bears just a few metres away. Hides are created to observe wild bears safely. Food attracts bears to the site and chances are extremely high when it comes to bear sightings.
Our top Romania wildlife Holiday
Carpathian Mountains holiday, conservation & culture
Wolves, bears and sightseeing
2021: 3 Jul, 24 Jul, 7 Aug, 14 Aug, 21 Aug, 11 Sep, 18 Sep, 2 Oct, 9 Oct
2022: 30 Apr, 14 May, 4 Jun, 11 Jun, 2 Jul, 16 Jul, 6 Aug, 13 Aug, 20 Aug, 10 Sep, 17 Sep, 1 Oct, 8 Oct
Responsible bear watching
WHERE TO WATCH BEARS IN ROMANIA
The Libearty Bear Sanctuary is based within the Carpathian foothills, close to Brasov. Here, volunteers have self-catering apartments close to the sanctuary and Brasov. This is an excellent option for solo travellers who want to make new friends – shared rooms are the norm – and discover daily life in central Romania. Surrounding areas feature mountain trails, medieval castles and Sighisoara – excellent for exploring at weekends.
Brasov is around three hours north of Bucharest, and there are regular trains. Some holidays will include transfers.