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Nature What’s wild in the wilderness?

Białowieża Wilderness is the natural center of Podlasie and the green lungs of Poland. It offers peace and the opportunity to admire nature at its best – extremely rare plant and animal species. In Białowieża Forest you will see up close the majestic bison, the mysterious wolf, and the proud eagle. All this surrounded by an ancient forest hiding thousands of stories and protecting the country’s most valuable natural treasures. We recommend our guests to explore the most beautiful corners of the forest. Below are the most popular and interesting corners of the Białowieża Forest and its natural secrets.

Białowieża National Park

Białowieża National Park is divided into two parts – the BPN (Białowieża National Park) complex and the Strict Reserve. The Białowieża National Park complex includes a center and a museum, as well as buildings associated with the Tsar’s Palace that once stood here, including the fabulous mansion of the Grodno governor. You will witness the natural beauty of this place in the Białowieża Wilderness Strict Reserve, which is also the biggest local attraction. Entering the reserve – for the sake of nature – requires the company of a qualified guide. As you walk through the reserve, you will notice things you would not normally pay attention to when in the forest. You will listen to the sounds of the primeval forest, and you may be lucky enough to suspect the birds, deer and roe deer that live here.

Bison – the largest mammal of the Old Continent

It is thanks to the existence of the Białowieża Forest that its largest mammal, the bison, has managed to survive in this part of Europe. This majestic animal is certainly the greatest natural wealth of our country, although at the end of 2014 there were only about 520 bison living in the Polish wilderness, under the protection of the Białowieża National Park.

Bison show reserve

The bison show enclosure is a place where you can see the inhabitants of the wilderness up close. In addition to the main feature of the enclosure, the king of the Białowieża Forest, the bison, here you will observe bison, wolves, wild boars or elk. This visit is a valuable nature lesson and a guarantee of meeting Europe’s largest mammal up close – almost at your fingertips.

Honey paradise

Although Poland is only just returning to the traditions of beekeeping, the Białowieża Forest used to be the place where honey was obtained from wild bees. Today, this tradition is slowly being revived, and the local honeys are rich in nutritional value and medicinal properties.

The Białowieża Forest - types of herbs

The Białowieża Forest is rich in various types of herbs. Because of their place of origin, they are not contaminated with pollutants and chemicals. They instead contain many organic components and medicinal effects, and are believed to help in treating Lyme disease, among other things.

Unusual mushrooms

Unusual not only because they thrive without light and grow very fast. According to scientists, the Białowieża Forest is home to 1,668 species of fungi, of which as many as 190 are endemic (only found here). They receive great attention in the scientific world – mushrooms from the forest may in the future be used in medicine and food production.

Europe’s smallest owl

When visiting the Białowieża Forest, you may also encounter an owl. It inhabits ancient forests, as it favors hollows abandoned by other birds, in old tree stands. In Poland it is a protected species due to its low numbers – about 1400-1800 breeding pairs. The owl is not only the smallest owl of the Old Continent. It also leads a lifestyle unusual for owls – it is active and hunts during the day.

Lesser Spotted Eagle Observation Point

On the way from Hajnówka to Białowieża, on a large expanse of meadows, there is a tower several meters high. However, it is not an ordinary structure in the middle of nowhere. It allows you to explore the mysteries of the Białowieża Forest, specifically, it is an observation point for the Lesser Spotted Eagle. These birds can soar to heights of up to 200 meters and then swoop down quickly and violently on their prey to grab it in their talons. Its impressive wings have a wingspan of up to 175 cm, although it weighs a scant 2 kg. In addition to eagle watching, it’s a good place to admire the Narewka River surrounded by green meadows and the dense Białowieża Forest in the distance.

Place of Power – the energy of the primeval forest

Białowieża Forest Point, which is said to have an unusual aura and energy. On a magical clearing near Białowieża, there is a sign explaining that a Place of Power is an area of positive radiation that makes us recover faster, feel more rested – we feel better. There are several such places on the world map and they include the oracle at Delphi, Machu Picchu, and the pyramid of Giza. In Poland, there is one more Place of Power – the Wawel Chapel. The legend of the extraordinary aura began in 1990, when several residents of Białowieża, after visiting the clearing, felt a surge of energy, a sense of security. Scientists have confirmed that there is indeed an increased power of electromagnetic radiation in the Forest Place of Power. Will you also feel joy and slight dizziness? Find out for yourself!

By train through the primeval forest

In Hajnówka, located at the gateway to the Białowieża Forest, there is another great attraction – a narrow-gauge train. Get a ticket and set off to the primeval forest. Here you can admire the dense forest, natural monuments and tunnels, on top of bayous, meadows, and educational footbridges. After an hour-long journey, at the end of the route lies the picturesque Lake Topiło with a bridge, barbecue and picnic sheds, and an inn serving local delicacies. After an hour’s break at the lake, on the other side of the bridge we reach the second station of the railroad, and from there we return to Hajnówka. A handcar ride The wilderness can be explored on foot or in an unconventional way – by handcar, which tourists propel with the power of their own hands. It travels along a historic route allowing you to visit the most interesting nooks and crannies of the primeval forest, including the famous

Place of Power

Since 2010, Białowieża Forest has been listed as an IBA bird sanctuary by BirdLife International and included in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites. It is here where the world’s largest population of bison lives in the wild. Białowieża Forest is a unique forest complex on a European scale, since it is the last lowland forest on the continent. The primeval forest lies on the border of Poland and Belarus covering a total area of about 1,250 km², of which 580 km² are in Poland.