Pssst… this is one of Croatia's best-kept secrets. Just a two-hour drive from Zagreb, and half an hour drive from the seaside city of Rijeka, you'll find Europe's highest concentration of bears, hidden among the forests of the Gorski Kotar region. Follow the wildlife expert deep into the pristine natural forests, and experience the thrill of bear-watching!

Meet The Giants of Croatian Woods

There are 1,000 Brown Bears living in Croatia, 400 of them in the green heart of the country - Gorski Kotar. This large, strong, and dark brown-haired animal can reach a weight of up to 350 kg. They have long razor-sharp claws on their toes, which they use to dig up the soil, and tree stumps, and kill and tear their prey. But unlike cats, the Brown Bear doesn't retract its claws. At first glance, big and powerful, this giant of Croatian forests is really shy. Given that this strictly protected species in Croatia has a keen sense of smell, 100 times better than a human's, it will very quickly smell your arrival and hideaway. Forest introverts, we could say.

‍

Experience the Trill of Bear Watching in Gorski Kotar

We know we said they are shy, but if you have the right person by your side, you can have an out-of-this-world experience, and meet these giants of Croatian forests eye to eye. Go to the heart of the Gorski Kotar, where no man, ok only a few walked before, and spend a night in a wooden hide-out. And wait patiently. In the evening, when the forest comes alive, the bears may show up at any time. Don't make noise, just watch. They are introverts, remember? Hide. You'll be so close that you'll be able to hear their little paws make their mark on the ground, observe and photograph, and get a unique insight into their lives. In addition to the mighty brown bear, you may often be able to see wild foxes, martens, deer, badgers, and wolves. Take pictures, and enjoy.

‍

CroBear - Bear Watching

The experienced team of CroBear Watching will take you on this exciting yet beautiful adventure. You can pick between five different bear-watching locations, from Crna Gora, Erženi, Dolina, Bear House, and Lukci. Each location provides unforgettable scenes of this beautiful animal. And if you're brave enough, you can spend the night there, and watch life unfold right before your eyes. We definitely recommend the Bear House. Not only you can sleep at this observation house, but it also offers unique scenes of brown bears climbing the rocky part of the forest, surrounded by trees. Sounds, idyllic, doesn't it? It's an incredibly special feeling to be a part of these bears' natural habitat. You feel so small but enriched if this makes any sense. You will definitely leave this place with a better understanding and greater respect for brown bears. If you want to experience this first hand, visit the CroBear website, and book your adventure!

‍

‍