Wild brown bears in the forests of Slovenia

2025:

22. – 25.5.2025

17. – 20.07.2025

28. – 31.8.2025

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Important! These are “wildlife” bears in their natural habitat. – there is a high chance of seeing them but no guarantee! The bears are attracted by food. Of course, other wild animals such as foxes etc. may also come to visit.

Our organizer Miha and his team have a network of 8 locations with a total of 32 photo huts, each offering space for between 1 and 2 photographers. The huts are specifically tailored to the needs of the photographers, i.e. the location and availability of light have been taken into account. The huts are designed in such a way that photography is possible at eye level with the bears and each hut has a fixing option for tripod heads. However, I myself highly recommend the use of a bean bag.

As a rule, we leave for the hide at 14:00 and then stay on site until sunset. The drive to the hide takes between 10 and 30 minutes, from the parking lot it is another 100 to 700 meters walking distance. All guests are briefed on the code of conduct in the bear sanctuary before departure.

All the residences are located in the southern Slovenian region of Notranjska. Together with the neighboring region of Kočevska, the two areas are home to one of the densest brown bear populations in the world. Current estimates assume 900 brown bears.

In terms of photographic equipment, lenses with medium focal lengths(e.g. 70-200 mm) up to long telephoto focal lengths (500 mm, possibly more) are recommended. The range to be photographed is approximately between 10 and 50 meters.

Our photo event:

Day 1: Please arrive by 12 noon, the first visit will be to one of the bear hides in the afternoon after we have fortified ourselves with lunch. After it has become too dark to take photos, we will be picked up from the hides. Then we drive back to the hotel and have dinner together.

Day 2: before breakfast we go together to the Vogelhide in Markovec. In between we have breakfast at the Hotel Mlakar (right next to the Vogelhide)

We return to the hotel at midday and have lunch together. Around 2 p.m., a guide assigned to us takes us to the bear hide where we wait until sunset for a visit from brown bears. It may take a while, as these are wild bears in their habitat… some food is put out as a lure.

Day 3: before breakfast we go to the Vogelhide in Markovec together. We have breakfast in between at the Hotel Mlakar (right next to the Vogelhide)

We return to the hotel at midday and have lunch together. Around 2 p.m., a guide assigned to us takes us to the bear hide where we wait until sunset for a visit from brown bears. It may take a while, as these are wild bears in their habitat… some food is put out as a lure.

Day 4: After breakfast together, we make our way back home. We recommend a tour of the nearby Snežnik Castle. Snežnik Castle is one of only two castles in Slovenia that still have their original furnishings.