Bear watching in Băile Homorod

Discover the wild side of Szeklerland with an exciting bear watching tour around Praid/Parajd! Organized by the local hunting association, you’ll have the opportunity to observe wild brown bears up close at five different, carefully prepared observation points, right in their natural habitat. During the tours, participants are accompanied by a professional hunter who ensures the group’s safety and shares interesting facts about the local wildlife and the forest ecosystem.

Medveakadémia Bear Observatory offers an unforgettable relaxing opportunity for those who want to know more about the "Carpathian bear". The Carpathian Bear, or the King of the Carpathians, is presented to you from the modern, secure lane, at the foot of the Gurghiului Mountains, in Gheorgheni Depression. We don't invite you to the zoo, nor to a beautiful park, we take you to the wild. It is good to know that the bear is not a domestic animal, and even if it returns to places where it finds food, it is not at all certain that for reasons of its own it will not occur (the chances are not very small. but it can happen very easily if we do not respect basic rules of conduct. Talking loudly, smoking, alcoholic beverages or the use of a mobile phone are prohibited in loud or near loud. The phone can be used as a photo camera, provided it is silent. It is strictly forbidden to leave the path or walk in the wood near the lounging, as well as the production of noises of any kind. The one who participates in the Academy of Beaches are asked to wear darker clothes and avoid dressing with strident colours. During the luncheon (about 3 hours) you will be joined by a field hunter who will provide you with information about how to live, habits and adventures in the bears life. An important role is played by the bear LEKVÁR (GEM), a brave little bear now mature, and who played an important role in building the hideout. Starting usually takes place in Gheorgheni, around 18.00, or at other times set in advance.

The Observatory is in commune Zetea, the village of Deșag (Harghita county). Information can be found at any hostel or Facebook page "Medveles és fotózás a Hargitán" (translated: "Watch and photograph the bears in Harghita"), where you will find the contact details of the forester Zsolt Babos. Groups must be of at least two people and departures are made a few hours before leaving the night.

Our observatories are located in the most beautiful Transylvanian areas, 17 km away from Gheorgheni. Observation of bears takes place daily from 18:30 and takes 2-3 hours, but we can extend the program on request. We ensure transport until the entrance to the observatory, because the safety of the visitors is very important for us. During the visit we provide supervisors, Wi-Fi connection, the ability to charge your phones, professional cameras and media, laptops, etc. In winter the observers are heated. By watching our live broadcasts, you can make sure that our observatories enjoy maximum popularity not only in Transylvania but also across Europe. You can see besides bears and other wild animals: wild boars, stags, deers.

It is known that any tourist who comes to the lake area wants to see the bear. So we decided to ensure safe and civilized conditions for those interested in this great animal. Although it works as a tourist observation point, that is to say, the program is in line with the needs of tourists, from the photographic point of view it is the best place to observe the bear in Transylvania and perhaps around the world. From the closed observer, covered and created to provide safety, the bear can comfortably be observed in its natural environment, through its large glass panes, even in rainy weather. The place is equipped with additional facilities. There is electricity, you can charge your phone or camera. It comes with heating, air conditioning and a toilet. The place also has outside reflectors suitable for observing bears at night. Here we can provide pleasant recreation for even 45 people. The starting point is usually from the nearby cottage. From the cars we walk on a forest path with a slight slope of 400 meters. Since hiking is taking place in nature, it is good to prepare for an umbrella or a jacket for eventual rain. Come and see the King of the Transylvanian Forests in his natural habitat, in all his grandeur.

It is well known that tourists coming to Băile Tușnad want to see bears. We have decided that we will provide this experience under safety and controlled conditions. Beside the fact that taking selfies with bears is dangerous, seeing a bear feeding from trashes it’s clearly not the greatest experience. Moreover, we would like for our visitors to show the king of Carpathian Basin in their natural habitat from world-class hides. Since 2017 we run a successful bear hide at Băile Tușnad. Bence Máté, one of the world’s most famous wildlife photographers chose the best location, which could fit in a fairy tale, based on many years of research. Bence dreamed a modern hide, suited for current needs and carefully chose the perfect location for photography. The hide is sealed and perfectly safe. Bears can be observed and photographed in their natural habitat through a large, one-way glass. Even if the hide was built for tourists, it is the best hide for photography not only in Transilvania, but also in Europe. During the designing and building process, we pay attention to create the best circumstances for amateur photographers too We provide a quality time spend for 20 people. Many of the visitors try each of our two hides, one for a day and the other for next day. The program starts two hours before sunset and it can be well combined with other tourist programs. For example, the best choice is to visit the Saint Anne lake or Mohos peat bog – the most popular tourist attractions – but is also can be combined with a picnic or visiting the “Igazi Csíki Sör” beer manufactory. The program starts from the train station Băile Tușnad. Depending on the number of people and the weather, we go to the hide with an off-road vehicle or horse-drawn carriage. The carriage waits for us in the forest, 500 meters away from the train station. After a 30 minutes ride on carriage, we walk 300 meters to the hide. The tour takes place in a natural environment, so it is highly recommended to prepare for a possible rain and to bring an umbrella or a raincoat. Come and see the king of the Carpathian Basin in full spender, in its throne hall. The meeting place is 80 meters away from the only one gas station located in Băile Tușnad. GENERAL INFORMATION:  Suitable both for tourists and photographers  Season: All season  Capacity: 20 people  Photographing conditions: Excellent  Comfort level: Excellent DETAILS:  Built: 2017  Location: Băile Tușnad, Romania  Nearest airport: Bucharest  Ideal focal length: 200 – 500 mm  Recommended clothing: hiking clothes suited for the season, dark outwear on the top. Umbrella or rain coat (in case of raining)  Before midday: front light  After midday: back light  Distance on foot: 300 meter  Visiting hours: 2 hours before sunset EXTRAS  One-way glass: 2 pieces 2500 mm x 700 mm  Reflector: reflectors suitable for observing bears at night  Heating system