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 EXPLORING NATURE IN TRANSYLVANIA Day Walks
If you’re mad about, very much interested in or simply curious about nature and wildlife, Transylvania is indeed the place to come to. An excellent forest and wildlife management has led to at least two extraordinary results: some of the healthiest forests and the highest concentration of wolves, bears and lynx in all Europe. All these in close coexistence with traditional human activities, which makes this place a real model for conservation activities on a national scale. The day-walks offer you a wide range of attractions: crossing old, virgin forests in spectacular landscapes; finding and learning more about wild animals’ footprints and other signs; excellent birdwatching oportunities with Wallcreeper, Three-toed and White-backed Woodpecker, Ural Owl as possible highlights.
Here are some sample day-walks - there are endless other excellent ones:
Hike in Piatra Craiului National Park
We cross first Zarnesti Gorges (about 3 miles out of town).We can try and spot Wallcreeper flickering alongside the upright walls on both sides of the narrow road. We cross then an old piece of forest following one of the shepherds’ trails. The trail takes us out on a beautiful alpine meadow, with the mountains surrounding it and we stop to visit one of the traditional shepherd camps in the area. On the way back we cross a really interesting area for tracking- wolf, bear ,lynx, wild boar and so on.
Looking for wild animals around Bucegi mountains
We start from the village of Sohodol (some 12 miles away from Zarnesti).After crossing the village we get to the edge of the huge expanses of forests at the foothills of Bucegi Mountains. We follow one of the trails deep into the forest-for about 8 miles-down to Valea Paniceru. Seeing animals in the wild in Romania is extremely difficult-especially wolves. But following the shepherds’ trails, stopping for a while in a good place and waiting there completely quiet can actually offer good opportunities to spot something in the distance- deer, wild boar or even a bear.
The route today offers all this.
Exploring wolf research areas
The Barsa Valley area was for a number of years the core area for an international large carnivores research program. We follow the trail up to Ciuma Peak ( about 5,000ft), crossing forests and alpine meadows that are part of the home range of a very active pack of wolves. The peak offers us incredible views over the whole area and from here. A mountain creek will lead us back to the
road, from where traditional horse-and-cart will take us back to Zarnesti.
Wolf: myths, legends and traditional beliefs
We first walk past Romanian and Gypsy villages-Poiana Marului and Saticel- and find out about fascinating stories and beliefs that the people living around here have about wolves and other wild animals. Then get back into the forest, where the footpath will lead us to an old German village, where we can visit the impressive fortified church.
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