On the track of the wolf pack

The tour is dedicated to one of the most mysterious animal in Europe - the Wolf. Bulgaria's wolf population numbers around 1000 - 1200, but wolves in Bulgaria are still threatened - the wolf is included in the list of species subject of hunting. During the hunting season local hunters can shoot wolves without any limits. Foreign hunters coming to the state game reserves can shoot a wolf after paying 600 EUR.
Additionally, some wolves are killed outside the hunting seasons by people who breed domestic animals, usually due to the very often exaggerated accounts of the damage that wolves cause to wild and domestic animals.

The organizers of the tour - Spatia Wildlife Group - believe that eco tourism can be one of the most effective instruments for the protection of wolves. When local people see that wolves attract many tourists to their region they will change their attitude step by step and will stop killing wolves.

Additionally we believe that we can show the management of the two reserves and some of the local livestock breeders that they can benefit from “wolf eco tours” and in this way to convince them to reduce the persecution of wolves.

This tour might be the first step to change their negative opinion to the wolf.

One of the regions with the highest density of wolves in Bulgaria is the Central Balkan National Park. The park is among the largest and most valuable protected areas in Europe. Recently it become the fourth member of PAN Parks. It occupies a territory of 716 sq. km with a total length of 85 km and an average width of 10 km. It has been established to protect a unique complex of self-regulated ecosystems. The scenery is magnificent: century old forests of beech, spruce and fir, high mountain meadows, huge cliffs, deep gorges, canyons and waterfalls.
The park provides home ranges for many wolf families. Two game reserves border the park - Mazalat State Game Reserve to the south and Rusalka State Game Reserve to the north. Because the reserves keep a high density of Red and Roe deer and Wild boars, during the winter they attract a number of wolf packs from the park territory. For this reason our itinerary is organized in the territory of these two reserves.

During the tour you will learn a lot about the wolves in the region - about their biology, habits and conservation. The attitude of the main enemies of wolves - the hunters and shepherds - will be explained.

Despite wolves being the focus of our tour, you will also learn many things about the other inhabitants of the forest - the Brown Bear, the Wild Cat, the Red Deer, the Wild Boar, the Roe Deer, the Common Other etc, and we may even see some of them.

The suggested tour is an energetic one for physically fit people, with up to 6 - 8 hours walking per day. As the wolf is a very mobile creature, we also have to be very flexible.

The tour starts on January 23

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival at Sofia Airport, where we meet you. Transfer to the town of Koprivstica - architectural reserve. Accommodation and easy walk around for observation of woodland birds. Dinner in a traditional style restaurant.

Day 2

Breakfast, followed by walk in Koprivstica - 1h. Transfer to our hotel in the town of Pavel Banya, close to the Mazalat State Game Reserve (2,15h). After the lunch we go to the State Game Reserve and here starts our real wolf tour. We will try to find tracks and signs of the wolves and their activity. Around 19.00 we come back for a dinner.

Day 3

Breakfast at 07.30. Today will be a hard trekking. If there is deep snow we will use snow shoes. The walk should take about seven hours. There will be a picnic lunch and around 17.00 - 17.30 we'll reach the hunters' hut where we plan to stay overnight. After dinner, we'll go out and with a bit of luck will hear the wolves howling.

Day 4

Breakfast - 07.30. In the morning we make our last visit to the hunting station. After lunch we pass Balkan mountain and around 18.30 we arrive at our hotel in the town of Aprilci - situated on the northern slopes of Balkan mountain and very close to Rusalka State Game Reserve which we are going to visit over the next 2 days. On the way - at the top of Balkan mountain we make a stopover at one of the most important historical places in Bulgarian history - Shipka monument. Dinner at 19.00.

Day 5

Breakfast at 07.30 followed by a visit to the reserve. Today we'll try again to find signs of the wolves' activities. In the afternoon we'll visit a local shepherd who
will offer us the famous bulgarian cheverme - traditionally prepared lamb. Over
the meal there will be a discussion to understand shepherds' attitudes towards wolves. Late in the evening - we'll try again to hear the wolves howling. Overnight in our hotel in Aprilci.

Day 6

Breakfast at 07.30 and another visit to the reserve. This day we will learn a lot about the other magnificent lord of the forest - the Brown Bear. Overnight at our hotel in Aprilci.

Day 7

Breakfast at 08.30 and transfer to Sofia Airport. Depending of your departure time - sightseeing in Sofia.

The following items are included in the itinerary, and are dependant on the weather forecast and the fitness of the group.

- Two evenings designed to listening of wolves howling.
- The leading wolf scientist and conservationist in Bulgaria shall present a lecture about the biology of the wolf and its relation to the Brown Bear, main prey species, as well as wolf conservation projects, trends, attitudes, the future of the wolf in Bulgaria and in Europe, etc.
- Representatives of the National Park Administration shall talk about the problems of protection of wolves in the park territory.
- Discussion with members of management staff of the two game reserves and game keepers about the damage caused by wolves to game species populations and the benefits they have from wolf hunting.
- Opportunity for Brown Bear observation. If the weather is conducive there may already be some brown bears that have woken from their winter hibernation. In this case we will be able to have one or two evenings for observation in hides. The bears are attracted to the area by delicious food, usually corn, marmalade and honey placed in advance some 30-40 meters in front of the hides.
From the safety of the hide you will have the rare chance to watch, hear and even smell the bears - a real wildlife experience that you will never forget.

Group size: 8 persons + 2 leaders

Price: 980 EUR per person

Individuals: 1-4 persons

Price: 1250 EUR per person

Single supplement: 50 EUR (there is no option for single rooms in the hut)

Deposit: 100 EUR

Price includes: All ground transportation (a comfortable mini-bus), all meals - full board, accommodation in hotels/forest huts, guides, all costs during the stay in the hunting stations.

The price does not include: airfares, travel insurance, hard drinks and all items for personal use.

Official language for the tour: English.

We can also offer you a great variety of customized tours according to your preferences.

Should you have any questions or special requirements, please do not hesitate to contact us.