Brown bear hide photography tour
| Our 4-day photo tours are ideal for all those photographers that are eager to experience it all: brown bears, pristine forests, karst valleys and other wildlife such as ural owls. Be prepared to explore southern Slovenia in depth and take along memorable experiences and photographs! |  |
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Food
Two main meals per day, plus snacks.
Accomodations
Comfortable wilderness guesthouse offers its guests 5 comfortable rooms overlooking the idyllic landscape. All rooms include free Wi-Fi, TV and toilet
Reviews
“Thanks to Miha Mlakar and his crew our assignment in Slovenia for Dutch National Geographic Traveler was a great success! We saw a mother brown bear and two cubs from up close. What a great experience!” Menno Boermans, Netherlands.
“It was the first time I saw bears in real life. It was absolutely amazing. Thanks to Miha and his crew.” Mike Weiwers, Luxemburg.
“Gli orsi nel loro habitat naturale sono meravigliosi. .anzi..sono sempre meravigliosi come la natura che li circonda” Marina Assunta Temelacchi, Italy
Technical support on our tours is provided by licensed tour operator TUR SERVIS d.o.o. Cesta 4. maja 50 SI-1380 Cerknica
PROGRAMME
Day 1
Arrival at Mlakar Inn in the morning.
Morning: Check-in, bird photography in Water station hide
Afternoon: Bear photography in hides
Meals: packed lunch, dinner
Day 2
Early morning: Ural owl photography (spring) or bear photography in hides
Morning: Bird photography in Water station hide or Križna jama cave
Afternoon: Bear photography in hides
Meals: breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Day 3
Early morning / morning: Ural owl photography (spring) or bear photography in hides, checking trail cameras for bear activity.
Afternoon: Bear photography in hides
Meals: breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Day 4
Early morning: early bird photo session
Departure to airport after lunch.
Meals: breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Mlakar Inn or Ars Palada appartments.
Duration: 4 days / 3 nights
Group size: 2 – 8 guests
The price includes: half board in a double bed, snacks, escort by a nature guide, photo hides fee, transfer to the photo hides
The price does not include: transport from the airport to the hotel, drinks.
Equipment needed: hiking boots, waterproof jacket, water bottle, torch, camouflage clothing.
Recommended photo equipment: telephoto lens, wide-angle lens, tripod, flash, beanbag, tripod head
About the guides
Miha Mlakar is the founder of the Slovenianbears.com network of bear photo hides and has a broad knowledge of wildlife.
He organises photo tours and workshops, cooperating with renowned European nature photographers, such as Dionys Moser (CH), Christine Sonvilla (AT), Marc Graf (AT), Chavi Nandes (ES), and Joachim Griesinger (DE)
Marko Cvetko, agronomist (bachelor’s degree), licence for local guiding (2013) and bear watching (2017). Passion for ethnobotanics, especially fields of wild food and herbalism
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Dates: Prices: Available spaces:
13-16 May 2018** 850€/person FULL
7-10 August 2018 850€/person 4
27-30 August 2018 850€/person 4
2019
2-5 May 2019** 890€/person 8
6-9 August 2019 890€/person 8
9-12 August 2019 890€/person 8
** Best dates for photographyng Ural owl
Single supplement: 60€
Private arrangements possible on request.
Slovenianbears offers the best options in Central Europe for bear watching and photography. For this, we have a network of 8 hides that can either be booked separately or visited within the scope of a photo tour.
We are an officially labelled bear friendly company. That means we aim at providing memorable experiences with brown bears whilst ensuring highest ecotourism standards.
Our visitors have high chances of seeing and photographing wild brown bears since our hides are located in an area that holds one of the world’s richest densities of brown bears. Moreover the hides are selected carefully regarding location and light availability.
Whilst offering our visitors best watching and photographing opportunities we strive to keep pressure on brown bears minimal. We do so by not constantly using all hides, by briefing our guests thoroughly, by providing only limited amounts of food at hide locations and by thinking ahead: The number of hides in our network shall remain at the current level to keep the experience special and sustainable.
Why do we feed? Slovenia as many other European countries have a long-lasting history of providing food for wildlife in specifically assigned hunting locations. Our hide-network has been set up in cooperation with local hunters, we use the same locations and place limited amounts of food, respectively corn. The quantities are defined by official institutions and are strictly controlled per year and site.
Slovenianbears also cooperates with a number of local companies, guides and employees.
Thereby, revenues stay in the region and create a positive feedback loop. Locals make a living of their natural resources, visitors appreciate the experience of nature and wildlife and thefore brown bears, which are an integral part of our rich natural heritage, have greater chances of long-term survival.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, WE ARE AVAILABLE ON MAIL OR PHONE
Mail: [email protected]
GSM: 00386 41 582 081
Private arrangements possible on request.
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Our program follows guidelines for responsible use of bears in tourism and was awarded by bear friendly label
