Narochansky National Park

When we hear the word "safari", our imagination most often draws endless African savannahs, scorching sun and pride of lions. But it turns out that a real safari full of wild beauty and majestic animals is located just 150 kilometers from Minsk. And it doesn't happen under the scorching sun, but in a fabulous winter forest.

Narochansky National Park, famous for its blue lakes and healing air, holds an amazing secret - a huge safari park with an area of 1,753 hectares. This is a fenced forest area, where a real "deer country" lives in freedom - more than 400 red deer and about 20-25 European fallow deer, and watching them is an unforgettable experience.

What is this place?

Unlike the zoo, there are no cages and cramped enclosures. Animals move freely over a vast area covered with forests and clearings. The safari park was created not for show, but for the noble purpose of selective breeding and restoration of the red deer population in Belarus. The first deer were brought here in 2009 from Belovezhskaya Pushcha and Russia, and since then they have taken root and produced numerous offspring.

In summer, when there is a lot of greenery around, it is difficult to see animals in the thicket of the forest. But with the onset of cold weather, from about November to March, the magic begins. In winter, when food is difficult to find, deer go out to special feeding grounds. It is at this time that the park staff organizes the famous safari tours.

How is the tour going?

This is not just a trip to the forest, but a real adventure. Tourists gather in the resort village of Naroch (usually at the building of the Naroch sanatorium or the tourism department), from where a comfortable minibus takes them deep into the protected area. The journey takes about 20 minutes, and it is already an excursion in itself: the snow-covered forest sparkling in the sun creates the feeling that you have fallen into a fairy tale.

Travelers are accompanied by a professional guide who tells about the history of these places, animal habits and interesting facts from the life of forest aristocrats. You will learn why deer are called noble, how fast their antlers grow, and what hierarchy prevails in the herd.

The climax comes when the bus pulls up to the feeding area. Dozens or even hundreds of deer begin to converge on her from all sides. The impression is so strong that the guests jokingly call this place "the land of Olenia". The animals come very close - you can see them in every detail, take amazing photos and videos for memory.

It is important to remember that although animals are used to humans, they remain wild. They should not be stroked or made sudden movements so as not to frighten them. But you can watch them endlessly: how gracefully they move, how adult males show off their branching horns, and baby fawns (real "Bembi") frolic next to their mothers.

Why should you go in winter?

Winter safari has a special magic. The frosty air, the crunching of snow underfoot and the silhouettes of noble animals against the background of a white blanket create the atmosphere of a real northern fairy tale. As noted in the park, it is especially beautiful when the forest is covered with snow - it emphasizes the beauty and beauty of the deer.

In addition, in winter it is guaranteed that you can see the maximum number of animals gathered for feeding.

How do I get in and how much does it cost?

You cannot come to the safari park on your own - entry is allowed only as part of an organized group. Guided tours are available by appointment, usually several times a week, and the number of seats is strictly limited (groups of up to 18 people). The popularity of the tour is huge: you need to book in advance, sometimes several weeks in advance, and Christmas tours are sorted out in a matter of hours.

· Cost: the tour costs about 25 Belarusian rubles (the price may vary, it must be specified when booking).

· Duration: about 2 hours.

· Contacts for recording: Tourism Department of the Narochansky National Park: +375 1797 37127, +375 1797 29807, +375 1797 29884 (Mon-Fri, 08:00-13:00, 14:00-17:00).

· Start: from the resort village of Naroch (usually at 9:30).

Conclusion.

Safari in Narochansky Park is a unique chance to touch the wild, see hundreds of graceful animals in their natural environment and get a charge of vivid impressions for the whole winter. This is a great option for a family vacation, a romantic trip, or just an escape from a bustling city into a world of silence and natural harmony.

The Belarusian safari exists, and it's great!

Naroch region is famous for its natural diversity and unique landscape, formed during the retreat of the Valdai glacier about 15-20 thousand years ago. It was then that the famous Naroch lakes appeared. The lakes occupy about a fifth of the park and belong to the basins of the Neman and Western Dvina. The Stracha, Narochanka, Uzlyanka and Sviritsa rivers flow through the park. There are 43 lakes in the national park, including 4 groups: Narochanskaya, Myadelskaya, Boldukskaya and Svirskaya. The pearls of the region are Lake Naroch (the largest in Belarus with an area of 79.6 km2), Myastro and Batorino.

About 48% of the park's territory is covered with pine forests and birch groves. The flora includes a variety of mosses, lichens, fungi and algae. There are more than 1400 species of higher plants, of which 114 are listed in the Red Book of Belarus, including the most beautiful Belarusian orchid, the Venus slipper.

The fauna of the region includes 314 species of vertebrates, including European red deer, wild boar, elk, roe deer, raccoon dog, badger, marten, mink, otter, beaver and muskrat. The abundance of reservoirs and swamps attracts 218 species of birds, among which more than 51 are listed in the Red Book of Belarus, such as the great bear, osprey and gray crane. Naroch lakes and rivers are home to about 35 species of fish, including pike, roach, perch, bream, crucian carp, guster and ruff.

Naroch lakes, which arose during the retreat of the Valdai glacier more than 15 thousand years ago, have always attracted lovers of recreation, hunting, fishing, researchers and travelers with their natural beauty and wealth. At the beginning of the twentieth century, private villas, a restaurant, a yacht club and a pier for sailing boats were built on the shore of the lake. Country trains also ran here. 

After the Great Patriotic War, in 1946, a scientific expedition discovered mineral springs and healing mud (sapropels) in the lakes Kuzmichi, Shvakshty and Diaghili, which marked the beginning of the creation of a climatic and balneological resort. In the late 50s, active construction of tourist bases and holiday homes began on the Naroch coast. In 1963, the Naroch sanatorium was opened, and later the Naroch recreation center and the Zubrenok children's health camp. In the 60s and 70s, the Naroch region became the largest resort and wellness area in the country. 

Narochansky National Park was established in July 1999 by Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus to preserve unique natural complexes and effectively use the recreational opportunities of natural resources. Architectural monuments on the territory of the national park include religious buildings such as the Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Scapulary of the XVII century in Myadel, St. Andrew's Church and the church in the village of Naroch, St. Nicholas Church and a wooden church in the urban settlement of Svir, the monastery of the Carmelites of the XVIII century in the village of Zasvir, the church of the XIX century in the village of Konstantinovo and the Church of the Mother of God in the city the village of Krivichi.

In addition, there are manor complexes and ancient parks in the resort village of Naroch, the urban village of Svir and the villages of Konstantinovo, Komarovo and Olshevo. Naroch region is located in the transition zone of two historical and ethnographic regions - Ponemanya and Podvinya (Poozerye). Archaeological finds of the second half of the I and the beginning of the II millennium AD indicate the cohabitation of Baltic and Slavic tribes in this territory.

The oldest archaeological sites of the Naroch region date back to the Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) and date back to the VII—VI millennia BC. These sites were found near the villages of Kusevshchyna, Strugolapi, Laposi and Krasyany. The Neolithic cultural layer revealed during excavations near the villages of Nikoltsy and Kochergi (culture of pit-comb ceramics) dates back to the IV—III millennia BC. Monuments of the culture of corded ceramics are represented by finds near the villages of Nikoltsy, Rybki and Rasokhi (sites of the Bronze Age 2200-700 BC). Traces of the ancient era of the Iron Age are well preserved in the form of burial mounds, settlements and settlements near the villages of Oleshki, Guski, Shklyanikovo, Zasvir and others.