Białowieża Forest in Poland – primeval forest and wild bison

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | The Białowieża Forest in eastern Poland is one of Europe's most unique natural environments and one of the best areas for those who dream of seeing a bison in the wild. We traveled here by camper, hiked with a guide through the protected forest and spent a whole day looking for Europe's largest land mammal. But would we succeed?

Białowieża Forest – unique nature on the border with Belarus

The Białowieża Forest is located in the easternmost part of Poland and continues across the border into Belarus. The large forest area is known for its biodiversity and for its very old forest environments, where natural processes have been allowed to continue for a long time.

The forest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the Polish part includes Białowieża National Park. It is home to an impressive diversity of species, including bison, deer, wild boar, beavers, lynx and wolves – although many of the animals are difficult to see.

VAR? Białowieża is located in Podlaskie in eastern Poland, near the border with Belarus and about 80 kilometers from Białystok.

Białowieża National Park – the most protected part

Białowieża National Park protects part of the large forest area on the Polish side. Most special is the strictly protected part, where old growth forest has been preserved and dead and fallen trees are allowed to remain and become part of the ecosystem.

Here you will not find a well-maintained production forest. Old trees stand side by side with dead trunks, fungi, mosses and a multitude of other organisms. Dead wood in particular is extremely important for biodiversity.

Hike with a guide in the Białowieża Forest

During our visit, we were accompanied by an English-speaking guide into the protected part of the forest. We had originally planned to go with a group, but since we were the only ones who wanted guidance in English, it ended up being a private tour.

When we passed the gate into the protected forest, we almost got a Jurassic Park feeling. What would actually wait inside?

During the approximately three-hour hike, our guide told us about the forest ecosystem and showed us things we probably would have passed by without noticing on our own – mushrooms, birds, old trees and animal tracks. We saw red squirrels and woodpeckers, among others, but no bison appeared.

The Bison – Europe's largest land mammal

The bison (Bison bonasus), or European bison, is Europe's largest land mammal. The species was close to extinction in the early 20th century and became extinct in the wild. Thanks to extensive breeding and reintroduction efforts, bison were eventually released back into the wild.

The Białowieża Forest holds a special place in the history of the bison and remains one of the most important areas in the world for the species. Today, large numbers of bison once again live freely in and around the forest.

Can you see wild bison in Białowieża?

Bison live freely in the Białowieża area, so it is quite possible to see them in the wild. However, there are of course no guarantees. The forest is large and the animals can move over large areas.

For those who primarily want to see wild bison, a special nature or game safari with a local guide may be a better option than hoping to encounter them during a regular forest walk. Early morning and late afternoon are usually interesting times for animal viewing.

Visit the Bison Show Reserve

When we failed to spot any bison during the hike, we rented bikes and headed to the Bison Show Reserve, or Bison Demonstration Reserve. Here you can see bison and several other animal species native to the area.

The animals live here in enclosures, so it is of course a completely different experience than meeting a bison in the wild. For us, it was still an opportunity to see these enormous animals up close for the first time.

In the reserve we also saw Polish Konik horses (Polish horse), a small and hardy Polish horse breed with an appearance reminiscent of wild horses. Historically, the breed has often been associated with the extinct tarpan, but today's konik horses are domesticated horses – not resurrected tarpans.

And then it happened – a wild bison!

After a full day in Białowieża, we had experienced the amazing forest and seen bison in the reserve, but we still hadn't seen any wild bison. We had begun to accept that there simply wouldn't be any this time.

Then a German camping neighbor suddenly came up to the camper, waved excitedly and hissed: ”Schnell … schnell!”

Only about a hundred meters from the campsite it stood. A wild bison. After a whole day of searching, we didn't have to search at all. The bison almost came to us.

Białowieża by camper

We stayed with our camper at Camping U Michała in Białowieża, which gave us a good starting point for exploring the area. We could get around by bike, among other things, and were close to both nature and the village.

Our visit was a few years ago, so check current information about the campsite and its service before your trip.

Things to do in Bialowieza

In addition to hiking and looking for bison, you can cycle on trails through the area, visit the Bison Show Reserve, and learn more about nature and the national park at the Białowieża Nature and Forest Museum. The village of Białowieża itself is small, but serves as a center for visitors who want to discover the forest.

Good to know about Białowieża 2026

Białowieża Forest is partly located in the border area between Poland and Belarus. Rules for access to areas near the border are subject to change, so always check the latest information from the national park and Polish authorities before visiting. Follow signs and do not enter areas that are closed or have special restrictions.

More to see and do in Poland

Of course, there is much more to see and do around Poland. Below you will find lots of reports with tips and inspiration for your further journey.

• Things to do in Warsaw
• Baranów Sandomierski Castle
• The Masurian Lakes