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Photos by Evelyne Pellaton taken during our trip
Photos by Daniel Tuitert taken on WildPoland.com trip
Photos by Franck Renard taken with the Biebrza Site Guide
Białowieża Site Guide Online until end of October 2010
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FAQ
Frequently answered questions
We hope this will help you plan your trips. If you have any other questions, write us using the form below.
What is the best way to get to Poland?
A plane to Warsaw is easiest, then you only have to drive ca. 250km to Biebrza or Białowieża. Some people fly into Krakow, Lodz or Gdansk – then it’s about 500 km to NE Poland.
You can also drive but remember there are very few motorways and driving is often quite an adventure for western drivers since there are mostly one-lane roads full of trucks and speeding drivers.
Shall we hire a car or use public transport?
Travelling around NE Poland is practically only possible with a private or hired car. This is rural area and using public transport takes a lot of time since there are only a few connections a day and many sites are miles away from the bus stops and train stations. It is not impossible though – some people do this but it’s obvious they miss a lot since they cannot get to many areas.
Can we hire a car locally?
Sure you can. There are many car-hires at the airports that would serve you in english or german. There are even some car hires in Bialysok but these can be difficult to communicate in english or german.
What is the best route from Warsaw airport to Biebrza/Bialowieza by car?
Suggested route to Białowieża is here »
Suggested route to Goniądz, Biebrza is here »
There is also an optional route to Goniądz, that goes through the National Park – very bad road (asphalt but with holes) and great views here »
What is the minimum time to see Biebrza and Bialowieza areas?
We think 2-3 days per each site is a minimum. These are quite large areas and visitting them you do a lot of driving each day to transfer between spots. Only heavy, experienced twitchers can do in 1 or 2 days per site. Most tours come for 7-10 days overall.
Shall I take the scope?
Of course. Most wild birds and mammals are quite shy. Telescope is often your second closest friend after the mozzie spray. A telescope is your chance to see things up closer without disturbing the wild animals.
Do not hesitate to take it. And take the heavier tripod if you have a choice so you can enjoy the views even in the wind on a blustery day. Wobbly stuff is often useless.
Shall I take my wellingtons?
Wellingtons are useful until June, when it makes more sense to use sandals for marshy trails. Do you need them at all? Probably you could live without them but personally, I prefer to put them on and not to worry about mud and water and just enjoy the views and wildlife. It also makes you more independent in the field. Sometimes a perfect view is from just 2 feet away which is.. in the mud.
If you plan to do some early morning walks prepare for tall grasses and weeds in dew that will make your feet and legs wet above your knees.
Are there many mozzies?
A good mosquito repellent from May onwards is your closest friend. April is usually mosquito safe. Mosquitoes do not bother locals, good repellent can be difficult to find in rural areas.
In June and until August horse flies become by far more annoying than mosquitoes. There is little you can do against them apart from long sleeves and trousers.
Are there many ticks?
In some years there can be many ticks, in others – just a few. Mosquitoes in Poland are disease free, ticks are not so protect your legs and get your repellent if you have a chance.
What is the weather like in Poland?
NE Poland is under a strong influence of the continental, boreal climate. Gennerally dry and cloudy, often windy. July is the wettest month but it feels that April and September are quite rainy as well. It is generally difficult to get a bad weather for a few days long trip. It may rain for a day or two and rest is usually dry. We usually don’t get much direct sunlight but if we get it it gets awfully hot quickly.
Take a look at the graphs:
What is the best time to visit Poland?
Birds:April – June with May being the best month. July and August may often seem quite empty of wildlife – they simply finish their breeding season and start migrating.
Later in September you can see many migrants plus woodpeckers that get active. Trees get beautiful colours in late September and October.
Don’t come here in November. Breeders are out and winterers are not all here yet. All that in a dull, grey landscape.
January and February are usually snowy and the landscape is picturesque.
In March and April Biebrza is totally flooded with thousands of gees, cranes, ducks etc. In Bialowieza forest it’s the best time to watch woodpeckers.
Mammals:It depends on the species but July until October plus January-February are generally great for many reasons.
Beavers: Spring to Autumn
Bison: Summer and Winter
Elks: Spring, Autumn (rutting) and winter (closest views)
What are the real chances of seeing an Elk?
99% in the Biebrza, 1% in the Białowieża. I don’t think I ever had a group that would miss Elks in the Biebrza. There are over 700 Elks in that area. Sometimes it can be a more distant view than you could have expected but on the other hand most people would get some great, close views if they knew where to go.
Białowieża holds only a minor Elk population of several animals.
What are the real chances of seeing Beavers?
Beavers are fairly common, their activity is obvious everywhere but since they are quite shy and nocturnal you rarely see them. On the other hand, local guides know the sites where you can watch out for them at dusk or dawn.
What are the real chances of seeing Bison?
There are ca. 400 animals in the Białowieża forest living in the wild. It’s more difficult to see them in the spring than in the summer, autumn or winter but it’s not impossible. I would say if you are really up to see them, consult a local guide and your chances will grow from 10% to 50% in the spring and from 10% to 90% in summer to winter.
What are the real chances of seeing a Wolf or Lynx?
Minor. They are common, ca. 4 packs in the Białowieża and 6 packs in the Biebrza, but elusive as they are, only a few people have seen them. Lynx is even more difficult – we would say just a matter of chance (read: good wildlife karma 
)
What birds can we actually really see?
Below is a table of birds you can see in NE Poland in three categories: easy, more difficult and hard. Of course it’s subjective and some more difficult species you can miss or see a few hard ones if you’re lucky but that’s just to give you an overview of what to expect.
Lists are in systematic order, click on column name to sort alphabetically.
| Common species in NE Poland: | Rare species that can be seen/heard relatively easily in the proper habitat in the spring: | Rarities more difficult to see/hear: |
|---|---|---|
| Great Crested Grebe | Little Grebe | Little Bittern |
| Great Bittern | Red-necked Grebe | Short-toed Eagle |
| Great White Egret | Black-necked Grebe | Greater Spotted Eagle |
| White Stork | Black Stork | Great Snipe |
| Teal | Whooper Swan | Little Gull |
| Garganey | Goosander | Eurasian Eagle-Owl |
| White-tailed Eagle | Honey-buzzard | Short-eared Owl |
| Marsh Harrier | Montagus Harrier | Tengmalms Owl |
| Lesser Spotted Eagle | Hazel Grouse | Kingfisher |
| Common Snipe | Quail | Bee-eater |
| Whiskered Tern | Spotted Crake | Roller |
| Black Tern | Little Crake | Tawny Pipit |
| White-winged Tern | Corncrake | Citrine Wagtail |
| Wryneck | Crane | Greenish Warbler |
| Green Woodpecker | Ruff | |
| Black Woodpecker | Black-tailed Godwit | |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker | Redshank | |
| Middle Spotted Woodpecker | Wood Sandpiper | |
| Lesser Spotted Woodpecker | Little Tern | |
| Wood Lark | Pygmy Owl | |
| Tree Pipit | Nightjar | |
| Meadow Pipit | Hoopoe | |
| Yellow Wagtail | Grey-headed Woodpecker | |
| Thrush Nightingale | Syrian Woodpecker | |
| Black Redstart | White-backed Woodpecker | |
| Common Redstart | Three-toed Woodpecker | |
| Whinchat | Bluethroat | |
| Fieldfare | Grasshopper Warbler | |
| Redwing | River Warbler | |
| Mistle Thrush | Savis Warbler | |
| Sedge Warbler | Aquatic Warbler | |
| Marsh Warbler | Barred Warbler | |
| Great Reed Warbler | Red-breasted Flycatcher | |
| Icterine Warbler | Collared Flycatcher | |
| Lesser Whitethroat | Bearded Tit | |
| Whitethroat | Long-tailed Tit | |
| Wood Warbler | Nutcracker | |
| Marsh Tit | Crossbill | |
| Willow Tit | Scarlet Rosefinch | |
| Crested Tit | Ortolan Bunting | |
| Coal Tit | ||
| Nuthatch | ||
| Tree Creeper | ||
| Penduline Tit | ||
| Golden Oriole | ||
| Red-backed Shrike | ||
| Great Grey Shrike | ||
| Tree Sparrow | ||
| Serin | ||
| Greenfinch | ||
| Goldfinch | ||
| Siskin | ||
| Linnet | ||
| Hawfinch | ||
| Yellowhammer |
Do I really need windproof clothing incl. hat and gloves?
Take the hat and gloves (wind proof is very useful) until late May and from September onwards. It can also be sweltering hot during the day and quite breezy on occasion. There’s nothing worse than having a good birding day out and having to retreat back to the bus because of the cold or wind.
Can I get detailed maps of the area on the spot?
You can get them in most of the B&B, pensions and hotels and if not – they will point you a shop or an IT spot where you can get them. Boookstores in local towns always have good, local maps.
How is internet access in rural PL?
There are few internet café’s – only in bigger towns but WiFi is quite common in hotels, pensions and even some B&B agro-tourist farms.
Can I communicate in english or german?
With young people you usually can (english probably more popular than german), with 40+ it gets tricky and 60+ usually impossible. It would work in Russian though In all of the hotels, pensions and many of the B&B agro-tourist farms you can communicate in english or german.
Can I pay with a credit card?
In most of the shops in a town and petrol stations you can. In the villages you usually can’t.
Are there many ATM’s/cash mashines?
There are now many cash mashines in most of the towns so it’s easy to get cash in a 30-40 mins drive at most.
Can I pay in Euros or Dollars?
No. Some Agro-tourist farms, local guides and souvenir stands would probably accept Euros but don’t expect that everytime and everywhere.
Anything else on your mind? Write us and we’ll try to provide a wise answer
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