Meet us

Are we a tourist agency?

You’re probably wondering who I am to speak about wildlife watching in Poland. We’re not a large tourist agency, not even a small company. I’ve worked as a local guide and a tour leader for Poland since 1998 and many of our guides have been doing it since late ‘80.

So who we are?

We are a group of active local guides, fanatic nature lovers, keen photographers and birdwatchers. Many of us are academics, others work in National Parks or nature conservancy NGO’s. Wildlife watching has always been our hobby and it became our profession. We travel ourselves so we know exactly what a good nature guide means.

Who we worked for?

We have guided nature and cultural trips for several foreign companies like British: Explore, Exodus, Wildwings, Naturetrek, Greentours, German: Deutsch-Polnische Gesellschaft, Ornitravel, Swiss: Liberty Bird, Birdline Tours, Dutch: Eco Tourist Services and many more.

Meet the team:

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Łukasz Mazurek

Hello! I am Lukasz or Luke to my friends. I started guiding during my biology studies to gain some extra income. It came naturally to me as a fluent English speaker and fanatical birdwatcher. My desire to meet new people and willingness to share the knowledge led me to becoming one of the most sought after nature guides in Poland. I have previously worked for the WWF at Biebrza National Park, with some esteemed accademics researching birds and the effects of traditional farming practices on their habitats.

Having graduated from University in Białystok, I continued as a guide and also taught zoology at Białystok Uni. However, my love of the great outdoors drew me back to nature and I returned to work in the field. I still continue my love for farmland birds in OTOP (Polish Society for the Protection of Birds) where I coordinate the Common Bird Census in NE Poland.

In WildPoland I am the captain, the steersman and still do a lot of guiding, especially in the Biebrza Marshes. I just love it. And I always take photos on the trips, you’ve got to get used to it :)

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Konrad Karpieszuk

Environmental Biology graduate and our eastern Europe explorer. Having taught biology and computers in Poland he committed himself to volunteer teaching in different parts of the globe. He recently spent 3,5 months in Rwanda, Africa. Konrad is our computer magician making this website work. He is also one of the most popular Polish bloggers, you can check out his blog here (in polish only).

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Arek Szymura

Arek Szymura

After the research on raptors in the forest that he had carried out during his forestry studies in the ‘70 nothing could drag him out of the forest. Nothing apart from school duties as a botany teacher in the Forestry School in Białowieża or his volunteery work on starting the first bird protection NGO in the communist Poland. Now, on a fully deserved pension, Arek does what he likes best – sharing his comprehensive knowledge and showing us the most elusive animals of the forest.

In WildPoland Arek guides the nature and birdwatching trips in Białowieża Forest.

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Mateusz Szymura

Mateusz has followed his dad in the forest since he could carry the big binoculars. Having such a teacher he couldn’t really escape a career in forestry. After graduating forestry in the Warsaw University of Life Sciences, he took part in building the most modern Natural History Museum in Poland which is located in the village of Białowieża itself. His many talents were soon recognised and now Mateusz works in the National Park helping to protect this oldest forest in Europe.

In WildPoland he is our Białowieża Forest guide specializing in large Mammals and Fungi. You can see his photos of the forest in the Białowieża NP gallery pages here »

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Michał Polakowski

Michał Polakowski

Michał was born with binoculars on his neck and the first rarities he reported at the age of 12. His name is now printed on every second page of the Polish Birds weighty tomes. If anyone knows a better and more active birdwatcher in the area, please stand up!

During his Biology studies he participated in a large number of projects and censuses but his biggest success was starting the first bird ringing camp in Eastern Poland – Akcja Siemianówka. His talents and love for birds were noticed fast and Michał is now cooperating with Swedish bird ringing stations spending there a few months a year.

When in Poland, he works as a well recognised Bird Expert and guess what! He is still guiding birdwatching trips for us!

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