Bison watching map & highlights. Helping Dreamers Do.
If you're hoping to make the most of your time watching bison in Bialowieza National Park or Yellowstone National Park then read on as we've asked our tour ops for their top tips and advice as well as providing a map and highlights to help your holiday head off on the right hoof.
Białowieża National Park in eastern Poland provides protection for an ancient old growth forest that once stretched across the whole of Europe. Wild bison were reintroduced to Białowieża in the 1950s and staying at a guesthouse in Białowieża village, around four hours' drive from Warsaw, is the best way to explore the area on a small group tour. Bison in Yellowstone National Park, on the other hand, have been around since prehistoric times with hotspots such as Lamar Valley and Mammoth Hot Springs providing a protected environment to support a bison population upwards of 5,500. Bozeman in Montana is the best base for a bison watching holiday here as it sits between the park's north and west entrances, and just a 2.5-hour drive from Old Faithful geyser.
There are about 800 wild bison living inside Białowieża National Park with local knowledge absolutely imperative for finding these surprisingly elusive beasts close to the marked paths leading through dense old growth forests. Alongside bison, Białowieża boasts boars, martens, wolves and lynx, as well as rare species of bird including pygmy owls and lesser-spotted eagles.
America's first national park still packs a punch when it comes to mountain scenes and geothermal features including Old Faithful and Mammoth Hot Springs. However, it's the animal encounters that are the most memorable. Lamar Valley is the place to head to for bison with regular 'bison jams' blocking the road. Keep an eye out too for elk, bighorn sheep, coyote and wolf tracks in the snow.
Tip: Have a listen to this TED podcast which discusses how the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone has affected every aspect of the national park, from deer numbers to water courses.