Animal Adventures: Marvel at the beauty of nature up close

What exactly will we be covering?

• Wildlife at the Bőszénfa Deer Farm
• Up-close safari experiences at Richter Safari Park
• Bird sanctuary at Lake Velence
• Amazing horseback riding adventures at the Mythos Resort in Domony Valley
• Protected bird species and interesting observation decks at Lake Tisza
• Bison and wild horses in the Őrség region
• Home of the bears: Bear Sanctuary in Veresegyház

At the Bőszénfa Deer Farm, located less than 20 km from Kaposvár, you can safely get up close with both wild and domestic animals. With its vast 1,300-hectare area, the farm is home to roughly 1,500 red deer, 300 wild boars, 200 fallow deer, 150 mouflons, and 50 roe deer. While you can feed the wild boars, roe deer, and mouflons, you can even pet the red deer. You can take a nice walk in the garden of the tame red deer, but if you’d rather admire these magnificent animals from a distance, you can do so from a horse-drawn carriage. In addition to the wild animals, you’ll also encounter plenty of domestic animals here: Hungarian grey cattle, Racka sheep, water buffalo, goats, and donkeys. Now that’s a true nature experience!

At Hungary’s only drive-through safari park, you can observe the animals in a unique way. Spanning over 32 hectares in Nagykőrös, Richter Safari Park is home to ring-tailed lemurs, lions, ostriches, camels, zebras, giraffes, and other exotic species. The three-kilometre-long safari route can be explored by car or on a safari train, allowing you to encounter the animals in their natural habitats – a different experience from traditional zoo walks. You can also feed certain species, and the program is further enriched by a petting zoo and additional demonstrations. The park is home to several animals that previously worked in circuses.

For a multi-day adventure, you can stay in one of the 10 lakeside cottages located next to the safari lake or in one of the 10 luxury glamping tents nestled near the animal enclosures. If you book accommodation in the park, you’ll have unlimited access to the safari park during opening hours, therefore, in addition to the daytime programs, you can experience the African atmosphere in the evening and early morning, as well.

Beyond relaxing days at the beach, Lake Velence offers other exciting experiences: its mysterious reed beds are home to a unique population of nesting birds. If you visit here, with a little luck you might spot great egrets, spoonbills, bitterns and little bitterns, summer and bean geese, brown and bluish harriers, and reed warblers. This place, filled with the lively chirping of birds, was already famous in the time of Ottó Herman!

Spanning nearly 14 hectares, Mythos Resort is not only one of the region’s but also one of the country’s most outstanding complexes built around equestrian sports and traditions. Set in the magnificent natural surroundings of Domony Valley, the estate is home to over 100 horses, in addition to numerous native animal species, which hotel guests can observe up close.

The interior design concept of the five-star hotel complex, which opened in 2026, was created by Zoltán Varró, with every detail reflecting the equestrian heritage. Guests can stay in one of the rustic-style houses evoking the atmosphere of traditional folk architecture, or in one of the luxury forest lodges nestled in the estate’s acacia grove. Most of the stone houses feature an infrared sauna or a private jacuzzi, while the log cabins include a children’s play area and, depending on the amenities, a freestanding bathtub, a Finnish or infrared sauna, and a jacuzzi. Located between the two accommodation areas is the charming bathing pond and the adjoining bathhouse, reminiscent of the 1920s, featuring an infinity pool and a sauna complex. The range of activities at Mythos is also amazing: family horse-drawn carriage rides, horse shows, off-road tours, horse-drawn carriage rides combined with picnics, and pony activities are all among the options.

Let’s take a break right in the heart of nature: the unique feature of the Fattyúszerkő and Bölömbika lookouts is that their breathtaking panoramic views can only be enjoyed by approaching them from the water. The aim of this innovative idea is simply to allow water sports enthusiasts to enjoy the sights of nature up close even during a short break – and that is how these quiet observation towers came to be. The towers are named after distinctive bird species commonly found in the area: enjoy the gentle waves of Lake Tisza by SUP, canoe, or boat, and take a breather at the top of the lookout towers!

We’ve already heard about the stunning collection of folk monuments that captivates visitors in the Őrség Region, but we mustn’t overlook the fact that truly exceptional animals also live here. Humans completely wiped out one subspecies of bison, the Caucasian bison – or so they thought: in fact, a single lucky bull managed to survive centuries of hunting. The descendants of this bull now live in the Őrség Region, allowing the mountain bloodline to survive. In addition to the bison, there is another species that attracts curious nature lovers: the Eurasian wild horses. These animals, belonging to the only surviving subspecies of wild horses, have never been successfully domesticated.

The primary goal of Central Europe’s only Bear Sanctuary is to ensure that the animals live in an environment similar to their natural habitat. The vast, 3.5-hectare area provides a good habitat for brown bears: deep caves, lakes, and pine forests make their environment feel like home. But wolves also live at the Bear Sanctuary, where they can establish a natural hierarchy within the pack among the lakes, trees, and lush vegetation. In fact, visitors can also encounter fallow deer, raccoons, and sloth bears.