Cheers for the advice, I hadn't thought about ticks.
What uni do you go to?
We're staying here (have a look on google maps) Domek Jaskóka ul. near Zastawa, Puszcza Biaowieska, Biaowiea, Poland and have hired a guide from wildpoland.com for the first two days.
Here is our itinerary;
Day 1 (21 or 22 June) Our guide meeting you at your accommodation at 3.15 am, joining you in your vehicle.
3.15 - 6.00 Dawn Patrol for mammals, a short drive to check out a couple of meadows plus a short walk in the forest.
6.00 - 9.00 Birding in the village edge/river valley/forest
17.00 - 22.00 5 hrs walk in the forest for mammals
Day 2 (22 or 23 June)
3.00 - 6.00 Dawn Patrol for mammals (exact hours can be changed by a guide, depending on what and where you see on Day 1)
6.00 - 9.00 Birding in the Strict Protection Area of the National Park - the restricted core area of the Bialowieza Forest, with a NP guide.
18.00 - 21.00 3 hrs walk in the forest for mammals
The guides from this site are also authors of a very detailed guide book to the area with over 50 walks with hints at what you're likely to see on each one. Lukasz, the guy i'm in contact with, reccomends buying the book and using it with the guides for the remaining three days of our stay. I'm very excited about it.
-- Edited by Michael Willett on Saturday 11th of May 2013 09:30:38 AM
Not been yet but I am going to Bialowieza Forest 24th -31st May with my university for a field trip. I am just tagging along so I don't have a lot of the information myself, and its all pre-arranged so I cant advise on travel. But I have been warned to take insect repellent - the ticks there are known to carry tick-borne encephalitis and although its not a major risk, make sure you were repellent and check for ticks every day if youre in the forest. Otherwise all they have said is that its supposed to be wonderful. Full of wildlife, including bison, wolves, lots of birds, bugs and herps. I will fill you in with more information as and when I receive it if you like - and of course when I return.
A couple of mates and I are off on a Polish adventure in June, and just I wondered if anybody on here had been to the Bialowieza region? I have searched the site and could only find NW Poland and the Auschwitz region. Any advice, even on travelling in Poland, would be greatly appreciated. I have researched the area and emailed a couple of guides but I would like to hear from some real first hand experiences.
The flights were cheap as chips. £16 flying out and £35 coming back. Off course Ryanair then hit you will ridiculous fees for luggage but it's still very cheap. The accommodation works out at around 12 pounds a night.