Fodor's Expert Review Kopački Rit Nature Park
One of the most popular sites in the region, Kopački Rit Nature Park is one of the largest remaining wetlands along the Danube and a place of serene beauty. Embracing more than 74,100 acres immediately north of the Drava, 10 km (6 miles) northeast of Osijek, the park is covered with immense reed beds, willow, poplar, and oak forests, and crisscrossed by ridges, ponds, shallow lakes, and marshes. More than 300 bird species, hundreds of varieties of plants, and dozens of species of butterflies, mammals, and fish live here, and it is also a breeding area for numerous endangered species, including the white-tailed sea eagle, the black stork, and the European otter. Egrets, herons, and cormorants are abundant, as are red deer, roe deer, and wild boar.
The best times of year to visit are during spring and autumn bird migrations, when there are often several hundred thousand birds in the park. There is an information office at the entrance in Kopač. A boardwalk leads to the landing... READ MORE
One of the most popular sites in the region, Kopački Rit Nature Park is one of the largest remaining wetlands along the Danube and a place of serene beauty. Embracing more than 74,100 acres immediately north of the Drava, 10 km (6 miles) northeast of Osijek, the park is covered with immense reed beds, willow, poplar, and oak forests, and crisscrossed by ridges, ponds, shallow lakes, and marshes. More than 300 bird species, hundreds of varieties of plants, and dozens of species of butterflies, mammals, and fish live here, and it is also a breeding area for numerous endangered species, including the white-tailed sea eagle, the black stork, and the European otter. Egrets, herons, and cormorants are abundant, as are red deer, roe deer, and wild boar.
The best times of year to visit are during spring and autumn bird migrations, when there are often several hundred thousand birds in the park. There is an information office at the entrance in Kopač. A boardwalk leads to the landing where boat excursions set out daily into the marshy heart of the park, along a channel to Kopačevo Jezero, the largest lake.
There are different guided tours available, but the best is the Beaver’s Trail, which includes entrance into the park and boardwalk, plus a small boat tour through the wetlands (1 hour). The best time to do the Beaver's Trail is during the morning when bird-spotting is best.
Getting to Kopački Rit from Osijek is simple if you have a car—just follow the signs once you're in Bilje. If you go by bus, get off in Bilje and follow the signs on foot for some 4 km (2½ miles) along rural roads to the entrance of the park, or ride a bike from Osijek.
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