Itinerary

How far can you go into the woods? – Half way. Half way in, half way out.

»Janez /Johny/ my neighbour from the thirth floor, a top businessman in a state-owned company is protected like the brown bear«, my colleague told me yesterday.

-»Well, I am familiar with the modus operandi of state-owned companies, but I don’t know much about your neighbour Janez«, I replied.

»He comes late to office every day, he has had no single record of success ever since he occupied this position 10 years ago, he does not respect his colleagues … but what he is good at is that he always sticks with those currently in power. No one can dare to fire him. He is protected like the brown bear«.

There are approximately 500 brown bears living in Slovenia. Farmers and hunters sometimes mention that this number is far from reality, some even mention 1000 brown bears in our forests. Different interest groups, different visions of Slovenia’s wild – domestic life cohabitation.

In the past the extinction of this mammal was a big threat, that is why the bear was put on the Red List of Threatened Mammals of Slovenia. Since then the bear population has been growing.

Lynx, which is domestic in Slovenia as well is far more dangerous for cattle and sheep than the bear. During the 1990´ Balkan war many brown bears escaped north and found peace here, in our old mixed forests where spruce, beech and oak trees prevail. Slovenia is one of the most forested countries in Europe. About 60 % of Slovenia is covered with forests. A perfect destination for your holidays!

Bear males are usually bigger than females and can weigh even more than 200 kg (440 lbs). Bears live up to 30 years and eat almost everything that comes along: mushrooms, forest fruits, tubers, rhizomes, green parts of plants, ants and wasps larvae. It can not resist prey. In autumn bears roll into a lair arranged under a rock or a fallen tree. Baby bears which are born during the winter stay with their mother for a year and a half to two before they become independant.

»300 hairy bears« is an old unoffensive Slovene swear phrase. Before English swear words, which are used nowadays and before Serbo-Croatian swear words, which were picked-up while serving in Yugoslav national army, Slovenes used mild, in fact polite versions of cursing.

A hunter will accompany you to a hunting observation hut where you will wait for bears to come. There is 90 % probability to see them. These observation huts can accomodate up to 6 people and are a perfect place to exercise patience and quiet chatting. This activity is not suitable for children (under 10 years old) as silence is crucial to raise probability to see them. Usually a boar or a sow with cubs are seen as well.

On the way you can discuss with the guide the following issues:

flora & fauna in Slovenia, local delicacies, limestone karst caves, Slovenia’s IT industry, world famous Carniolan honey bee & world bee day, most popular sports in Slovenia … or whatever might be interesting from your personal/professional point of view. Noricum travel – a small group travel.