Wanderlust Travel Magazine (UK)
MARVEL AT CROATIA’S NATURE
Croatia’s rugged mountains offer some of the country’s most spectacular scenery, especially in the Dinaric Alps that stretch all the way from Slovenia to Albania. In 2021, Croatia added Dinara Nature Park to its existing list of 11, giving hikers the chance to explore the scrubby peaks close to the northern Dalmatian city of Knin, as well as trek to the 1,830mhigh summit of Dinara, Croatia’s highest peak.
In complete contrast to this mountainous drama, Croatia’s nature parks further inland offer a mellower beauty amid tranquil greenery. Kopački Rit Nature Park, which is found to the east of Osijek, is one of Croatia’s richest wildlife havens. Wander along its raised wooden walkways that take you through the floodplains, meadows and wetlands that surround this part of the Danube and Drava rivers. Birdwatchers will want to look out for white-tailed eagles, cormorants and grey herons, which you can do on an organised birdwatching photo safari. One of the most relaxing ways to explore is on a small-boat tour, which quietly pootles along the waterways, giving you time to spot wildlife and just appreciate the slow pace of life here.
Head further west towards Zagreb to reach Papuk Nature Park, whose Papuk peak was an island in the Pannonian Sea about 10 million years ago. Nowadays this UNESCO geopark in Slavonia’s green heart is covered with beech and pine forests, flowerfilled meadows and emerald lakes.
In Jankovac Forest Park, follow the raised wooden trails that climb up the valley through primeval woods towards the 35m-high Skakavac waterfall. You can hire a canoe for leisurely jaunts across clear lakes, or explore even further by renting a mountain bike or an e-bike. Pop into the House of the Pannonian Sea visitors’ centre to discover the hidden stories of the prehistoric Pannonian Sea.
Sustainable experiences
There’s a definite sense of going back in time at Lonjsko Polje Nature Park, which sprawls over the floodplain of the Sava and Lonja rivers that flow south of Zagreb. It’s another bird haven, with more than 250 species to spot. One of the most common is a stork that builds its nests on top of traditional wooden houses that look unchanged from centuries
ago. In this serene place, stroll the meandering rivers past oak forests, or rent a bike or a canoe for a different perspective. One of the most enjoyable ways of exploring is on a solar-powered boat, which glides silently to the sound of birdsong.
Among the furthest-flung islands in Croatia, Lastovo is so far from the rest of Dalmatia that it’s practically on its way to Italy. Its actually one of several islands, and the whole archipelago has been designated a nature park. Off limits for decades when it was a Yugoslav army base, it has yet to be discovered by mass tourism. Of its 46 islands, reefs and rocks, only the main Lastovo island has a permanent population. If you want to do little else but go hiking in the hills, snorkelling in impossibly clear waters or looking for rare birds such as the yelkouan shearwater and kaukala, this is the place to be.
Croatia’s greenest island, Mljet, is known for its national park, which takes up about a quarter of its land. It’s a lush area of forested peaks overlooking two saltwater lakes, both of which are skirted by walking and cycling paths. As the authorities have banned cars from the national park, it’s all the easier to explore on foot or by bike, stopping now and then for a swim in the two lakes amid the whisper-quiet atmosphere. Hike up to Mount Montokuc for the best views of the island.