Radio România Internațional

Tag: auroch

  • Vama Buzaului, in the Heart of Nature

    Vama Buzaului, in the Heart of Nature

    Certified since 2018 as a tourist resort of local interest, Vama Buzăului is known especially for its bison reserve, a perfect place to spend free time with the family. Moreover, here, tourists also have marked hiking and cycling trails at their disposal. Last but not least, at the Gastro Local points you can experience gastronomy through dishes with ingredients from local households.

    The main attraction of the Vama Buzăului resort is the Bison Reserve, where visitors can admire these impressive animals, which were reintroduced to Romania after they had disappeared from the wild. The animals can be admired on the border between Brașov and Covasna counties, in the heart of the Carpathians, as we learn from Fabian Roth, the administrator of the reserve.

    “It is 40 km from Brașov and 5 km from Întorsura Buzăului. It is located in the immediate vicinity of the communal road, an asphalted area. From the parking lot, you can actually see the bison. It’s very important to know, because a lot of people ask if they can see the bison. Yes, of course you can! I don’t tell them that they can see them up close from the parking lot. Some, more comfortable, ask if they can see them from the car. In addition to the bison that we have today, 19 in number, we also have reindeer, which are a great success with children. We also have 20 mouflons, fallow deer and Carpathian deer, and a few domestic animals. More recently, we also had this idea. If a child from an urban area comes to us, they should have the opportunity to see what they saw, perhaps more through illustrations, not in real life. They interact with the animals near the fence. The geese are very noisy. They gather around the fence, they enjoy the noise and the attention. They receive food that can be purchased from us. So, it really is an extraordinary experience for children.”

    Established 17 years ago, the reserve was created with the aim of conserving and reintroducing the bison to its natural habitat. These imposing animals, once widespread across the entire European continent, were almost completely exterminated in the wild by the 20th century. Through the efforts of breeding and protection programs, bison populations have been reconstituted in certain areas, where these animals lived in freedom hundreds of years ago. Although they are massive animals, bison stand out for their grace, and observing them in their natural habitat is an unforgettable experience. In addition to bison, the reserve is home to other species of wildlife, such as deer, roe deer, and various bird species. Educational opportunities are also offered. Children and adults alike learn about biodiversity and the importance of protecting endangered species, says Fabian Roth, administrator of the Bison Reserve.

    “There is a visitor’s path next to the fence, but everyone can walk in these 12 hectares as they see fit and as they wish. It is important that this route, along the fence, borders the Buzău River. This is also an extraordinary experience. The river has a low flow rate, and in the summer, children dip their feet in the water, throw stones. I notice that, somehow, almost a third of the visiting time, parents choose to spend it with their children there, by the river. It is an extraordinarily gratifying and desirable thing for children. And not only for them. Parents put a blanket there, by the river, enjoy nature, and not far away, there are bison. It is a special harmony. The forest area is exactly on the right bank of the river and it is a very quiet area. If tourists have enough time, they can enjoy it to the fullest. Since last year, we have all the information boards, as was normal, also in one of the international languages, English. Some of us know English, and some German. When requested, we can successfully provide all the necessary details.”

    Located near the Bison Reserve, the Urlătoarea Waterfall in Vama Buzăului is one of the most spectacular natural attractions in the area. This impressive waterfall takes its name from the powerful sound that the water produces as it falls, a continuous roar that echoes through the steep rocks, giving the impression of an incessant howl. The water of the waterfall springs from the Ciucaș Mountains and falls in steps, over limestone formations, creating a spectacular landscape. The fall of the water is not sudden, but over a rocky wall covered with moss and vegetation, forming a natural picture of particular beauty. Legends say that the sound of the water is the voice of the spirits of the mountains, who make their presence felt through this uninterrupted roar. The locals also talk about the healing power of the water, considering it pure and beneficial for health.

    Whether they come to admire the landscape, photograph the beauty of the place or enjoy the tranquility of the mountains, tourists are always impressed by the grandeur of this place. The waterfall, along with the Bison Reserve, completes the charm of the Vama Buzăului area, transforming it into a corner of heaven for those who want to escape the urban bustle. And local events are another point of attraction, as we learned from Fabian Roth, the administrator of the Bison Reserve in Vama Buzăului.

    “We have an Open Day every year around Christmas. We try to use the advantage that the fact that we own reindeer gives us. We build them a place outside their actual pen, where they can be much closer to the tourist. We create a real story with Santa, with reindeer, with elves. It’s an interesting symbiosis. Everyone who books a stay in Vama Buzăului at our guesthouses and accommodation units chooses our reservation as their getaway. Then comes the Urlătoarea Waterfall and all the other options: forest roads very close to the reservation, perfect for hiking, and clearings around the forest and the river. Everyone is free, in the natural decency of friendship with nature, to enjoy the corner of heaven that is shown to them.”

    Vama Buzăului is not only about spectacular landscapes, but also an authentic culinary experience. The hospitality of the locals is also reflected in the traditional dishes that you will find in the guesthouses and households in the area. Among the most appreciated dishes are shepherd’s bulz, polenta with bladder cured cheese and smoked sausage, Transylvanian tochitura, made from tender, slow-cooked meat, served with polenta and fried egg, and homemade pies with cheese, apples, or pumpkin.

  • Tourism in Tarcu Mountains

    Tourism in Tarcu Mountains

    In the west of the Southern Carpathians, in Tarcu Mountains, an area has been identified that is suitable for reintroducing into the wild the auroch, a species that has disappeared from these lands over two centuries ago. The auroch has always been a symbol of strength and independence, which is why they are prominent on the coat of arms of the former kingdom of Moldavia, in what is now eastern Romania.



    Three years ago, WWF Romania and Rewilding Europe started a project to repopulate the Carpathians with this emblematic species. At present, at the foot of Tarcu Mountains, 10 aurochs have been brought in from all over Europe, in an area set aside for acclimatisation. Another 20 aurochs roam freely in the local mountains and hills. In the village of Armenis, where the auroch corrals are, the locals have set up the Auroch Grove Association, and started offering tourists travel packages that include guided tours in the wild, to watch aurochs in their new natural habitat. Oana Mondoc, project manager, gave us details:



    Oana Mondoc: “Tourists can watch the aurochs in the wild, accompanied by our rangers or expert guides. We have experience in finding out where the aurochs are, because they have GPS collars, they are monitored by satellite. We also track the aurochs on the ground, so that tourists can watch them at leisure, and not simply catch a glimpse of them and get a snapshot. The trip takes at least 4 or 5 hours, during which tourists get to see the aurochs in their natural habitat, while at the same time enjoying other aspects of the environment, such as the wide variety of plants. This is an educational and learning experience.



    Recently, a Visitor Centre was set up in Armenis, where tourists can get information on the aurochs. Data was collected in the field so that visitors can see how they live, with the help of technology. Cameras have been set up in the wild, broadcasting images as soon as an auroch passes by. The centre, a gateway into the world of the auroch, offers visitors not only interactive educational games and holograms of the animals in their habitat, but also local products made by local craftsmen.



    Oana Mondoc: “We have set up a number of installations, each showcasing part of our monitoring activities. We have a hologram that shows auroch behaviour in the wild, describing a regular day in their life. Then we have an interactive game involving food chains, where visitors can reconstitute the food chain based on images from the monitoring cameras we have in the area. Then we have a third installation, a device that demonstrates the impact of aurochs on the ecosystem. It shows what happens when they cross certain habitats, and what species benefit from their existence.



    The village of Plopu, which is part of Armenis, has lots of abandoned dwellings. They will be refurbished to accommodate tourists, as part of a project run by the local town hall in collaboration with WWF Romania.



    Oana Mondoc: “We noticed that there are dwellings in these extraordinarily picturesque areas that have not been used in decades. They were used as summer homes by the villagers raising farm animals. When you go up to Plopu you find incredible sights. So, together with the local authorities, we realized that this was an ideal area for tourists, and we plan to build a holiday village. We want to refurbish some stone dwellings and organize activities around them, close to nature. In addition to the restoration in itself, we want to get the locals involved in popularising traditional crafts like baking bread or picking fruit.



    The forests in the Banat area are starting to fill up with aurochs once again. These giants help bring villages back to life by attracting tourists, who in turn have an opportunity to get to know local occupations, local delicacies, and traditional crafted objects. Oana Mondoc told us what else the area has to offer:



    Oana Mondoc: “Auroch watching involves several hours of tracking. The visit ends with a traditional picnic served by a local family. This is not a short visit. You have to make reservations well in advance. We’ve had tourists from Romania, but also from Germany, Belgium, Serbia or Switzerland. In addition to auroch watching, we have a 3 to 4-day program for watching bears in a neighbouring area. This is the Rusca protected area, where we have a partnership with the Teregova Forest Range Office, which has arranged special places for bear watching and expert guides. You can also take leisurely walks in the forest, in areas where sometimes you can see chamois. In addition, we have an evening spent in safari tents. The sounds of the wild at night are truly special, and you can admire the setting and rising of the sun. You can make reservations with our organization. You can also go on photo tours with expert photographers. This is a special tourist experience, which enables you to observe, appreciate and understand nature in peace. The maximum number of tourists in a group is four.



    The auroch is the largest European mammal, weighing up to 1,000 kg, with a height of over 1.9 meters. In the past it lived all across the continent, with the exception of some areas of Spain, Italy, and the north of Scandinavia. Nowadays, a little over 3,000 are left in the entire world. Romania is one of the 9 European countries with free-range aurochs.


    (translated by: Calin Cotoiu)