Rent a bike
From now on you can rent a bike in Kopački rit Nature Park. Spend your sunny days in the unforgettable environment and beauty of Kopački rit by cycling along the bike routes through the Park. Renting costs 10 kn / per hour. Please contact Kopački rit Nature Park's Visitor Centre for information about the bike routes or other issues at 00385 31 752 320, e-mail: prijemni.centar@kopacki-rit.hr
Bird watching program in Kopački rit Nature Park
Kopački rit is the most preserved wetland in Europe; therefore, its biological diversity is extremely vast. Kopački rit’s other value is the continuous changing of the landscape as the seasons change and as the water inflows and outflows. The animals’ movements depend on the water dynamics. Floods begin at the end of February or the beginning of March, and last to the middle of July or the beginning of August. The drought period lasts from August to next February and this is when the birds are in the fishponds or live streams. The largest number of species can be seen during spring and autumn migrations and then in summer. The number of species is less during winter, but still, you can watch tens of thousands of geese and ducks arriving from West Siberia. Therefore, we can proudly say that a large number of different bird species has been recorded in Kopački rit. Namely, 295 bird species were recorded until now, of which 144 species are permanent or temporary resident birds.
The average number of species seen per month is listed in the table below.
| Month | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Nr. of species | 53 | 57 | 73 | 71 | 82 | 64 | 58 | 64 | 51 |
| 70% | 37 | 39 | 51 | 49 | 57 | 44 | 40 | 44 | 35 |
During the floods, we can organize visits to the Special Zoological Reserve with a small boat, or a tour through the old forests within the drought period. We would also like to highlight some other valuable facts of Kopački rit that show the great ornithological value of this area: the largest white-tailed eagle nesting place in this part of Europe, the largest colony of cormorants and gray herons in Croatia. There are other interesting facts hiding in Kopački rit and just waiting for you to come and discover them.
After all this information, we are sure you will simply enjoy your stay in this wonderful area and that you will take home unforgettable memories and valuable experience. That is the reason why we have prepared this bird watching program for you.
Group size: max. 15
Duration: 6 hours
Time of visit: throughout the year, recommended period: April – June, August – October
Please book your arrival in advance so we can organize your visit as best as possible.
Boat Ride
We invite you to visit Kopački rit and discover the Special Zoological Reserve with our boat. The boat waits for you at the “Veliki Sakadaš” pier and the adventure through the Reserve can begin. The professional guide is ready to flow with you through the magnificent world of the Danube floodplain. The boat takes you from Sakadaš Lake through “Čonakut” channel to Hordovanj, which separates Kopačko Lake from “Čonakut” channel. Kopačko Lake is the largest lake in the Special Zoological Reserve on which large colonies of different bird species (wild geese, ducks, cormorants, herons, egrets, terns, gulls and of course the white-tailed eagles as “rulers” of the Kopački rit forests) dwell in every season of the year. The beautiful scenery of birds is followed by their musical warble that rips the silence of the gentle landscape. As the boat arrives to Hordovanj, slowly approaching the largest colony of cormorants in Croatia, you will have the chance to see them sitting high up on the treetops and to enjoy this natural phenomenon.
Walking on the nature trails
The best way to begin your journey in Kopački rit is to walk along the nature trails. The first nature trail leads you from the Visitor’s center to Sakadaš Lake. Panels have been set up on the nature trail describing animals, plants and wetland habitats. The picturesque Kopačevo village stands behind the beautiful reeds, willow trees and aquatic plant communities.
Telescopes have been set up on the dyke right in front of Sakadaš Lake where you can see colorful bird and plant species. The nature trail leads you on towards Podunavlje. From this perspective, you can see the spacious expanding floodplain.
Tikveš Castle Complex tour
The Tikveš Castle Complex consists of a forest, parks, and residential buildings: new castle with annex, old castle, chapel, and complementary building with a restaurant. If you book in advance, a professional guide will take you along the nature trail and render the historical development of Kopački rit. Panels were set up next to every building describing their characteristics.
In Harmony with Nature
We invite you to come to Kopački rit and visit the Centre for sustainable agricultural production, managed by “Belje,” which is called “In Harmony with Nature.” Traveling from Sakadaš Lake towards Tikveš, make a short stop by Eblin canal where you will see a large herd of cattle on the wet pastures. Most of the cattle are the Hereford sorts, which have a remarkable maternal instinct and can bear life in the open throughout the whole year.
We would especially like to emphasize the herd of Slavonian-Srijem bovines that are autochthon species in our region. These are one of the rare specimens in Croatia.
You only have to walk over a wooden bridge and relax in the arbor covered with reed or in the coral and enjoy the sight of more than 500 specimens of cattle grazing in the open.
Sport angling
Sport angling is permitted in some parts of Nature Park Kopački rit, mainly on channels, canals and the Danube River. The Kopački rit management office issues daily and annual permissions for sport angling in the Nature Park. Permissions are issued according to the location where you want to fish and the prices are as shown in the price list.
You can buy permissions at the Visitor's centre in Kopačevo, Kopačevska bb or at the Kopački rit Management Office in Tikveš, Titov Dvorac 1, Lug.
Come, relax and achieve the biggest catch of the year!
