In partnership with a local company, Wildlife Dreams is able to organise and book places in some of Slovenia’s best and ideally located Slovenian brown bear photography hides.
For wildlife enthusiasts and photographers seeking an intimate encounter with Slovenia’s magnificent brown bears, the pristine forests of the Notranjska and Kočevska regions offers an unparalleled opportunity through the specialized photography hides built and operated by a local inhabitant. Established in 2014, this network of photo hides allows visitors to photograph brown bears and other forest animals in ideal conditions while maintaining a responsible and ethical approach to wildlife.
Brown Bear Hides
Our local partner manages a network of 8 locations featuring 32 carefully positioned photo hides, each accommodating 2-4 photographers. These hides have been specifically designed for photographers’ needs, with careful consideration given to location selection and optimal lighting conditions, positioned approximately at eye level with the bears and equipped with long shelves for camera support and small viewing holes perfectly sized for telephoto lenses. Each hide is strategically placed along the bears’ established food trails, supplementing natural food sources to encourage regular visits while ensuring the bears become comfortable with these locations as safe feeding areas.
Photography
You can photograph the bears through purpose-built photography ports that provide unobstructed views and stable shooting positions.
Season:
Photography sessions are available from April through September, with hide sessions typically beginning at 3 p.m. and continuing until sunset. Access to the hides involves 10-50 minutes of driving followed by a 100-700 metre walk through the forest. All participants receive a comprehensive briefing on the company's code of conduct before entering the hides. Absolute silence must be maintained while in the hide, and there are no toilet facilities once inside. It's forbidden for safety reasons to leave the hide at any time, until the guide comes to collect you.
Prices:
Place in hide: Price; 330€ / person per day – tour starts between 3 p.m. & 4 p.m. and ends at sunset. You will be required to drive yourself to the meeting point, then follow the guide in your own vehicle.
4-day all inclusive tour packages - Mother & Cubs (Group size - 8)
June 2026
Double room - 1190€/person
Single Room - 1290€/person
July 2026
Double Room - 1490€/person
Single Room - 1590€/person
August 2026
Double Room - 1190€/person
Single Room - 1290€/person
Please contact us using the form below for dates and availability
Facilities
In Slovenia there is an extensive network of 8 strategic locations featuring 32 specialized photography hides throughout the southern forests. Each hide accommodates 2-4 photographers and has been meticulously designed with photographers’ needs in mind, offering optimal positioning at bear eye level, carefully selected lighting conditions, and secure tripod mounting options at seated level.
For optimal results, photographers should bring telephoto lenses ranging from 70-200mm up to 600mm or longer, as shooting distances can vary from approximately 10 to 50 meters depending on the location and bear activity patterns.
Why Slovenia for bears?
Slovenia is an excellent destination for brown bear photography for several key reasons:
Large, stable bear population: Slovenia has one of the densest brown bear populations in Europe, with an estimated 700-900 bears living in a relatively small area. This gives photographers good odds of encounters compared to other European locations.
Accessible forest habitat: The bears live primarily in the extensive forests of the Dinaric Alps and southern Slovenia. These mixed deciduous and coniferous forests provide ideal habitat while remaining accessible to photographers through established trail networks and guided tours.
Predictable seasonal behavior: Bears are most active and visible during spring (when they emerge from hibernation) and autumn (when they’re actively foraging before winter). This seasonal predictability helps photographers plan successful trips.
Sustainable tourism approach: Slovenia manages bear photography tourism carefully, using methods that minimize disturbance to the animals while providing photographers with authentic wildlife encounters.
To make an enquiry or booking, please use the form below, letting us know, if you can, the date you would like to come and number of days in the hide, or if you would like to book one of the 4-day packages. We will then check availability and get back to you.
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