Nature of Belarus: Naliboki Forest
The ancient Naliboki Forest is one of the largest woodlands in Belarus and entire Eastern Europe. Together with the well-known neighboring reserves, namely Grodno, Lipichanskaya and Belovezhskaya pushchas [forests], Naliboki Forest makes a true green wealth of Belarus. The unique landscape reserve straddles on both Minsk Oblast and Grodno Oblast and is currently the largest in the country. It is the only place where you can see tarpan-like horses of the ‘konik’ breed which population has been growing since 2019.
Since ancient times, due to the unsuitability of land for farming, forests in this area have been used for hunting, fishing, and foraging mushrooms and berries (by the way, it is still a popular pastime among locals). A significant contribution to the preservation of the natural monument was made by the famous noble family of the Tyszkiewiczes who since 1803 owned most of Naliboki Forest and did a lot to preserve and multiply the wildlife population. In the early 20th century, on the initiative of Benedict Jan Tyszkiewicz, the Vialov Nature Reserve was set up here.
The conservation status of this territory was in place until 1951. Nine years later the forest was turned into a hunting reserve, and attempts were made to restore the European fallow deer population here. In 2005, Naliboki Forest was granted the status of a national landscape reserve to conservate its biodiversity and maintain its international significance as a unique botanical territory, including as a habitat of rare birds. Today, it covers 86,892 hectares and encompasses Volozhin District and Stolbtsy District of Minsk Oblast, as well as Novogrudok District, Korelichi District and Ivye District of Grodno Oblast.
Naliboki Forest boasts intact nature, pristine forests and truly picturesque scenery. Here you can see 820 higher plant species, many of which are included in the Red Book of Endangered Species, as well as more than 50 fauna species, including bison, red deer and tarpans whose ancestors had lived in the forest for many centuries, but were completely exterminated by the beginning of the 19th century... In 2019, thanks to a joint project with the Netherlands, tarpan-like horses were brought back to the forest. As of 2020, more than 170 head lived in Naliboki Forest.
Today Naliboki Forest offers tourists to go on a safari tour, watch wild horses and bison, visit the country’s only blackgrouse nursery, and explore forests, meadows and swamps of the reserve following the Syabrynski Crossroads eco trail. The trail, accessible for people with disabilities, starts near the village of Belokorets in Minsk Oblast. You can take a break at Lake Kroman or at a camping site on the Syabrynskie lakes to do a bit of fishing. If you like adventure you are welcome to go kayaking on the Isloch River.
Naliboki Forest autumn “dreams” in our photo gallery
