Kampinos National Park

The inhabitants of European capitals have their own small forests, but only the Polish capital borders on a real primeval forest. The Kampinos National Park was established to protect it and prevent it from being “swallowed” by the expanding city. Another reason is the hope that under the protection the Kampinos Forest will serve Warsaw and the inhabitants of the entire region for a long time.

The unusual mosaic of landscapes – inland dunes, swamps, forests, meadows and rushes with an enormous wealth of plant cover and thousands of animal species – makes it one of the most valuable natural areas in Europe. Despite centuries of transformations and human activity, the Forest remained a great living laboratory of nature. The protection and care of several generations of employees of the National Park, lasting for over 60 years, contribute to the regeneration of nature. The forests become more and more natural and take on a primeval character, as centuries ago, and thanks to reintroductions, species which once occurred here, such as elk, beaver or lynx, are recovered. Apart from its natural values, the Kampinos Forest is a real repository of traces of the past. These areas were not spared by any of the historical events important for the country, and traces of uprisings and wars can be found in many places in the Park.

As a result of changes in the environment and hunting, the last elk in the Kampinos Forest died in the 19th century. Thanks to the reintroduction process, the return of this animal took place in the 1950s. Currently, the number of elks in the KNP is estimated at about 450 individuals. The elk is the heraldic animal of the Kampinos National Park and at the same time the largest representative of the Kampinos Forest fauna. Adult males, called bulls, reach 185 cm in height at the withers, 270 cm in length of the body 250 and a weight of up to 400 kg. The mating season, known as rut, occurs in September-October. In this period, bulls make characteristic noises resembling muffled groaning, and the impressive elk antlers become a weapon used to fight for mates. The female, known as the elk cow, is about 1/4 smaller than the male. In May-June, cows usually give birth to 1-2 young (elk calves). 

In the Kampinos Forest, the elk prefers vast forest areas with swamps, peat bogs and waters, demonstrating its good adaptation to life in such an environment.

Thanks to its long limbs, the elk easily jumps over trees and other obstacles lying on the ground, and the possibility to strongly spread its double hooves enables it to safely tread on raised bogs and other wet and marshy areas. In summer, elks’ favourite food are leaves and young shoots of trees and shrubs, as well as herbaceous marsh and aquatic flora. In winter, however, they eat mostly pine needles, twigs and bark, as well as moss and lichens.

Hiking – 23 trails (including 3 walking paths) – 357 km (including 15 km of walking paths)

Biking – 11 trails – 206 km

Educational paths – 10 trails – 28 km