Big brown bear in the forest in the summer (VOLODYMYR BURDIAK, 123RF)
As you sip morning coffee on your hotel’s terrace you may hear the echo of howling in the distance, or the satisfied grunts of a bear as he scratches his back on a tree. Bad Rippoldsau-Shapbach is a nature and animal-lover’s dream getaway located in the Black Forest. It is home to bears, wolves and lynx that are protected by the Alternative Wolf and Bear Park.
Howling of white wolf in the forest (123RF)
As you learn about these animals and stroll through the park you might realize that the growling you hear is actually your stomach. You can grab a sustainable bite to eat at the parks’, Bistro Bärenblick. The Bistro is a cute, log cabin-style restaurant with wood-carved bears lazily hanging about the windows. Sustainability is implemented by incorporating environment-friendly options such as sugar cane plates, which break down easily and help reduce waste. There are plenty of vegan options including the Vegan Bear Park Burger, wraps with seasonal veggies and homemade cakes that are changed out daily. They also serve sorbet if you want to reminisce about hot summer days.
Hotel Ochsenwirtshof is a family-run three-star hotel directly on the edge of the Black Forest. It is only a six-minute drive to the Alternative Wolf and Bear Park, and close to many other attractions. They focus on providing a relaxing stay, included is use of the sauna and swimming pool, the Konus card for free public transportation, fly fishing in the stream and a breakfast buffet.
The hotel also has special packages such as a wellness weekend and gourmet weekend. The hotel restaurant serves local cuisine like Black Forest trout, Baden cheese spätzle and classic meat dishes from their own hunt. For more information, you can visit ochsenwirtshof.de.
Wild animal sightings are exciting! Seeing a bear, wolf or lynx up-close in their natural habitat is an amazing and rare experience. The Alternative Wolf and Bear Park Black Forest, makes it their mission to protect the animals that have come to them and provide natural enrichment as close to their native environment as possible. They provide many research and education programs to visitors.
Eurasian Lynx looking towards setting sun in Bavarian Forest National Park, Germany (123RF)
There are regular guided tours that last from one and a half to three hours. The Wolf and Bear Experience is an all-encompassing tour where you can learn about the animals who live in the park and why animal protection is important. The Children’s Tour includes stories, visual aids and games. The Bear Deluxe Tour is an in-depth look behind the scenes. There are sensory tours where you can really immerse yourself in the world of the animals with themes like, Barefoot Through the Wolf and Bear Park and Always Follow Your Nose, where you can discover the senses of the animals at stations for feeling, tasting, smelling, hearing and seeing.
Perhaps the most special experience is Night in the Bear Park, offered once per month throughout the year. This exclusive tour takes visitors out in hopes of animal sightings in the magic hour of dusk. After learning about the animals and the parks mission, you can enjoy a snack break at Bistro Bärenblick before concluding the evening with an enchanting candlelit hike. Throughout the year, other special events are offered like an autumn drawing course, and the Bear Christmas Market on Dec. 14-15, 2024. Individual touring options are also available upon request.
If you want to learn more about the park and read the stories of the rescued residents, visit Baer.de.
