Danube/Duna/Drava National Park

The Duna-Dráva National Park covers 50 000 hectares and is mainly characterized by the waters of the two rivers and their habitats around. Its extension to the South is Kopacki rit National park in Croatia (read more in section Vukovar, Nature in and around Vukovar). The protected area along Danube is from mouth of the Sió canal to the Southern border of Hungary. Gemenc alluvial forest (18 000 ha) and Béda-Karapancsa lowland riparian forest are subsidiary parks inside the park and belong to the Great Pannonian Plain. For some years, eco-tourism is the new key to understand and experience this natural wonder along Danube. For further details on Gemenc Alluvial Forest, see also section Mohács, Sightseeing in and around Mohács, cities of Baja and Szekszárd.

Béda-Karapancsa lowland riparian forest area is most probably the most valuable habitat of it: gallery forests, protected plants in the marsh meadows and the densest population of white-tailed eagles and black storks in Hungary have to be noted.

As well, Gemenc alluvial forest (18 000 ha) and Béda-Karapancsa lowland riparian forest are home for herons. In autumn, Danube floodplains attract highly protected aigrettes, spoonbills, and black storks. In the protected bays of the all year unfrozen Danube wild geese find their habitat. There are otters, wildcats, and the famous red dears. The area is home to 51 species of fish, reptiles, grass-snakes and European pond turtles, as well. There are special unique formations in and around the park, like the Tufa Cave of Tettye, near Pécs, also called the “gateway to hell” (Information: Tel. +36 30 58034, www.ddnp.hu/pecs-the-tufa-cave; Opening hours: 1^st of Nov – 14^th of Mar Tue – Fri 11.00 – 16.00, Sat, Sun 10.00 – 16.00, 15^th of Mar – 30^th of Apr Tue – Fri 10.00 – 17.00, Sat, Sun 10.00 – 18.00, May – Oct Tue – Sun 10.00 – 19.00, Mon closed).

Or see the cave (466 m long) and Bat museum in Mecsek Hills and in village of Abaliget (Information: Tel. +36 72 498766, www.ddnp.hu/abaliget-cave-and-bat-museum; Opening hours: 15^th of Mar – 15^th of Oct daily 9.00 – 18.00, 16^th of Oct – 14^th of Mar daily 10.00 – 15.00).

Go for further Cave Adventures in Mecsek Hills, or see the tiny little White Stork Museum in village of Kölked (see Mohács, museums).

The Dráva Kapu" Visitor Centre Drávaszentes offers a wide range of activities, shows the famous grey cattle of this Danube area, invites to guided excursions on the nearby study trail, offers accommodation (3 rooms), a café and grill, and an exhibition. There are also donkeys, Hucul ponies, and Mangalica pigs. The center can be reached by car, bike or local bus (from Barcs railway station). Distance is 4 km.

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