Stand at the edge of a frosty meadow at dawn in Białowieża, on the border of Poland and Belarus, as European bison step out of the last great primeval forest of lowland Europe. The Polish side holds the largest free-living herd of the species, which was brought back from extinction in the wild. Winter is the season, when snow makes the bison easier to track and spot, while in summer they stay deep in the forest.
Up to 78% sighting chance in Białowieża Forest, Podlaskie, Poland. Best months: February, January, March.
From December to March, when snow and hay draw the herds to the meadows at the forest edge. In summer sightings are much rarer.
A dawn outing with a local guide gives the best odds, and the strictly protected core of the national park can only be entered with a licensed guide.
The European Bison Show Reserve, near the village of Białowieża, keeps bison in large enclosures, so you can still see one.
Keep well back and stay quiet. These are wild animals, and a guide will set the distance.
