Top Activities You Can’t Miss in the Danube Delta: Explore Nature and Wildlife

Exploring Dobrogea, you will discover the best-preserved delta in Europe. The Danube Delta, a true wild paradise, is the third most valuable ecosystem in the world after the Great Barrier Reef and the Galapagos Islands. I invite you to discover this place with its unique beauty, which is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

The Danube Delta is the only delta in the world declared a biosphere reserve, home to nearly 2,000 species of trees and plants, over 300 species of birds, and the northernmost subtropical forest in Europe. It is a remarkable fluvial wetland on the continent, featuring the largest area of reed beds in the world.

See endangered animal species

As home to endangered species of animals and fish, the Danube Delta is the perfect place to see otters, pygmy cormorants, red-breasted geese, and various species of pelicans. The fauna also includes some herpetological rarities like the sand lizard and the steppe viper. It’s important to note that fishing and hunting are strictly controlled, though not completely prohibited.

Admire unique landscapes

In addition to the fauna and flora, in the Delta, you have the opportunity to admire unique landscapes that have been classified into 12 different habitat types, ranging from deep aquatic zones to forests growing on ridges. You can see vines hanging like in exotic landscapes, wrapped around trees like a floral arrangement, or trees with gnarled, twisted trunks.

Visit Romania’s oldest nature reserve

Letea Forest stretches from the north of Letea village and covers almost 3,000 hectares. Letea is a place with fairy-tale landscapes that change from subtropical forest to desert in just 200-300 meters. Here, 70% of the animal species in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve can be found. It is the northernmost point in Europe where liana vines grow.

Recommendations

It’s important to know that when visiting Letea Forest, you must follow a few rules, such as not picking wild plants or capturing animals, regardless of their condition. Camping in the visitation area is not allowed, nor is disturbing the peace.

Be amazed by the Delta’s vegetation

The Delta is made up of ash trees, white ashes, lime trees, elms, gray oaks, floodplain oaks, white and black poplars, pear trees, and, more rarely, black alders. However, the fame of these places is given by the climbing plants. Rare species like the sand crocus and the sand convolvulus can be found in the Delta’s vegetation.

Enjoy the spectacle of wild horses

In Letea Forest, there are also several hundred wild horses. You will discover how spectacular it is to see wild horses galloping over the sand dunes. These horses are descendants of those released by locals over time. It’s amazing how so many horses manage to survive with so little food, with tree bark becoming their nourishment. Locals often tell stories about the wild life here, including the wounds these horses get around their mouths from gnawing too much bark.

Relax on the beach

In the Delta, you can enjoy a wild beach, free from bars or sun loungers, perfect for lovers of Vama Veche, just as it used to be. By the end of the day, you can also check off sleeping on the beach from your list.

Eat fish specialties

What can I say? The fish in the Delta is truly special. It is said that the best fish soup is made on the riverbank, cooked on an open fire, using several species of fish: catfish, crucian carp, carp, etc. The fish should be served separately from the broth, on a platter, alongside garlic sauce, polenta, and possibly hot peppers.

Take a boat ride at sunset

On the Delta’s lakes, you can experience magical moments at sunset or sunrise. You can feel the vastness and solitude of the place. Enjoy the coolness of the evening, the scent of the marsh, the forest, and the reeds. At first glance, each canal offers a different perspective, and each village is different. You can spend most of your time on the canal watching and leaving your worries behind. Bring sunscreen because you will spend a few hours on the canal, and don’t forget the mosquito repellent.

Spring remains the best season to visit the Danube Delta, especially in April-May. If you want to see everything turning green, the water lilies blooming, the reeds growing, and the banks full of flowers, then come to the Delta in spring. Since spring is the breeding season, it’s a wonderful opportunity to witness these spectacular rituals. You can calmly admire the birds’ plumage as you take a boat ride on the canal.