Libearty Bear Sanctuary Zărnești: Visiting from Brașov

Libearty Bear Sanctuary is in Zărnești, close to Brașov in Romania. It is a guided sanctuary visit where you can see rescued bears in forest enclosures and learn their stories. It also houses rescued wolves.

You get to see the resident bears and learn their stories, some of which are horrific. Other stories were quite amusing. The bear that was rescued after being taken by train to the city of Ploiesti made me smile. The tours take just over an hour and pass through some beautiful countryside.

Is the Libearty Bear Sanctuary Worth Visiting?

We enjoyed visiting the sanctuary and would recommend it if you are staying in Brașov, Zărnești or nearby. The tour was educational, and you get to see bears up close. The walk through the forest is also pleasant, with many good views. It’s certainly one of those attractions that needs a bit of logistical planning in advance to ensure tickets and getting to the grounds.

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How to Get to Libearty Bear Sanctuary in Zărnești from Brașov

Libearty Bear Sanctuary is in Zărneşti near Brașov. It’s tricky to reach, but driving and Uber are options. However, with Uber, you may have a long wait to get back. I tested the Uber and Bolt ride-sharing apps from the sanctuary, but no rides were available.

Thus, one of the easiest ways to visit is to join an organised tour, which you can book on the Viator or GetYourGuide websites. Another alternative is to find a private driver. For our visit, a member of our group drove, which made it very straightforward.

Tickets, Opening Times and Visitor Rules

The Libearty Bear Sanctuary is open Tuesday to Sunday and has a few options for visiting. You can find out about these and make bookings on their website.

Some important rules are worth checking before visiting. Children under five are not allowed inside the sanctuary; camera use may incur an extra charge; mobile phone photography is free; tickets are non-refundable; and weekend prices may apply on public holidays. Check the official website before booking, as opening times, prices, and rules can change.

Organised Tours

There are many options for tours to the sanctuary on the Viator and GetYourGuide websites. One thing I’ve noticed is most of these are just to get you to the attraction and don’t include tickets. If you read the small print, you can book tickets on the sanctuary’s website if necessary.

What the Classic Tour Is Like

We opted for the classic tour on a Sunday morning before the weather got too hot. The experience took roughly an hour and 15 minutes and took us along a 2 km forest trail, where we viewed enclosures and saw the bears that now call the sanctuary home.

First up was getting to the site from Brașov by minivan; the trail from near Zărneşti is a long dirt track into the countryside. The site has a car park with a security guard directing traffic. The car park had views of the nearby mountains, including Postăvarul, and on the horizon, you could see Bran Castle.

Next up was the entrance gate, which had toilets, a gift shop, and a drink machine. We purchased a few things from the gift shop: a T-shirt and a mouse mat with a picture of a bear.

First up was a walk to a sheltered area to watch an introductory video by the founder that explores the site’s purpose and story. Then a walk uphill through the forest, where we saw the first bear of the day.

On the site, they also had a cage to show the conditions these bears were kept in and tortured in. Their lives have improved since being rescued; however, none will be truly wild again.

The group then headed up to the edge of a large enclosure housing a group of bears. The guide gave a talk introducing the bears. There were also some dogs here roaming the paths outside of the enclosures.

An unexpected enclosure towards the end of the route contained wolves. They had two here: one was a purebred, and the other was half wolf. There are an estimated 3,000 wolves living wild in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania.

Another memorable enclosure was one inhabited by cubs; they had left a trail of destruction with the trees (cub toys).

One of the biggest bears at the site is very protective of his friend and sent her to hide while he patrolled the fence when people were nearby; we were told she came out as normal when the tours left the area. This enclosure also had a very visible pool; nobody was playing in the pond on our visit despite the heat.

Another bear nearby was chilling in a tree, which amused the group; it was very high up, enjoying the views.

About Libearty Bear Sanctuary

Established in 2005, the Libearty Bear Sanctuary is home to many rescued bears. It is on 69 hectares of oak forest to help the bears have a natural habitat. Over the years, they have rescued 130 bears from horrendous conditions. You can learn about the tragic stories of many of the bears they rescued. They also rescue other animals, including wolves and stray dogs.