National parks etc.

“Safari” at home: eco-tourism is booming

Expeditions and safaris are not only possible in Africa.

(Bild: Leander Khil)

Why travel to Africa? Expeditions and safaris are also possible here. Eco-adventures are in demand like never before.

42 percent of Austrians have spent a vacation in Austria this year or are planning to do so - Styria and Carinthia are particularly popular for vacations "at home". Six national parks attract visitors: Hohe Tauern, Kalkalpen, Gesäuse, Thayatal and Donau-Auen - Lake Neusiedl and Seewinkel are particularly noteworthy. Salt plants take root there, whose closest relatives can only be found on the coasts of Croatia. These treasure troves of nature are home to 213 bird, 84 fish and 101 mammal species, as well as 40,000 insect species.

"More and more people are becoming aware of this nearby beauty. And more and more resorts are focusing on ecotourism. 'Back to local nature' is experiencing a real renaissance," says tourism expert and former DDSG boss Helmut Zolles. He also once created the slogan "Wanderbares Österreich" (Hikeable Austria).

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Staying with the big river: Schlosshotel Dürnstein boss Christian Thiery entices visitors to the Wachau with Zille adventures on the Danube. The St. Martins Lodge in Burgenland offers British-style and unique Land Rover tours into the reeds with specially trained rangers: bird ringing and bird watching in the Pannonian "bush" included.

We want to offer our guests special nature experiences. You will find them in our Pannonia Hills.

Ökopionier und Kärntner Hotelier Bert Jandl

Desire for security in nature
Then, of course, there is Herbert Eder's reserve in Kernhof (Lower Austria), famous for its white tigers, where the Vari twins "Max" and "Moritz" have now seen the light of day in the zoo world. Experience the wild: the lynx trail through the Kalkalpen National Park (Upper Austria)! Insider tip: Karl and Nicole Reiter's luxury resort in Bad Tatzmannsdorf (Burgenland) with its internationally renowned Lipizzaner breed.

Psychologist and eight-thousander conqueror Ronald Newerkla offers explanations for the popularity: "A return to nature and the desire for security in nature - especially in globally turbulent times."