Carska Bara

Carska Bara, the imperial marsh and the largest single bog in Serbia, is part of the Stari Begej special reserve, a complex of oxbows, reed beds, wet meadow and forest left by the meandering of the Begej and Tisa rivers in the Banat plain. It is a Ramsar site and one of the strongest bird locations in Serbia, with squacco and purple herons, glossy ibis, spoonbills, pygmy cormorants, white-tailed eagles and, on passage, Dalmatian pelicans. Boat trips run through the channels from a landing near Belo Blato, which is the best way to see the colonies, and a nature trail and hide give land access. The village of Belo Blato itself is unusually mixed, with Slovak, Hungarian, Bulgarian and Serbian communities, and is worth a stop for that.

What you'll find

• Heron and ibis colonies - mixed breeding birds in the reed and willow.
• Boat channels - trips through the marsh from the landing.
• Wet meadow and oxbow - the mosaic of habitats left by the rivers.
• Belo Blato village - a settlement of several language communities.

When to go

April to June for breeding, September and October for passage. Boat trips run in the warm months and need booking in advance for small groups. Mosquitoes are heavy in midsummer.

Practical notes

Boat trips depend on water level and group size and are not always available on demand. Mosquitoes are severe. Interpretation is limited in English. The reserve is flat and the walking is short; the boat is what makes the visit.

Nearby

Zrenjanin lies north, beyond the Ečka fishponds; Kikinda is further north.

Key facts