Danube Biosphere Reserve

The Danube delta is shared between Romania and Ukraine, and the Ukrainian side covers around fifty thousand hectares of reedbed, channels, lakes and sandbanks where the river finishes. Dalmatian and great white pelicans breed here, along with pygmy cormorants, glossy ibis and herons, and the delta is a major stopover on the migration route. Access is by boat from Vylkove, with permits and guides arranged through the reserve.

What you actually see

• The pelicans - Dalmatian and great white pelicans breeding in the reserve.
• The reed channels - waterways cutting through vast beds of reed.
• The migration - very large numbers of birds passing in spring and autumn.
• The river mouth - the point where the Danube finishes in the Black Sea.

When to go

April to June is the breeding season and the best for pelicans; September and October bring the autumn passage. Mosquitoes are severe from May to September. Winter is cold and windy on the water.

Honest expectations

Access requires a permit and a boat arranged in advance; there is no drop-in visiting. Mosquitoes are punishing and repellent is essential. Birds are seen at distance and binoculars matter.

Nearby

Vylkove is the access town, and Izmail is northwest.