Wild West Adventures at the Small-Balaton
Visiting the bison herd at Kápolnapuszta
You don’t have to cross the ocean if you are after an authentic experience you only know from the movies. To experience the Wild West, all you have to do is visit the Small-Balaton and spend half a day in the bison reserve there. If you are lucky enough to see the bison as they are driven out of the stables, you will never forget how small and defenceless you felt when these huge animals were rumbling past.
Some three hundred of them live in three herds at the Kápolnapuszta’s Reserve, which is part of the Upper Balaton National Park. The Reserve is situated on an old estate that offers enough space for these magnificent animals to wander around freely all though the day. According to the Park’s guide book, buffalos were originally brought over from Asia for breeding in Hungary, so they are not indigenous here. They are not bred anymore in Hungary, except in Kápolnapuszta where the national park’s management has realised that these huge black animals can be used as special attractions. The park has an important role in ensuring the survival of the animals and is, naturally, a popular show centre. You can feed and pet newborn buffalos if you are fortunate enough to arrive at the rights time. There are several footpaths around the national park with picnic areas, lookout towers and some exercise ideas for visitors of all ages.
Visitors can also participate in “buffalogy” courses at an exhibition in the manor-house stable. Among the things that you will learn is that buffalos are never milked and their meat resembles beef and game. (However, buffalo steaks are not sold here because these animals are not kept for their meat.)
The Upper Balaton National Park has some other attractions. For instance gophers that have become almost extinct in other parts of the country and bee-eaters and bank swallows that nestle in the loess walls. A visit to the national park can take an entire day if you also look at the island of Kányavár or the study path to Fenékpuszta, both of them offering some unique natural features and a multitude of protected animals and plants.
