I'm still grinning from ear to ear thinking about our epic adventure to Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park in Belarus. It was literally the highlight of our vacation in Brest, and I'm so glad we made it happen.

We drove from Brest to the park, which is about 65 kilometers away – a quick 40-minute to an hour trip, depending on your pace. If you're planning to drive from Brest, just keep in mind that you'll be sharing the road with plenty of tour buses.

When we arrived, we were greeted by a spacious parking lot, which was a welcome sight considering how many visitors the park gets. You can buy tickets right at the entrance, in the pavilion. We had the option to explore the park on our own or take a guided tour on a bike – and yes, you can even rent one if you need to. Since it was a weekend, we decided to check out the animal enclosures and the nature museum. A ticket to the animal enclosures costs 17 Belarusian rubles, which is around 464 Russian rubles, while the nature museum ticket is 14 Belarusian rubles, or 382 Russian rubles.

Belovezhskaya Pushcha, Belarus.We're absolutely loving our time in Belarus so far – the nature, the history, the people, and the cozy atmosphere have all won us over.

Before we even entered the park, we were blown away by its sheer size.

Belovezhskaya Pushcha, Belarus.If you're a first-timer to Belovezhskaya Pushcha and aren't sure where to go, don't worry – there are plenty of signs along the way to guide you.

Belovezhskaya Pushcha, Belarus.Belovezhskaya Pushcha, Belarus.Walking around the entire park on foot is pretty much impossible, so we opted for the guided bus tour instead. And let me tell you, it was totally worth it – we even got to see the Grandfather Frost's residence, which is located 12 kilometers deep in the park. Of course, we didn't make it there, but we did get to explore the park's trails, visit the animal enclosures, and check out the nature museum.And let me tell you, the fall foliage in Belovezhskaya Pushcha is absolutely stunning – the yellow and burgundy leaves create this magical atmosphere that's hard to describe.

Bialowieza Forest Belarus.As we were walking towards the enclosures, we spotted a four-legged worker of Bialowieza Forest proudly running towards us.Bialowieza Forest Belarus.The animal and bird enclosures are located near the park entrance. This isn't a zoo, and the animals are kept in large enclosures that closely mimic their natural habitats.

Our tour started with the cages housing a white-tailed eagle, a lynx, a stone marten, a badger, and other fascinating creatures.

Bialowieza Forest Belarus.Bialowieza Forest Belarus.Bialowieza Forest Belarus.The complex surrounding the enclosures is designed with pathways and benches, allowing you to choose which animals to visit first. If you get tired, you can sit down and take in the fresh air while listening to the birds singing.Bialowieza Forest Belarus.Bialowieza Forest Belarus.There aren't many cages with small animals, so we headed towards the larger enclosures. That's where you'll find the bigger animals: roe deer, rare horse breeds, aurochs, noble stags, wild boars, foxes, wolves, and brown bears.

And here's our first encounter – adorable roe deer and stags. The stags were too cool to bother with us, just lying down and taking a nap in the rain. The roe deer, on the other hand, are super friendly and love taking carrots from our hands and getting petted.

Bialowieza Forest Belarus.Bialowieza Forest Belarus.Nah, girls, it's true!

Bialowieza Forest Belarus.Bialowieza Forest Belarus.We spent some quality time with the elk, and then headed over to meet the bison. In one enclosure, there were both adult bison and their adorable calves. I swear, one massive animal slowly approached us, with eyes that were so gentle and devoted - it really looked right through you, like it was sizing us up or something.

Białowieża Forest, Belarus. I was stoked to see the special enclosures in the zoo, but the adult bison had already figured out how to squeeze under the bottom of the fence and get to the treats. Białowieża Forest, Belarus. Białowieża Forest, Belarus. Białowieża Forest, Belarus. Our next encounter was with a tarpan-horse hybrid - these little guys are smaller than regular horses, but they're ridiculously strong and agile. Białowieża Forest, Belarus. Białowieża Forest, Belarus. Białowieża Forest, Belarus. The last enclosures we visited were with predators - we saw wolves and lynxes. I was a bit bummed we didn't get any meat, but the raccoons were having a blast with the carrots. Białowieża Forest, Belarus. Białowieża Forest, Belarus. Białowieża Forest, Belarus. After our animal encounters, we headed to the nature museum, which is located in the administrative building and has an insane collection of flora and fauna.

Bialowieza Forest Belarus.I was blown away by the taxidermy museum - it's like stepping into a real-life forest, but with animals that are, well, not alive. I get why it might not be everyone's cup of tea, especially if you've seen wildlife in their natural habitats. But the collection is seriously impressive, with all sorts of flora and fauna that call Bialowieza home.

Bialowieza Forest Belarus.Bialowieza Forest Belarus.Bialowieza Forest Belarus.Bialowieza Forest Belarus.Bialowieza Forest Belarus.Bialowieza Forest Belarus.Bialowieza Forest Belarus.Bialowieza Forest Belarus.Bialowieza Forest Belarus.Bialowieza Forest Belarus.The exhibits are divided into several sections, each with its own lighting and sound effects that really make you feel like you're right there in the forest.

Bialowieza Forest, Belarus. I've got to say, the museum's collection of butterflies is a real showstopper - people go wild for it!

Bialowieza Forest, Belarus. There are a few cafes on site where you can grab a bite to eat or sit down for a proper meal. We opted for 'Sosny' - it's a cozy little spot that's perfect for a warm day. You can sit outside and enjoy the scenery while sipping on a cup of tea. We were craving some draniki with mushrooms, mashed potatoes with a side of bacon, and a cup of tea. It cost us 19 Belarusian rubles or 512 Russian rubles. The menu's got a great selection of national dishes and the atmosphere's super welcoming. Just be aware that it's a small cafe, so it might get busy with tourists.

Bialowieza Forest, Belarus. Sosny Cafe. Bialowieza Forest, Belarus. Sosny Cafe. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to linger, but I'd highly recommend staying in Bialowieza Forest for at least a few days. They've got everything you need - accommodation, equipment rentals, and guided bus tours. There are also plenty of walking and cycling routes to explore, as well as some lovely asphalt paths for a leisurely stroll through this incredible natural wonder.

Bialowieza Forest, Belarus. Bialowieza Forest is truly a special place - I could go back again and again!