There are more than enough beautifully designed parks and green spaces in and around Berlin. On Köpenick Castle Island, you will find a picturesque, baroque castle park, and just 30 miles from the capital, there is a 250-acre English landscape garden – perfect places for idyllic walks. But being out in truly wild, untouched nature feels completely different. Fortunately, there are also some real treasures in Brandenburg that convey exactly this feeling: from Nonnenfließ to the only large-scale untouched beech forest in the federal state to the Döberitzer Heide nature reserve. The latter covers around 5,000 hectares and geologically belongs to the so-called Nauen Plate.
Originally, the Döberitzer Heide was a predominantly forested area – today it presents itself as a wide, open landscape with heathland, sandy areas, dry grasslands, moors, and birch and oak forests. Military use began as early as the 18th century and was first documented in 1713. From 1892, the site was officially developed into the Döberitz military training area and became one of the largest in Germany. In 1910, its own airfield was opened here, and parts of the area were also used for military competitions during the 1936 Olympic Games.
Military use continued – under various armies – until the withdrawal of Soviet troops in 1991. It was precisely this decades-long isolation that prevented intensive agriculture and development. As a result, large areas of open habitat were preserved – a decisive reason for the extraordinary biodiversity that characterizes the area today.
A real highlight of the Döberitzer Heide: bison (European bison) and Przewalski’s horses live in a fenced-off core area. The animals take care of the natural landscape here and ensure that the open heathland is preserved. With a little luck, they can be observed from selected vantage points – a safari feeling in the middle of Brandenburg. The area is also a habitat for endangered species such as white-tailed eagles, woodlarks, and sand lizards. Rare plants also thrive on the nutrient-poor soils, making the Döberitzer Heide a real hotspot of biodiversity.
There are no classic jeep safaris like in Africa, but there are wilderness safaris on foot or as part of guided tours. You can walk along the designated paths of the so-called nature experience ring zone. Animals can often be spotted in the distance from observation towers or open areas – binoculars are recommended.
The Heinz Sielmann Foundation also offers regular guided ranger tours. You can learn more about the reintroduction of bison, species conservation projects, and the history of the former military training area. The core area itself is strictly protected and cannot be accessed by car – jeep tours are deliberately not offered here.