Zelen-Gaj Campground

The Zelen-Gaj Campground is a small campground inside Lonjsko Polje Nature Park, in the Mužilovčica area, close to the Sava River in the Posavina region south-east of Zagreb. The place is a good example of how camping in a protected landscape can be low-impact and quiet: a few tent pitches and caravan spaces among trees and meadows, a village setting of old wooden houses, and nothing to hear in the evening except frogs, crickets and the occasional stork. It suits those who value silence more than facilities.

The campground is seasonal, usually open from spring to autumn, and it offers pitches for tents and caravans, with sanitary blocks, a communal kitchen and a barbecue area for guests. The set-up is simple and clean, and the owners are known for their friendly welcome. A small restaurant nearby acts as the reception point, and offers traditional Posavina dishes, among them fish from the river, local meat and home-baked bread. Daily necessities such as bread and milk can be bought in the village or in a shop a short drive away. Prices, dates and the exact facilities change from year to year, so it is wise to contact the campground and book in advance, particularly for weekends and for the stork-watching season in late spring.

The setting is the real attraction. The surrounding wooden houses, many of them over a century old, give the village a character found in only a few places in Europe, and the meadows and oak forests around are part of one of the largest preserved floodplains on the continent. Walking and cycling trails start close to the campground, and boat trips and canoeing are available at certain times. The park information centre in Krapje is a short distance away and provides maps, advice and exhibitions. Other places within reach include Čigoč, Krapje, the Characteristic Wooden Houses and the Lonjsko Polje Floodplain Forests, as well as the Sava River Wetlands, and the nearby village of Mužilovčica is itself a place worth exploring on foot.

Because the area floods in autumn and spring, access can be affected by high water, and the site may close in bad conditions. Mosquitoes are numerous in summer, so bring repellent and a mosquito net. Evenings can be cool, even in July.

The campground suits nature lovers, families, cyclists and birdwatchers who are happy with a simple, quiet stay. Choose spring or early autumn for comfortable weather.