Pure nature in Germany: journey with these guides

12 September, 2022

For naturalist guides, the office is nature. You could call it the ultimate working place where the weather determines your schedule. No day is the same. Some of us are made for this. For ACSI FreeLife, we spoke with three German naturalist guides. Be amazed by these wonderful places in Germany.

Rudolf Achtner, gorge keeper at Garmisch-Partenkirchen

For the past 20 years, Rudolf Achtner has been responsible for safety in the 700-metre-long and 80-metre-deep Partnachklamm. ‘You experience nature in all of its beauty here. Sometimes it is peaceful, like when the sun reflects off the water in the morning. But it can also be wild and untamed. It is almost a mystical feeling to be alone in the gorge at the crack of dawn.’

Rudolf explains the origin of the gorge to visitors, keeps an eye on the weather forecast and makes sure that there are no rocks, branches or even entire trees blocking the paths or the flow of the water. In doing so, he protects both the gorge and hikers. ‘If the river is blocked by an obstacle, it could cause a dangerous ground swell.’ The gorge is located near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which Rudolf says is a wonderful holiday destination. Hiking, mountain climbing, water sports, horseback riding – you name it, you can do it all here.’

Campsites in the neighbourhood of Partnach Gorge

Skipper Yvonne Huber, biosphere reserve Spree Forest

Yvonne Huber knows the Spreewald and its rivers like the back of her hand. For seven years now, she has been guiding her punt through this Unesco biosphere reserve with guests on board.1,500 kilometres of waterways makes this interior delta unique in Europa. It calls for an extraordinary boat trip with Yvonne silently crossing the rivers while dressed in the traditional Sorbian-Wendish attire. Along the way, she keeps her eyes and ears open for anything that happens in the water, on the banks and in the trees. ‘I think it’s beautiful to see what the Spree Forest does with visitors. Each trip has a moment of quiet, when guests respond to the nature around them. One time it went wrong. ‘It was raining, and I took a curve in the river too fast. There was a sudden gust of wind, I countersteered, the rudder snapped and there I was, up to my waist in water.

Campsites in the Spree Forest area

Forest ranger Sandra Wendt, Hainich National Park

Sandra Wendt’s workplace is the 7,500 hectares of untamed nature of the Hainich National Park. Her work as a forest ranger is extremely diverse, varying from keeping a watchful eye on the woodpecker population (seven species are indigenous to this region) to providing visitors with information. Sandra prefers to be in the forest when it rains. ‘Then it is so quiet, and it is a perfect time to spot animals.’

Hainich may be the second-smallest national park in Germany, but its variety in landscapes, flora and fauna
is huge. It is part of the largest continuous deciduous forest in the country and belongs to the Unesco World Heritage List. Sandra’s favourite tree is the European hornbeam. ‘It has gnarled bark that makes it look like a tree from a fairy tale.’

Campsite tip

Le Camping Am Tor zum Hainich is a quiet campsite located on the edge of the Hainich National Park. There are plenty of opportunities to hike and a great view in the direction of Südharz.

More stories about the special work of Germany naturalist guides and information about the most beautiful nature reserves in Germany can be found here.

This blog was made with the cooperation of ACSI FreeLife and the German tourist office