The Norwegian forests are home to plenty of wildlife, and the moose is the largest of them all. Find out where you can go on a moose safari and which animal parks to visit to get a kiss from the king of the forest.
Have you ever been to 'moose country', or seen one of the world’s largest moose sculptures? You can do both in Norway!
It’s safe to say that the king of the forest is a special part of our wildlife. Chances are you'll find several items with a moose on them if you visit a souvenir shop. And if you head to the municipality of Stor-Elvdal, you'll get to see one of the world’s largest moose statues.
The silver moose stands tall in the Bjørå rest area along the RV3, about 110 kilometres north of the city of Elverum in Eastern Norway. It was built to keep tired drivers alert and draw attention to the moose living in the area.
The message that Storelgen sends is important to remember whenever you’re driving through areas with lots of moose. Keep an eye out for them, because they haven’t learned to use road crossings yet!
Moose roam freely in several Norwegian forests. Over the years, they have found their favourite hang-out spots. This makes it easier to find them, and when you do: remember to keep a safe distance. If you want to get close enough to pet them, you should visit one of the animal parks that have tame moose.
These are the best ways to secure a memorable moose encounter:
Join a guided moose safari
Local safari guides help you navigate big forrests and increase your chances of seeing moose in their natural habitat. They also know how to behave in nature and will make sure you see the animals from a safe distance.
One of the best places to spot moose is in Vesterålen in Northern Norway, but there are also several other places where you can join a guided moose safari. Check out the moose map below.
Get close to moose
You can see moose up close at several wildlife parks in Norway. In Iveland, about an hour's drive from Kristiansand, you can stop by Viltgården – a farm dedicated to friendly encounters with moose and other cute animals. In Bjørneparken, in the Hallingdal valley, just a couple of hours from Oslo, you can pet tame moose and feed them carrots. The nature park Langedrag, also in Hallingdal, is home to several moose (and lots of other animals). You can also pet a moose at Svartisen Moose in Salten!
Other nature parks with moose include Dyreparken Zoo and Amusement Park in Kristiansand, and Polar Park in Bardu.
FlåBear Park
NesbyenLangedrag Nature Park
Visit Elgland ('Moose Land')
Over the course of several weeks each spring and autumn, up to 700 moose migrate between the lowlands west of Mjøsa lake and higher areas in Espedalen, Skåbu, and Murudalen west of the Gudbrandsdalen valley. In contrast to moose migrations in other parts of the world, the moose in Elgland migrate to higher altitudes for the winter, before heading back down in the spring.
Although moose spread out in terms of both time and area when migrating, they follow exactly the same routes as their ancestors did. For 10,000 years, the animals have faithfully been following the same migration route and continue to do so to this day.
Espedalen
Elgland - Home to the Moose
Stay in a moose tower
Experience the moose tower in Espedalen and enjoy a spectacular nature experience out of the ordinary! The Elgtårnet moose tower, which rises 12 metres above the ground, sleeps six. Big windows ensure you get close to both nature and wildlife.
The tower is owned and run by Ruten Fjellstue and Dalseter Fjellhotel, and you book the entire place if you want to spend the night there. Bring friends or family or travel solo. Remember to pack your binoculars!
Bonus: a taste of the wild
At a junction in Elverum sits Norway’s most famous moose restaurant, Elgstua. It has been serving delicious homemade food since 1959. Besides multiple moose dishes, you’ll find plenty of other lovely food on the menu. You can also sample moose in many other Norwegian restaurants, especially in areas where they are plentiful. Have a taste and see why Norway's wild flavours are delicacies!
GeiloHavsdalskroa
ElverumElgstua cafè
RønHelle Kjøtt
UlnesValdres Vilt
ØyerNermo Hotel
GeiloHallingstuene
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