Nature lovers or those just looking for a pleasant walk in some fragrant forests can head straight from the beach into the Buna nature reserve between Velipoja and the Buna River which forms the Montenegrin border here. It's an important element of the Buna River- Velipojë Protected Landscape which also includes the Drin estuary and the Viluni lagoon. The Buna is a short 44km river that originates from Lake Shkodra and meanders its way to the Adriatic sea. The river splits into a several arms near Velipoja, forming a marshy low-lying delta area with a few fishing villages and one large island on the Montenegrin side. On the Albanian side, old river arms have turned into marshy lakes full of wildlife, surrounded by forests of pine and deciduous trees. The Buna delta is populated by a rich variety of animals, including logger-head turtles, wild boar, foxes, jackals, spoonbills, pygmy cormorants, stone curlews and levant sparrowhawks. Arriving very early in the morning gives you the most chance of spotting wildlife and the chance to explore the whole area. The two paths lead to bird viewing towers along the Buna river, with views of the Montenegrin Bojana island and the shifting sandbanks at the mouth of the river. The reserve is entered through the gate on Rruga Nr.1 opposite a wooden chalet, or further along from the beach; you may have to pay a small fee to get in. The paths here are not suitable for cars, so walking or cycling  in is the best option. There are no facilities, so bring food, water and mosquito repellent. Interestingly, in the 1970s and 80s, locals would come to these beaches to see what had washed up from Italy, as plastic bags and bottles were highly valued and used at home.