Churchill is a small northern community with a lot of character, otherwise known as the “polar bear capital of the world”. You won’t find one of the big-chain hotels here that you might find in a larger centre. You will, however, find warm hospitality and a chance to see polar bears in their natural environment; every wildlife enthusiast’s dream! Seeing the mother bears tend to their cubs and witnessing the male bears play-fight is truly a sight to behold.
See these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat...
Seeing as Churchill is one of the few human settlements where polar bears can be observed in the wild, it’s no wonder that thousands of visitors from around the work flock to visit Churchill and witness the wonder of these magnificent animals. In this wildlife tour, you’ll often see polar bears be referred to as “Lords of the Arctic” and it’s easy to see why; these spectacular animals are huge. Male polar bears can grow to more than 10 feet tall – but don’t let their size fool you, they can move with surprising speed and agility! Their acute sense of smell can even sniff out seals under three feet of snow and ice, making them excellent hunters. And what’s better – polar bears have no natural enemies and are therefore fearless!
Get up-close in a Tundra
If you want to get up-close-and-personal with these amazing animals, you can take a journey on one of the unique Tundra vehicles whilst staying at Lazy Bear Lodge. They are designed to move smoothly over snow and ice whilst protecting passengers from curious and/or hungry bears. The Tundra Buggy offers people a safe passage through the Polar Bear's domain; the tyres of the vehicle are heavily treaded and stand 5 and 1/2 feet tall. This ensures that the Tundra Buggy can move safely over arctic snow and ice and keeps passengers safely out of a polar bear's reach.
During your time on board, you’ll be invited to stand on the open-air back end of the Tundra Buggy during stops, allowing you to safely get the closest view possible of the polar bears in their natural habitat. You can choose to stay in a cosy hotel with daytime Tundra Buggy excursions, or you can sleep right on board the ‘Tundra Buggy Lodge’ to witness bears around the clock and feel the thrill as you come eye to eye with the most fearsome and intriguing creature roaming the arctic.
There are a few ways to explore the Tundra Buggy – one way is to not only see the magnificent Lord of the Arctic, Manitoba’s polar bears but also to experience the history and culture of the region. Led by very knowledgeable guides, these itineraries include activities other than bear watching, such as a town and area tour, entrance to the Eskimo Museum and Parks Canada facility and a private slide presentation. Either dog sledging or a cultural-arts program is also included. This type of tour includes the largest selection of available activities and is the best way to experience the wildlife as well as the ‘wildlife in Churchill!
...And other great ways to explore the 'Polar Bear Capital of the World'
Another option for those who wish to visit Churchill in hope of seeing a polar bear, but are not necessarily interested in taking part in community-based activities is to take part in an unescorted tour, with very knowledgeable driver guides on-hand who provide excellent interpretation while on the Tundra Buggy.
And if you wish to view the polar bears from a distance, you can stay at a wilderness lodge built on the bears’ migration route, or take guided walks to areas the bears frequent.
The best time to see the polar bears in action is between October and November when the bears begin their move from their summer habitat on the tundra back to seal-hunting territory in Hudson Bay.
So what are you waiting for? Call our experts today to book this unforgettable back-to-nature experience.
Inspired to explore this amazing destination, request our brochure here. If this article has inspired you to visit Manitoba, our team of expert advisors would be happy to personalise your perfect holiday, just call us on 0161 888 5632 or click here to explore more holidays with First Class Holidays.
