See moose, black bear and elk in Riding Mountain National Park, and then search for polar bears in their natural habitat on the rugged tundra of Churchill on this unique safari which showcases the prolific wildlife of Manitoba.
Your journey begins in Winnipeg, with a drive to Riding Mountain National Park, a rich wilderness in the midst of the prairieland that covers more than 3,000 square kilometres of rolling hills and valleys. Amidst its boreal forests, vast expanses of meadows, lakes and deep gorges, moose, black bear and a (captive) herd of bison live together with elk, wolf and countless bird species.
After the serene landscape of these southern plains, you head north to Churchill, where the forests give way to rugged and barren tundra. Here you search for polar bears and the 3,000 or so beluga whales that spend summer in the Churchill River. This one-off itinerary takes advantage of the long hours of summer daylight, when the short flowering season of the tundra is at its colourful best.
Typical Itinerary
Day1: Fly to Winnipeg
Fly to Winnipeg via Toronto. On arrival, make your way to your overnight hotel situated close to the airport.
Accommodation: Four Points by Sheraton, 1-night
Day2: Drive to Riding Mountain National Park
After breakfast you drive northwest out of the city to Riding Mountain National Park (255 kilometres, around three hours), arriving in time for lunch. In the afternoon you will visit the Parks Canada interpretative centre for an introduction to the National Park and its flora and fauna, before taking an evening safari to spot the key species: moose, black bear and bison. This 2,978 square kilometre island of forest rises out of a sea of surrounding farmland – Manitoba’s fertile prairie. Here you can find plants and animals from three distinct ecological zones, protected from the radical changes that have occurred as the land has been developed for agricultural or residential use.
Accommodation: Honeycomb Bed & Breakfast, 2-nights
Day3: Safaris into the park to spot moose, black bear & bison
This morning you head back into the park again for another opportunity to see moose, black bear and bison, together with other animals to be found in this region. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of the Parks Canada Interpretive Centre followed by some free time, where you may wish to explore the town of Wasagaming. This evening there is a chance to do another safari to look for wildlife at dusk.
Day4: Return to Winnipeg
Before breakfast, enjoy an early morning wildlife drive to look for any species you may have missed on previous days. Late morning, transfer to Winnipeg for an overnight stay.
Accommodation: Four Points by Sheraton, 1-night
Day5: Fly to Churchill
Take an early morning flight to Churchill, before embarking on a guided tour around teh town, by bus and on foot (weather permitting) to visit sites of local and historical interest.
After stopping to check-in at your hotel, enjoy lunch at a local family-run restaurant, before an afternoon visit to the Eskimo Museum and Parks Canada Visitor Centre to learn more about the wildlife, history and culture of the area. After dinner, there is an evening tour to see beluga whales and the Prince of Whales Fort, Canada’s oldest and most northerly fort.
Accommodation: Local hotel in Churchill, 2-nights
Day6: Beluga Zodiac excursion & dog sledding
This morning you embark on another trip to see belugas, this time on a manoeuvrable Zodiac inflatable so you can see these endearing marine mammals from right down at water level. After the boat tour and a spot of lunch in Churchill town, you’ll meet a local dog sledding expert to hear all about this arcane art and learn its lore. After meeting the team of dogs, you’ll go for a short ride through the boreal forest. As – in theory, at least – there is no snow at this time of year, you’ll be pulled on a wheeled sled.
Day7: Tundra Buggy adventure, fly to Winnipeg
After breakfast, you head out onto the Tundra Buggy for a six hour excursion into the Churchill Wildlife Management Area. The elevated Tundra Buggy offers a warm and comfortable vantage point from which to view and photograph bears, as the vehicle meanders across the tundra. You will stop to enjoy the scenery, photograph the lush Arctic flora of the brief summer season and look for wildlife, including caribou, Arctic fox, ptarmigan and, of course, polar bear – the last on the Big Five list.
In the afternoon, there will be free time to explore Churchill, before an early dinner and evening flight back to Winnipeg for your final overnight.
Accommodation: Four Points by Sheraton, 1-night
Day8: Depart Winnipeg
The day is free until you transfer to the airport to check in for your flight back to the UK. Depending on your departure time, there may be time to see something of Winnipeg during the day.
Day9: Arrive UK
Key info
Duration and price including flights from/to UK: 9 daysfrom £5,495 pp
Duration and price excluding international flights: 8 daysfrom £4,695 pp
Churchill is known as the ‘Polar Bear and Beluga Whale Capital of the World’ and lies right in the migratory path of polar bears, as they head north onto the ice floes to spend the winter hunting seals. Situated in Northern Manitoba, the coastline here is so remote that it has not changed in thousands of years.
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Northwest of Winnipeg, this national park – one of the first in Canada – is a forested island in the middle of Manitoba’s fertile prairie, and protects plants and animals from three distinct ecosystems. Key species are moose, black bear and bison, but lynx, cougar, otter, bald eagle and osprey also live here.
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Where: Manitoba
Ideal for viewing: American black bear, moose, ruby-throated hummingbird, short-tailed weasel, otter
Excellent for: Bear watching
Due to its location at the confluence of two major rivers that provide access to an extensive network of canoe routes, Winnipeg was a trading post for First Nations peoples long before the first Europeans arrived. It serves as a gateway to Churchill in northern Manitoba, where our polar bear tours start.
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