Walk
in Nanuk's footsteps on an amazing Polar Bear Safari. Join
a select adventuresome few who will have an opportunity
to come face to face with the mighty Polar Bear in a unique,
isolated environment.
Your
base camp, Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge,
is situated in the Cape Tatnam Wildlife Management Area
that traces the shoreline of Hudson Bay from the mouth of
the Nelson River to the Manitoba-Ontario border. Comprising
just over 530,000 hectares this coastal habitat lies along
the clear waters of Hudson Bay, with seemingly endless stretches
of sand beaches relieved here and there by high ridges and
broad rivers. This region is a polar bear denning site and
September is a perfect viewing period as the bears gather
along the shoreline.
In
addition to the polar bears; black bears, moose, martens,
wolverine, wolves plus beluga whales
bearded seals and ring seals are often sighted. This is
also a birders' paradise: Willow Ptarmigan, Snowy owls,
Bald eagles, Osprey, Parasitic jaegers, the Northern shrike,
Bonaparte's gulls and Arctic terns are all found here. Hundreds
of thousands of Snow, Ross's and Canada geese stage here
to rest and feed before traveling south.
This
is a unique program in which the Nanuk staff routinely encounters
polar bears at very close quarters. During August and September
it is common for the staff to count upwards of 400 bears
passing in front of the lodge. From inside the lodge's 8
ft high Buffalo fence it is often possible to photograph
bears as close as 3 feet away. Click
here for more polar bear photos
Sample Tour
Itinerary
Day
1
At
7:00 am you depart Winnipeg on a Calm Air flight and arrive
in Gillam at 10:10 am. You transfer to a private
charter and depart for Nanuk PolarBear Lodge. During this 45 min.
flight you will have a wonderful opportunity for photos
as you pass over the Northern Taiga Forest, the mighty Nelson
River, the Hudson Bay coastal plain and tidal flats plus
York Factory, a depot representing 300 years of Canada's
fur trade history. Upon arrival you will be introduced to
the Lodge program and have lunch. In the afternoon you will
be taken on an interpretive walk on inland Palsa Bogs, Eskers,
Tundra Ponds and the Taiga Forest. Dinner is served at 6:00
pm and following the meal there is an evening talk: "Travel
in Bear Country". If the night is clear you should
have a view of the amazing Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights).
Day
2
At
9:00 am you depart on your ATV coastal tour of the tidal
flats and Hudson Bay shoreline. About 8 miles from camp
you
explore an historic beached vessel called the "Mooswa".
At this site you are treated to a tea boil and lunch served
around a campfire. Experience the unique environment of
Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge on Hudson
Bay with the option of remaining at the lodge to photo bears
that visit the fence daily at this time of year. On some
days as many as 5 bears have been sighted against the fence.
Dinner is served at 6:00pm and is followed by a slide presentation
"Arctic Wildlife and Northern Lights". Again,
on a clear night, there is Aurora Borealis viewing.
At
9:00 am Polar Bear photo shoot. This morning you are taken
up close to the bear in its natural habitat.
Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge's very
unique location is Manitoba's best-kept secret when it comes
to photographing and viewing Polar Bears. In the past as
many as 12 bears have been spotted in one general location
at one time. Sows with cubs are often spotted during this
tour. In addition the area is home to many other wildlife
to photograph. You return to the lodge for lunch and in
the afternoon you are again invited to immerse yourself
in the arctic environment. Dinner is at 6:00 pm and Aurora
viewing after dark. Click
here for more Aurora photos
Day
4
At
9:00 am you depart on a full day tour
of Coastal Hudson Bay. Again you have a great opportunity
to view and photograph wildlfie on this unique landscape.
You will have a tea boil and lunch around the campfire.
You also explore the river deltas and coastal eskers. In
the late afternoon you return to the Lodge. Dinner
is at 6:00 pm and the evening presentation is "Traditional
Lifestyles Of The North". Aurora viewing later.
Day
5
In
the afternoon you bid farewell to Nanuk Polar
Bear Lodge and staff and depart on your charter
to Gillam. You depart Gillam on a Calm Air flight at 8:25
pm arriving in Winnipeg at 10:05 pm.
Tour
includes:
Airfare
on Calm Air scheduled service Winnipeg/Gillam/Winnipeg.
Charter
flight from Gillam/Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge/Gillam
All
meals at Nanuk Lodge
Accommodations
at Nanuk Lodge
Ground
transportation on the coast.
Fully
staffed facilities
Daily
maid service.
Guide
services and interpretive tours with experience qualified
staff leading safe expeditions on the coast of Hudson
Bay and surrounding areas near Nanuk
Not
Included: Winnipeg airport
transfers, Winnipeg overnight hotel accommodation, alcoholic
beverages, gratuities, insurance, or expenses of a personal
nature.
Optional:
Flights in and out of Winnipeg
and Winnipeg overnight hotel packages are available on request.
Ask about our travel insurance coverage.
Additional
Specific Information
Nanuk Lodge Location: On
the Hudson Bay coast, 140 miles east
of Gillam, Manitoba. - 22 miles east of York Factory. Access
is by air only on a multi engine Islander 8 passenger aircraft.
Click here for flight photos.
Capacity:
24 beds
in 4 large cabins, large lounge/sitting areas with fantastic
view of the Bay, dining for 32 people. Washrooms (5) contain
showers, sinks and flush toilets. Washrooms and showers
are centrally located in the Main Lodge. Cabins can have
chemical toilets provided.
Full
service meals, with northern flare prepared from highly
acclaimed Blueberries and Polar Bears Cook
Books
Electricity
8 hours per day.
Natural
gas and wood heat
Library
with maps
Gift
Shop
Satellite
telephone
8
Foot High Buffalo fence surround's camp for security from
bears.
7-
4x4 Honda's and custom deluxe touring trailers with emphasis
on comfort and safety
2
way radio contact with Main Lodge
Unlimited
sky line with no other lodge or tour operator with in
100 miles
Unlimited
access to coastline via ATV travel.
Large
numbers of Polar Bears in immediate area. High percentage
of sows with cubs
2009
Tour Dates:
August
18 - 21 - 4 days - 3 nights
August
21 - 25 - 5 days - 4 nights
August
21 - 27 - 7 days - 6 nights **
August
21 - 27 - 7 days - 6 nights - specialist photo tour
August 25 - 27 - 3 days - 2 nights
August 25 - 31 - 7 days - 6 nights *
September
15 - 20 - 6 days - 5 nights
September 20 - 25 - 6 days - 5 nights
September 20 - 28 - 8 days - 7 nights
September 25 - 29 - 5 days - 4 nights
*
For the 3 or 4 day tours days would be a condensed version of the above 5 day itinerary while he 6, 7 & 8 day tours would be an expansion of the 5 day tour.
Your
base camp, Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge,
is situated in the Cape Tatnam Wildlife Management Area
that traces the shoreline of Hudson Bay from the mouth of
the Nelson River to the Manitoba-Ontario border. Comprising
just over 530,000 hectares this coastal habitat lies along
the clear waters of Hudson Bay, with seemingly endless stretches
of sand beaches relieved here and there by high ridges and
broad rivers. This region is a polar bear denning site and
September is a perfect viewing period as the bears gather
along the shoreline. 
whales
bearded seals and ring seals are often sighted. This is
also a birders' paradise: Willow Ptarmigan, Snowy owls,
Bald eagles, Osprey, Parasitic jaegers, the Northern shrike,
Bonaparte's gulls and Arctic terns are all found here. Hundreds
of thousands of Snow, Ross's and Canada geese stage here
to rest and feed before traveling south. 
charter and depart for Nanuk Polar
Bear Lodge. During this 45 min.
flight you will have a wonderful opportunity for photos
as you pass over the Northern Taiga Forest, the mighty Nelson
River, the Hudson Bay coastal plain and tidal flats plus
York Factory, a depot representing 300 years of Canada's
fur trade history. Upon arrival you will be introduced to
the Lodge program and have lunch. In the afternoon you will
be taken on an interpretive walk on inland Palsa Bogs, Eskers,
Tundra Ponds and the Taiga Forest. Dinner is served at 6:00
pm and following the meal there is an evening talk: "Travel
in Bear Country". If the night is clear you should
have a view of the amazing Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights).
you
explore an historic beached vessel called the "Mooswa".
At this site you are treated to a tea boil and lunch served
around a campfire. Experience the unique environment of
Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge on Hudson
Bay with the option of remaining at the lodge to photo bears
that visit the fence daily at this time of year. On some
days as many as 5 bears have been sighted against the fence.
Dinner is served at 6:00pm and is followed by a slide presentation
"Arctic Wildlife and Northern Lights". Again,
on a clear night, there is Aurora Borealis viewing. 
habitat.
Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge's very
unique location is Manitoba's best-kept secret when it comes
to photographing and viewing Polar Bears. In the past as
many as 12 bears have been spotted in one general location
at one time. Sows with cubs are often spotted during this
tour. In addition the area is home to many other wildlife
to photograph. You return to the lodge for lunch and in
the afternoon you are again invited to immerse yourself
in the arctic environment. Dinner is at 6:00 pm and Aurora
viewing after dark. 
tour
of Coastal Hudson Bay. Again you have a great opportunity
to view and photograph wildlfie on this unique landscape.
You will have a tea boil and lunch around the campfire.
You also explore the river deltas and coastal eskers. In
the late afternoon you return to the Lodge. Dinner
is at 6:00 pm and the evening presentation is "Traditional
Lifestyles Of The North". Aurora viewing later.