Nanuk Polar Bear Safari 2010 Information |
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.
In addition to the polar bears; black bears, moose, martens, wolverine, wolves plus beluga 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 Polar Bear and Northern Lights Adventure 7 Days, 6 Nights Package $5895.00 CAD per person plus taxes out of Winnipeg, MB
2010 Available Dates: August 23-29 – 10 spots left August 30-September 5 – 10 spots left September 20-30 – 4 spots left
2010 Itinerary Your exclusive wildlife adventure will take place at Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge on the coast of the Hudson Bay, within the Cape Tatnam Wildlife Management Area. During your breathtaking flight east from Gillam to the lodge you will fly over the Northern Taiga Forest and follow the mighty Nelson River to the plains and tidal flats of Hudson Bay. You will also fly over York Factory, which is the original Hudson Bay Company Post. York Factory is where Canada’s history began and has 300 years of fur trading in its history. Stay alert for a chance to see Beluga Whales in the mouth of the Nelson & Hayes Rivers. Day 1 – Anticipation builds during your overnight in Winnipeg! You will arrive in Winnipeg on your own travel arrangements and overnight at the Four Points Sheraton located at the airport where your adventure with us begins.
Day 2 – The adventure begins! You will depart Winnipeg for Gillam early in the morning on Calm Air International. Upon arrival in Gillam you will transfer to a private charter for your one hour flight to Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge. You may have some great opportunities for aerial photography during the flight so make sure you are ready. Upon arrival at the lodge you will receive a tour and be shown to your room to get settled. Check out the library which includes local maps and information as well as the gift shop. Lunch is served shortly after your arrival, and you will be given an orientation on your stay in Polar Bear country. This day includes an interpretive walk on the inland Palsa Bogs, Tundra Ponds and Taiga Forest. Appetizers and cocktails are served at 6:00pm and your gourmet dinner is served at 7:00pm. After dinner there will be an informative lecture or slide show presentation. Lights are out at 10:00pm – this is when the generator is turned off. If it is a clear night you will have the chance to view the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights).
Day 3, 4, 5 – Nature Trekking, Polar Bears, and Magnificent Photography! During the rest of your stay your gourmet breakfast will generally be served at 8:00am and your outings will begin at about 9:30am. If there are bears near the lodge (this happens often!) the tour may be delayed to take advantage of the photo and observation opportunities. There is the option available for anyone to stay behind to take photos of the wildlife around the lodge and relax. Daily outings rotate through the following: #1 An ATV coastal tour to the tidal flats and Hudson Bay Shoreline, including a viewing of the historic beached vessel the ‘Mooswa’. Lunch and a tea boil are served around the campfire.
#2 A full day photo tour to the Coast of the Hudson Bay to photograph the polar bears and other abundant wildlife in their unique landscape. Lunch and a tea boil are served around the campfire. After lunch you will explore the river deltas and coastal eskers.
#3 Staying close to the lodge to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves as the day unfolds to photograph the King of the Arctic. Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the arctic environment. Lunch is served at the lodge on this day. Appetizers and cocktails are served at 6:00pm and your gourmet dinner is served at 7:00pm. After dinner there will be an informative lecture, slide show presentation, or informal visiting. Aurora Borealis viewing after dark if conditions are optimal. Day 6 – Last Minute Wildlife Viewing and reminiscing in Winnipeg! This morning you will take advantage of last minute photo opportunities, pack your gear and get ready to head home. Lunch will be served at the lodge today and your charter for Gillam will leave afterwards. You will depart Gillam for Winnipeg on Calm Air late in the afternoon. You arrive in Winnipeg early in the evening and will again overnight at the Four Points Sheraton by the airport.
Day 7 – Homeward Bound! Today you will fly home on your own travel arrangements, marking the end of your adventure with Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge.
This is a very unique program and is sure to be the trip of a lifetime. The owners and staff routinely deal with the unique situations that arise from having polar bears in such close proximity with humans. There is an overwhelming abundance of wildlife in the area to photograph and enjoy. There is a variety of migratory birds including geese, wolves and moose. It is very common during the season to record over 400 bears passing by the lodge. Our daily record from 2005 is 17 bears around the lodge in just 9 hours. Photo opportunities present themselves often from inside the 8 foot buffalo fence, with bears as close as 3 feet away. Come and participate in what is sure to be an adventure to remember! Package Inclusions – All accommodations and transfers required within the package dates are included in the cited price.
Meal Inclusions are as follows: Day 1 – none Day 2, 3, 4, 5 – B, L, D Day 6 – B, L Day 7 – B B – Breakfast, L – Lunch, D – Dinner
Tour Cost: $5895.00 CAD / adult and $5305.50 CAD / child 5-12 years Single Supplement - $1500.00 / adult
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
DISCLAIMERS
Click here for general & environment photos. Click here for more Aurora photos Not Included: Winnipeg airport transfers, alcoholic beverages, gratuities, insurance, or expenses of a personal nature. Optional: Flights in and out of Winnipeg are available on request. Ask about 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. Click here for exterior lodge photos. Click here for interior lodge photos. Amenities:
2010 Tour Dates: August 23 - 29 - 10 spots left August 30 - September 5 - 10 spots left September 20 - 27 - 4 spots left 2010 Tour Costs: $5895.00 CAD / adult - single supplement $1500.00 $5305.50 CAD / child 5-12 years old Tour numbers: This is a very exclusive tour that we are providing for a small number for each departure Booking Request Form: If you would like to download a copy of our tour registration form click here For information contact: Don, Shannon or Heather Mail, fax or email to: Heartland International Travel & Tours 202-3111 Portage Ave. Winnipeg, MB. R3K 0W4 Toll free: 1-866-890-3377 Ph: 204-989-9630 Fax: 204-989-9636 Email: info@heartlandtravel.ca |
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. 
