Wildlife - Polar Bears - Specialist Tours

Join professional photographer, Daniel J. Cox, for one of the most unusual expeditions on earth! As the bear-viewing season at Polar Bear Point winds-down, the bears continue their easterly migration. The location is Cape Churchill - the jump off point for many bears - the season's last opportunity to observe the polar bears before they head out onto the ice of Hudson Bay.

Located about 30 kms (20 miles) east of Polar Bear Point, Cape Churchill provides the most breathtaking and exciting polar bear photographic location available, anywhere. If you've seen a polar bear documentary on television, or photographs of the bears in print, it is very likely the images were captured at the Cape. Recognised as one of the world's greatest wildlife spectacles, the polar bears of Cape Churchill will, literally, take your breath away.

The only way that you can stay at Cape Churchill is on the Tundra Buggy Lodge. There are limited toilet and shower facilities as water and waste transportation is a real problem out here from an environmental angle. You will share 3 or 4 toilets and 2 showers. 99% of our guests feel the small inconvenience is more than made up by the extra time on the tundra. More about the tundra lodge

Our Canadian partners pioneered adventures to view polar bears about 25 years ago. When Wapusk National Park was created, Tundra Buggy Tours' expeditions to the Cape were 'grand-fathered' into legislation, enabling Tundra Buggy Tours (now Frontiers North) - the only tour company - to operate on National Park land.

Read what Cape Churchill veteran, Wayne Bennett, had to say:

'After shooting professionally for a number of years, I finally got the opportunity to go up to Churchill to photograph polar bears. I'd heard from my friends how great the tours were and now I had a chance to find out for myself.

Needless to say, all my expectations were met and then exceeded. I took the Cape Tour and spent 10 days on the Tundra Buggy Lodge, which in itself was a great experience not only because it's so unique, but more so because of all the folks involved in putting the adventure together. The staff and other guests were all great and I forged many strong friendships during my stay.

Staff at the Lodge were extremely knowledgeable and went out of their way to ensure my stay was a memorable one. The polar bear experience was extraordinary; we counted around 75 different bears!

We had countless opportunities to capture images of the bears: resting in all kinds of positions, sparring and playing in the snow. We saw mothers with one, twin and triplet C.O.Y.'s (cubs of that year). We even had a chance to see a mother nursing two cubs! Needless to say the photo ops were numerous and the Tundra Buggy drivers knew where to go to find the bears. They knew the bears' habits and were great in anticipating the bears' next moves. We also saw Arctic Foxes, Arctic Hares, Willow Ptarmigans, and Gyrfalcons. Overall, a wonderful experience...and the food was great!...and you can't forget the evenings in the Muktuk. Would I go again? Absolutely!'

Wayne Bennett, Altamonte Springs, Florida
Cape Churchill: November 16-28 2001, Photo Leader: Robert Taylor

This is a Specialist Itinerary type and is intended for those interested in the ultimate bear viewing and photography. You'll spend 7 or 8 full days on the tundra with a maximum of ten guests per roving Tundra Buggy and you will stay overnight in the Tundra Buggy Lodge. Space is limited on these two expeditions, as we must restrict it to a maximum of 76 guests each year. Please note there are environmental limitations imposed by statute that means there are only 3 or 4 toilets and 2 showers between 38 people. With a little amount of patience this is not a problem.

Day 1 (17th Nov) Arrive Winnipeg. Accommodations at a hotel near the airport. Group dinner with guide. Overnight Winnipeg. (D.).

Day 2 Early morning flight to Churchill. Short town orientation before being transferred to the Tundra Buggy Launch. Enjoy a leisurely drive to the Tundra Buggy Lodge watching for wildlife along the way. Settle into your new 'home away from home.' (B, L, D.).

Days 3-9 Overnight on the Tundra Buggy Lodge for 8 nights in total. Enjoy daily excursions to view and photograph wildlife. Enjoy good home cooked meals, evening presentations, and lots of socialising. Watch the night sky for the Northern Lights (the spectacular Aurora Borealis). (B, L, D.).

Day 10 After breakfast, begin the journey back to the Tundra Buggy Launch. Transfer to Churchill. Check into a local hotel. Dinner. Overnight Churchill. (B, L, D.).

Day 11 Morning departure to Winnipeg by air. Check into airport hotel. Overnight Winnipeg. (B).

Day 12 (28th Nov) Depart Winnipeg at your leisure. (B).

Maximum Capacity (of guests on each roving Tundra Buggy): 10 people (with 30+ seats there is plenty of room for photographic gear)

What is Included
Accommodation: 2 nights in a hotel in Winnipeg, 1 night in Churchill, 8 nights sleeping on the Tundra Buggy Lodge. A roving Tundra Buggy for day viewing, if we need to search for bears. All meals as specified by the code (B, L, D). Transfers in Winnipeg and Churchill. R/T by air Winnipeg / Churchill / Winnipeg.