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Canada - Manitoba
At the heartland of Canada, Manitoba stretches from the southern border with the USA to the northern coast on the Hudson Bay. Manitoba encompasses many unique environments with the plains of the great prairie, wooded parklands, lakes and rivers and the vast tundra.
Churchill
Churchill is Manitoba’s most northern community, located on the south western shores of Hudson Bay at the mouth of the historic Churchill River. Churchill's history is intertwined with the early days of Canada and the exploration of the arctic. Cree, Dene and Inuit aboriginal cultures come together in this little community and the world famous Eskimo Museum houses one of the most comprehensive collections of Inuit artifacts and sculpture. Outdoor adventure is readily available with hiking tours, dog sledding, snowmobiling, kayaking, snorkeling and fishing all at hand in Churchill.
While Churchill is internationally known as the ‘Polar Bear Capital of the World’, it is truly a year-round wildlife destination. Arctic and boreal species of wildlife, birds and plants can be found along the treeline or the northern edge of the boreal forest. Commonly seen species include arctic and red foxes, arctic hare, caribou, gyrfalcons, snowy owls, ptarmigan and even the occasional lemming. Click here to see our 'Caribou to Wolves' itinerary.
From late May and throughout June, over 200 migratory species of birds pass through the Churchill area. The convergence of three natural ecosystems attracts a wide variety of arctic nesters and forest dwelling birds alike, many in spring plumage.
As the ice floes recede on the Churchill River, the first beluga whales of the year appear. Throughout July and August, pods of beluga whales enter the Churchill River with the tide, coming into the estuary to feed, give birth and raise their young, with numbers peaking around 3,000 by mid-summer. Click here to go to our 'Birds, Bears and Belugas' itinerary.
When the beluga whales depart, polar bears swim ashore in mid-July and can be seen in the summer. But it is not until Churchill’s ‘bear season’ begins in early October, when sometimes 40 or more polar bears can be seen on a given day.
We offer a variety of polar bear itineraries such as our 'Polar Bear Experience', 'Tundra Buggy Lodge at Polar Bear Point', 'Great Ice Bear Tour', 'Mothers and Cubs' and 'Polar Bear Photo Safari'.
Aurora borealis viewing
The Churchill area of Manitoba lies underneath an area of high intensity, high frequency auroral activity, meaning it has some of the best northern lights displays on the planet. By lateJanuary, when Hudson Bay has completely frozen over and snowdrifts sculpt the landscape, the short days and long, clear nights are perfect for viewing the purple and green slashes that illuminate the sky almost every night.
Riding Mountain National Park
Located just three hours from Winnipeg, Riding Mountain rises dramatically from the prairie landscape. Forming part of the Manitoba Escarpment, this ‘island’ reserve protects a wide variety of wildlife. The park has numerous hiking trails, and Agassiz Tower overlooks a panoramic view of prairies stretching out to the north. Wasagaming, the park’s townsite, offers a full range of visitor services including accommodation, restaurants and shopping.
Click here for our 'Black Bear Viewing in Riding National Park' itinerary.
Click here for map of Manitoba
Click here to go to Caribou to Wolves itinerary
Click here to go to Birds, Bears and Belugas itinerary
Click here to go to Polar Bear Experience itinerary
Click here to go to Polar Bear Lodge on the Tundra itinerary
Click here to go to Great Ice Bear Tour itinerary
Click here to go to Mothers and Cubs itinerary
Click here to go to Polar Bear Photo Safari
Click here to go to Black Bear Viewing in Riding Mountain National Park itinerary
Click here to go to Polar Bear and Black Bear Adventure Itinerary
Click here to visit our Canoeing Adventures on Manitoba's Finest Rivers page