Our brief walking safari through polar bear country is an exciting bonus, yes, but it's also great to get back to our hotel rooms in Churchill. I saw only a few bears, but am not disappointed. Sometimes, watching wildlife is at its best when you know the animals haven't read the guidebooks. Spending time, however brief, in this glorious and ethereal landscape, does something to the soul. No roads lead in or out of Churchill.
Tours fill fast and early.
Besides guided tours, Tundra Buggy Tours Ltd. can arrange a stay at Polar Bear Lodge, a solitary bunkhouse and diner on wheels 80 km from civilization, an ideal place for photographers. Normally, the best time for viewing polar bears is mid-October to early November, but dates vary depending on weather conditions. Spring and summer along the Hudson Bay Lowlands bring Arctic birds, whales and wildflowers. Birders come in May, June and July to see birds they can only see here, including Ross' gull and common eiders. Other birds include long-tailed jaegers, Arctic terns and some 200 other species.