After we boarded the tiny, run-down aircraft within the far north of Canada, we weren’t positive if the butterflies in our stomachs had been from the worry of flying in such a small aircraft or the joy for the journey to come back.
In only one hour, we’d be touchdown in a distant camp alongside the Hudson Bay, the place we’d spend the following 5 days hoping to cross paths with the Arctic’s apex predator – polar bears.
We’ve been fortunate sufficient to embark on plenty of unimaginable wildlife encounters, from swimming with orcas to visiting a family of wild gorillas, however one thing made me suppose that this is able to be considered one of our most unimaginable adventures but, and searching again, I can say that feeling was fully right.
The Arctic Kingdom camp is a group of 6 small cabins set alongside the Arctic’s prime polar bear migration path. Our cabin was adorned completely to match the vibe of the expertise with polar bear pillows, polar bear wall artwork, and lots of quirks to remind you simply how distant this camp actually is. Our ‘sink’ was a steel mixing bowl with a sizzling water dispenser, and our bathe pulled water from a close-by frozen river. Moreover the cabins for sleeping, there was a typical space cabin the place we’d eat and calm down collectively.
We barely had time to settle in as a result of, simply as we had been heading to the eating cabin, our guides introduced that there was a polar bear simply exterior of camp. And by simply exterior the camp, they meant lower than 10 ft from the fence.
Our professional Inuit guides, Moses and Cam, gave us a real-time tutorial of tips on how to deal with a polar bear encounter, utilizing the ‘pink gentle inexperienced gentle’ methodology: shifting nearer solely when the polar bear was shifting in the direction of us and stopping after they stopped.
I can’t consider a greater phrase to explain this expertise than jaw-dropping, and even that looks as if an understatement. For over half-hour, this polar bear stared as curiously at us as we had been taking a look at it and performed round within the snow. It was so shut that we may hear the polar bear breathe as we seemed into one another’s eyes.
The feelings of this encounter had been so insane that we’d’ve been completely content material to not see one other polar bear the entire journey, however simply as the primary polar bear wandered away, ANOTHER polar bear approached the camp. This magical place wasn’t only a polar bear migration route, it was a polar bear freeway!
For the following 3 days, it felt like we had been dwelling inside a Nationwide Geographic documentary. We awoke every morning to the chef, Mish, whipping up unimaginable dishes like fluffy pancakes and eggs benedict to gas us on our adventures. Our afternoons had been spent taking lots of of images of every polar bear that got here our method and the snow-white arctic fox that determined to make itself at residence in our camp. We stuffed the polar bear-less hours with walks exterior the camp and video games of Canada’s favourite sport, hockey. When our fingers had been too numb to maneuver, we’d go contained in the widespread room to heat up with soup and occasional by the hearth.
On the second to final day, we woke as much as what may solely be described as a dream spoken into existence – a mother and two polar bear cubs. The cubs had been so curious, wandering nearer to our camp and making little noises like they had been making an attempt to inform us whats up. This good little household stationed themselves proper exterior our camp because the infants rolled round within the snow and shared a snack with their mother. Kara’s eyes stuffed with tears, which may’ve been from the ice-cold wind or the indescribable expertise of watching these majestic creatures of their pure habitat.
For individuals who know us, it is going to be no shock that we determined to finish this magical journey with a polar plunge within the icy Hudson Bay. It appeared to us that this was one of the best ways to change into one with the polar bears. After doing polar plunges in each Antarctica and the North Pole, we take into account ourselves polar plunge specialists, however the adrenaline rush we get every time by no means will get previous.
On our remaining night time, as if to bid us farewell, the northern lights placed on a grand finale. The colourful ribbons of inexperienced dancing throughout the night time sky had been among the most unimaginable we’d seen in our lives – nicely price standing exterior within the bitter chilly for.
It’s onerous to explain this expertise in a method that does justice to simply how wonderful it was to come back face-to-face with all wild polar bears. Take a look at our video documenting this once-in-a-lifetime alternative to expertise it with your personal eyes – we promise it’ll be nicely price your time.
