-presents-
Wolves & the Great Summer Caribou
Migration
Northwest Territories / Nunavut, Canada
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Join us in Canada's mainland Arctic to see wild wolves, musk-oxen, and the migration of the massive barrenground caribou herds - the last great wildlife spectacle in North America since the bygone days of the buffalo!
The Barrenground caribou herds of Canada's Northwest Territories & Nunavut are the largest & least influenced in the world. Every year, an estimated 1.2 million (+/-) animals migrate from the tree-line to the calving grounds on the remote Arctic tundra, and then back again during the summer and autumn. Our main wildlife camp is idally located closeby to the southbound migraotry routes of the two largest herds, the Bathusrt & Beverly; allowing us double the chance at quality migration exposure. Photo copyright Eric Peterson.
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This special wildlife expedition offers one of the best chances for the rare opportunity to encounter the caribou herds en-masse!
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To begin this unique adventure, participants must make their way to Yellowknife - the capital city of the Canadian Northwest Territories - and then onward to the remote Chipewayan Dene' Aboriginal settlement of Lutsel K'e, located on the East Arm of Great Slave Lake - an area soon slated to become Canada's newest and largest National Park! This region is steeped in aboriginal & early explorer history, and perhaps you will have the chance to meet and spend time with some of the native elders who once traveled this remote country by dogsled and canoe...
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From here, we will board a float aircraft to fly 120 more airmiles past the tree-line and out over the remote Arctic tundra known locally as the 'Barrenlands'. Here we will land at our isolated wildlife basecamp located on the sand esker systems of the upper Thelon River: one of the most isolated regions in mainland North America!
The sand camp esker system on the Upper Thelon River region in the Northwest Territories as seen from the air - these sandy areas offer major migratory paths for the barrenland caribou herds, and perfect den conditions for wild wolves and assorted fox. - photo copyright Noelle Tufts Click here to learn more about how to get to Lutsel K'e and our wilderness trips, including maps. Once at our main wildlife basecamp located at one of the last true wild wolf ranges remaining in the world, we offer comfortable tent-camp accommodations, including private sleeping Quonsets, dining & meeting room, lodge, and shower facilities. We also offer an array of equipment on site such as boats, motors, canoes, kayaks, and a pontoon boat to enhance the expeditions, to explore new areas and to seek other dens & wildlife. On occasion, we set up and offer optional ground tent 'spike camps' to maximize wildlife viewing. An aircraft is often kept at the camp for aerial reconnaissance and emergency use.
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Here, at one of the most scenic tundra locations in the world, you will enjoy daily cuisine & comfortable Quonset accommodation, and qualified trip leaders to watch for wild wolves during the secondary stage of their den cycle, to boat & hike to see musk-oxen singles and herds, and a choice of daily interpretive programs. Click here or on photo to learn more about our basecamp facilities & services. |
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In the meantime, through a series of techniques that includes aerial reconnaissance, satellite imagery, GPS positioning & traditional knowledge, we will keep monitor the movements of the caribou herds - and once they move close enough to our position (within 100 miles) we will fly out to meet them on their migratory route. |
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We will then position participants to see and photograph the summer large 'bunch' movements usually 5,000 - 50,000 animals - of cows & calves of either the Bathurst, Beverly or Ahiak herds as they traditionally migrate southward off the calving grounds in July.
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Depending on the circumstances, such as how far the herd is located from the main camp, the suitability of the country, and the logistics needed to access that specific area, we will either set up an overnight spike camp, or simply spend a day with the migration and head back to overnight at the main camp.
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Designed for photographers and wildlife enthusiasts, we will accept only a total of eight participants on this expedition.
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While on this special departure, participants will almost certainly encounter musk-oxen herds, & tundra wolves during their secondary-stage den cycle. It is also quite possible that we will encounter moose, barrens grizzly plus a variety of nesting raptors and waterfowl - all under the summer midnight twilight of the sub-Arctic summertime! Click here to obtain our bird list (in PDF) The Summer Caribou trip is essentially the same as the 'Dance with Wolves' trip with the charter flight to see the summer migration added. Thus you can learn more about this trip by going to the 'Dance with Wolves' page. |
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Incredible wildlife opportunities and awesome tundra vistas highlight this very special departure
to
one of the most remote wilderness locations on earth!
| Wolves & the Great Summer Caribou Migration |
| Departure Dates | Seats Left | Prices Rates do not include GST. |
| Jul. 11 to Jul. 18 - 2008 | 0 | Single: $5,750.00 US - $5,750.00 CAD Double: $10,350.00 US - $10,350.00 CAD |
| Jul. 18 to Jul. 25 - 2008 | 0 | Single: $5,750.00 US - $5,750.00 CAD Double: $10,350.00 US - $10,350.00 CAD |
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You have the choice to combine a week of 'Dance with Wolves' with a week of the 'Great Summer Caribou Migration' at a substantially reduced rate! Add on $2,400.00 USD // $2,800.00 CDN per person Prices do not include GST tax. Click here or on photo to visit the 'Dance with Wolves' trip page!
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Check out what some of our clients had to say about this incredible adventure:
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Photographer Christopher Crowley Past 2005 US client Chris Crowley had a magnificent experience on his Great Summer Caribou Migration trip. Click here or on photo to read Chris's on-line testimonial! Chris had this to say about his trip with us: "The circle of life is pretty
small on the tundra. Caribou eat lichen. Almost everything else eats the
caribou. Circles lie within circles. Every spring, large herds of caribou
(Rangifer tarandus) migrate hundreds of miles northward to the calving
grounds and return later in the summer. We watched as several groups of
caribou, hundreds in each group, crossed a river. In places they swam,
heads bobbing in the river. In shallower places they waded, stumbling on
slick rocks. The calves had to hustle to keep up with the crossing adults.
Once the herd reached land, however, they were all off and running with a
rumbling of hooves oddly muted by the soft
ground." |
Great Summer Caribou Migration 2005 |
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Canadian Northern Lights Award for Excellence in Travel Journalism Past client & Canadian Author Catherine Senecal won the prestigious Canadian Travel Commission's Northern Lights Award for Excellence in Travel Journalism for best Internet Reporting. Well, Cathy's winning story was written about her year 2000 trip with Ecoventures on the 'Great Summer Caribou Migration'! Click here or on photo to read Catherine's' on-line article! Catherine had this to say about her trip with us: "I loved the camp and being out on the barrens-I even love saying, "when I was out on the barren lands" to people. It makes me sound so adventurous! The truth is your trip, camp and tour make this stunning land and its animals accessible to people willing to let their minds and spirits compel them to a place perhaps more wild and epiphanic than they could have predicted." |
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Click here to see our other caribou photography trips!
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If you would like to take a virtual tour of our main wildlife camp facility - click on the photo! |
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| Great Canadian Wilderness | ||
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Come warm yourself by our fire.
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Great Canadian Wilderness
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Phone: 1-800-667-9453 (Canada & USA)
Overseas Phone: +715-254-9318 North American toll-free Fax: 866-416-5548 Email: tundra@thelon.com Request More Information |
