Enjoy a hearty breakfast while the lead guide briefs you on what the scouts are reporting and their plan of attack for the day. After breakfast, it’s time to head on safari! These daily safaris (usually one in the morning and one in the afternoon) are a chance for you to track the wolf packs and get you as close as possible to observe and photograph their behavior and social interactions. While it’s often possible to observe wolves right from the viewing decks at the lodge, wolves regularly travel to hunt and mark their territory; they can easily cover 40km a day. Keep in close radio contact with the scouts as they monitor activity at various points along the coast. With the small group size and high-guide ratio, all are able move quickly along a network of established safari trails. After morning safaris, you’ll head back to the lodge to enjoy a light lunch and some well-earned downtime. By early afternoon you'll head back into the field. Some days, depending on wildlife and weather, you may opt for an all-day safari and extend the range.
For those interested in becoming involved with Churchill Wild's citizen-science wolf study, the safaris are also a chance to conduct fieldwork. Depending on the weather and wildlife situation, you may have opportunities to collect trailcam images, cast animal tracks, study social relationships, map territories, conduct and record howl surveys, and gather traditional knowledge from First Nation oral histories. Participants' contributions will become part of the yearly study.
Evenings at Nanuk are a chance to unwind and enjoy a nightly happy hour with a short presentation on wolf biology and natural history, storytelling and wildlife photography, followed by a delicious dinner and socializing around the fire.
The Kaska Coast boasts over 300 nights a year of Auroral activity, making it one of the best places in the world to see the dazzling Northern Lights. March weather is cooler and can offer more crisp clear nights increasing the chance for Aurora viewing. If the sky is clear and the solar winds are active, Churchill Wild will be sure and wake you up for a dazzling show. Jad will be on hand to help you set up your cameras and capture the haunting beauty.
This is your expedition. While Churchill Wild wants to offer you as many experiences as possible, they will also encourage you to relax. Take an afternoon or morning off (or a couple) and have the lodge to yourself. They'll stoke the fire, pour you some coffee and leave you with some tasty brownies. Some of the best wildlife viewing happens right from the lodge. You never know who might wander up to the window and look in on you.
Overnight at the Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge.
![Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge]()
Aurora Borealis | Credit: Churchill Wild / Columbia Sportswear
