A walk in the fireweed. Young polar bear at Seal River Heritage Lodge. Michael Poliza photo.
The anticipation is building as we eagerly await our return to Seal River Heritage Lodge in July for our beloved Birds, Bears, & Belugas safari. After a three-month break, we’ll be thrilled to get back on the Hudson Bay coast to walk with polar bears, sing with beluga whales, and experience the beauty of the sub-Arctic summer.
Birds, Bears & Belugas offers guests the rare opportunity to witness polar bears in their natural habitat at ground level during the summer, and maybe even young cubs of the year (COYs) as they explore the world with wide-eyed wonder!
The summer also brings the spectacular sight of thousands of beluga whales as they congregate in Hudson Bay. We have the highest concentration of beluga whales in the world! Bird enthusiasts will also be delighted by the diverse array of seabirds that grace the skies and shores.
After every safari we send out surveys to our guests, with questions related to their overall experience, the wildlife, the daily excursions, customer service, the guides, suggestions for improvement, and what they might tell their friends.
The survey comments below are from guests who were on recent Birds, Bears & Belugas safaris. We owe them a huge thank you for sending these genuine heartfelt responses, and we hope you enjoy them as much as we did when we read them.
Polar bear relaxing in tall grass. Kathryn Cehrs photo.
2023 Birds, Bears & Belugas Survey Responses
“Totally the best 25th anniversary celebration possible! Best vacation trip ever. Lots of polar bears and belugas. Fantastic food and accommodations.” ~ Don Spezia
“Seeing polar bears as we did is simply one of the most incredible experiences of my life. The bears themselves were simply beautiful and breathtaking. The interactions we had with polar bears were many and varied, the location was enchanting and that despite anticipating otherwise, I cannot wait to return!” ~ Paul Leader
“Tied for top bucket list experiences. Polar bears on the ground are up there with gorilla tracking in Rwanda. There’s nothing else that compares.” ~ Michael Cargill
“Definitely a once in a lifetime experience to have with loved ones. Aside from the obvious awesome experience of seeing polar bears and belugas in person in the wild, the Churchill Wild Seal River Heritage Lodge is tranquil, serene and relaxing. The hospitality, staff and safari guides were knowledgeable, kind and nurturing. Just a well thought out and nicely planned one week of leisure and excitement.” ~ Anita Hsieh
Polar bear basks in the warmth of the Arctic summer sun. Ken Drozd photo.
“I have told so many people about how wonderful Churchill Wild is through Facebook. I think the setting and remoteness of Seal River Lodge is very unique. I enjoyed watching the tides change and our trips on the Zodiac rafts to watch the Belugas. We had a breakfast picnic on two mornings with the belugas swimming right up to the raft. The fact that I was able to see a polar bear from just a few feet away has been lifechanging. On this trip, I was able to see two juveniles playing, after which they kept each other company for my remaining days. It really is an incredible trip and you have awesome guides.” ~ Rainer van Alphen
“It’s completely unique to spend time exploring such a remote and special environment and learning about the animals who have adapted to live there. The awesome, gentle, quiet walks toward the polar bears and giving them space to decide their next move.” – Kathryn Lannigan
“The guides are the key people in making the trip a memorable one. The lodge was lovely, the food excellent, but the guides made it a wonderful experience.” ~ Anne Cehrs
“I found the flexibility, spontaneity and unflagging enthusiasm of the Seal River Team made for an exceptional experience. We were able to respond to the nature of the wildlife, weather, and guests, allowing everyone’s needs be met throughout our stay. The food was delicious, healthy and generous; and the accommodations were rustic, comfortable and suited to the lodge experience. I was particularly amazed at the volume of hot water and enjoyed the considerate treats placed in our rooms. All requests were met with a ‘will do’ attitude, and I loved how the team were as excited as the guests when the wildlife came to visit or take up residence around the lodge!” ~ Erzsi Suranyi
Ground-level polar bear photography during the summer on Birds, Bears & Belugas at Seal River Heritage Lodge.
“I wanted to be on the ground and in nature with polar bears and beluga whales; and to experience the unique landscape of the tundra underfoot and around me. My Birds, Bears and Beluga’s experience allowed me to feel part of the wilderness and landscape of Seal River and the Hudson Bay. Sitting quietly in the wild with these majestic animals, exploring their natural environments, and standing in ancient Inuit encampments gave me a unique opportunity to feel connected with the land, its histories, and the preciousness of its ecologies for our world and our future generations.” Erzsi Suranyi
“This was our third Churchill Wild experience and it exceeded expectations. The excursions were great.The staff and guides were exceptional. And Ben, Nicole and the staff went out of their way by anticipating special personalized touches to our experience that surprised and delighted us.” – Michael Cargill
Summer at Seal River. Allison Francoeur photo
“I wanted to be on the ground and in nature with polar bears and beluga whales; and to experience the unique landscape of the tundra underfoot and around me. My Birds, Bears & Beluga’s experience allowed me to feel part of the wilderness and landscape of Seal River and the Hudson Bay. Sitting quietly in the wild with these majestic animals, exploring their natural environments, and standing in ancient Inuit encampments gave me a unique opportunity to feel connected with the land, its histories, and the preciousness of its ecologies for our world and our future generations.” ~ Erzsi Suranyi
“This was our third Churchill Wild experience and it exceeded expectations. The excursions were great. The staff and guides were exceptional. And Ben, Nicole and the staff went out of their way by anticipating special personalized touches to our experience that surprised and delighted us.” ~ Michael Cargill
“While the physical infrastructure, the meals, and the safaris were excellent. It was the Team that made it magical. Every single member of the team was above and beyond expectations. From Nicole and Ben to Jess, Katie and Marko, to the chef and staff. Truly amazing. We miss them all.” ~ Robert Tang Yuk
“Wow, the reception and logistics at Winnipeg through Churchill were beyond expectations. Special mention to Koral. So accommodating, knowledgeable and pleasant.” ~ Robert Tang Yuk
Arctic Terns at Seal River Heritage Lodge on the Birds, Bears & Belugas safari. Michael Poliza photo.
“I have written a review on Tripadvisor but essentially it was an incredibly special experience. We set out with complete uncertainty on how successful the stay would be. Two things made it amazing; the wildlife showing up at the lodge and the experience generated by the staff; it was so special! Loved the guides and all the staff. It was great to go out in the Zodiacs with some of the kitchen and dining staff. Lovely crew. Also great to meet Mike the owner and do that special trip to Hubbards Point. It was an emotional departure. Thank you.” ~ Jonathan Watkiss
“Food and service at the dining area was top notch, so was the professionalism of your guides. Cannot find any fault with any man powers. All of them went out of their way to make us happy.” ~ Rahul & Dipika Patel
“A beautiful place, and extremely well-maintained. Very comfortable rooms and seating areas, with huge windows to look for wildlife. The staff was fantastic! It was impressive how quickly they all got to know our names, and our food needs/preferences. And always extremely cheerful and willing to answer questions and share information.” ~ Martha Schrempel
“Churchill Wild is amazingly well-organized — I was impressed! Everything was taken care of in Winnipeg and Churchill. We got instructions about how to deal with luggage, and they even provided snacks for our return to Winnipeg. We felt very well taken care of!” ~ Martha Schrempel
Guests observing beluga whales at Seal River Heritage Lodge on Birds, Bears & Belugas.
“Seal River Heritage Lodge is a really unique experience, something totally different from all our previous ones. And we have traveled all over the world for decades. It is so isolated in such a special environment. And naturally all the polar bears. With Terry and Boomer you definitely have some of the most experienced and at the same time sympathetic guides in the world!” ~ Mitscherlich Matthias
“I felt cared for start to finish! Amazed how we were accompanied by staff all the way to our final boarding on plane to Churchill.” ~ Ruth Ann Hinton
Peek-A-Boo! Leighton Lum photo.
203 5-Star Tripadvisor Reviews for Seal River Heritage Lodge
Happy guests like the above have rewarded Churchill Wild with 465 5-Star Tripadvisor reviews, including 168 for Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge, 94 for Dymond Lake Ecolodge, and 203 for Seal River Heritage Lodge, which is the host lodge for Birds, Bears & Belugas.
One of the original lodges in the National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World collection, Seal River Heritage Lodge is remotely located on the Hudson Bay coast 60 km north of Churchill, and directly in the path of the polars bears as they walk up and down the coastline from the time they come off the ice in late June until freeze up in November.
Now that’s a big boy! Steve Pressman photo.
Along with Birds, Bears & Belugas, which takes place this year from July 6 to August 22, Seal River Heritage Lodge is also the host lodge for our Arctic Safari from September 4-18 (including a special departure for women only), the Summer Dual Lodge Safari from August 20 to September 3, the Fall Dual Lodge Safari from October 9-27, and the Polar Bear Photo Safari from October 21-November 21. What’s on your bucket list?
Survey says…
