Wapusk NP, Manitoba, Canada

Introduction:


Wapusk is the Cree word for "white bear", and as the meaning indicates, the 11,475-square-kilometre (4,430 sq mi) park protects one of the world's largest known polar bear maternity denning areas. It includes a large part of the Hudson Bay Lowlands, a subarctic region bordering Hudson Bay that is mostly muskeg and wet peatlands. It is one of the wildest and most remote of Canadian landscapes.



General:


Flights:
I booked my flights with Air Canada from Munich MUC to Winnipeg YWG via Toronto YYZ. The return-flight from Winnipeg to Churchill was part of a package provided by Wat'chee lodge.
I did not plan some space between the ending date of the package from Watch'ee lodge and my return international flight. This was bad idea, as because of havy blizzards we were not able to leve on time so I needed to pay additional fees to rebook my international flights.


Accomodations:
In the package from Watch'ee lodge the stay in Wapusk NP is included, you will need two more nights in Winnipeg on the airport very easy to book over booking.com or expedia.com.


Car Hire:
You don't need to rent a car, unless you decide to make a stop over for some days in churchill. There you can spot red foxes and arctic foxes. I recommend in this case http://tamarackrentals.ca/


I took two bodies NIKON D4S and NIKON D3S and my lenses Nikon 600mm f4 + NIKON TC II 1,4 (for polar bears and wildlife) ; and NIKON 24mm f1,4 (for Northern lights). GITZO-Tripod. My iPhone was my best camera for landscapes and movies... You need more than one battery as the temperatures are very low -20° to -40°C. You have to put camera and batteries in plastic backs to prevent water condensation.
 


Clothes:
Follow the instruction from Watch'ee lodge but you need at least  boots and mittens designed for -100°C or bellow!!! You need also goggles!!! as your eyelashes would freeze without... 

Churchill, Manitoba:
They have experienced the worst blizzards ever recorded with tonnes of snow.

 

 

Watchee Lodge:

We found only one mum with her cub moving to the Hudson bay, but I was happy.

Watchee Lodge, the magic of the Northern lights:
You have to see this magic and you need only clear sky. So do not sleep but go out and enjoy the magic!

Wildlife in the tundra of Wapusk NP:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nanuk, the Polar bear

Nanuk is the Inuit word for Polar Bear.

Do you want to see Polar Bears? If yes you have to visit Churchill in Manitoba, Canada in October or the first 10 days of November. In this time of the year some 800 polar bears are coming to the Churchill-river and are waiting for the Hudson Bay to freeze so they can go on the pack-ice and hunt the seals.

How to get there: The hub to Churchill is Winnipeg (YWG). I got there from Munich (MUC) over Toronto-Pearson (YYZ).

There  are numerous provider for this adventure. I choose the biggest one Frontiers North.

What do you need there? The tour operator of your choice will provide you information about the clothing, I would like to tell you what kind of equipment do you need there and why.

1. tripod and a wide angle lens 14-24mm to photograph the Northern lights. You don't need tripods for the bears, rather a beam-bag.
2. 70-200mm f2.8 to photograph the bears in the early morning. The bears will come very close to you
3. 500-600mm to photograph sparing bears or swimming bears or polar foxes or polar hares...

Most of the time you will spend with your buggy driver and with your photographer. I was lucky to have two people with charm and spirit, Jessica to my right and J.P. to my left.

But let me first  tell you more about Churchill in Manitoba.
I was picked up from the Airport and our first destination, next to the airport was the bear-jail. If bears are coming to close to Churchill, the rangers will try to banish them and if this doesn't work...

... they go to the jail....

My first picture of the Hudson bay, still not frozen jet, which actually is very sad, as polar bears need Pack Ice to hunt. Following some pictures from Manitoba as first impressions.

I love the next ice sculptures created by nature.

 

Churchill is a small town with a beautiful Church...

Tundra-Buggy-Lodge, this was my home for 5 nights. In the foreground you see the reason, why it is strictly forbidden to touch the ground while living there.

Here is the reason why you need 70-200mm lens.

300 days a year there are Northern Lights in Churchill... One need only clear sky to see them... and here is the reason why you need a 14-24mm lens. and a tripod.

 The sunsets in the white tundra can be very spectacular.

Right the first day we saw a swimming polar bear... and I knew this journey is already a success.

 Pack-Ice