Why Choose Nat Hab For Your Polar Bear Trip?

We recognize that most people who witness the magic of Churchill's polar bears do so just once in their lives. For that reason, we promise our guests will enjoy the highest-quality polar bear adventure possible, while recognizing the weather and timing contingencies that are an inevitable part of polar bear season. Here's how:

1. We Hold Exclusive Permits for the Best Polar Bear Viewing Area
   Nat Hab holds a coveted permit to access the full Churchill Wildlife Management Area where the best polar bear viewing occurs.  Not only are we able to provide a superlative wildlife-viewing experience, we travel in the best vehicles to accomplish it. Our Polar Rovers are designed to navigate the prime tundra bear-viewing areas in comfort. In contrast, some operators use school-bus-style vehicles that travel the paved and gravel road system to Halfway Point, which, as the name suggests, is just halfway to the best viewing areas. If you’re going to Churchill just once in your life, choose the superior experience.
2. Our Polar Rovers Are the Most Amazing Vehicles on the Planet!
   The original tundra buggy used for polar bear viewing was invented in the 1980s. It was a cool concept that has been significantly improved upon since. Our partner in Manitoba—a world-renowned specialty vehicle designer—has created a superior vehicle called the Polar Rover, which we use exclusively. Its unique drive train allows us to safely traverse the tundra with virtually no chance of breakdown, and its heavy-duty custom suspension system ensures a less jouncy ride. And our heated Polar Rovers have flush toilets for your comfort. Other details are designed to facilitate the closest polar bear encounters. The rear viewing platform has a steel-mesh grated floor that lets us look closely at any curious bears that may wander underneath. Inside, guests can view and photograph bears through sliding windows that can be opened and closed according to the action and weather. And the huge front windshield is angled forward, allowing a panoramic downward view when a bear wanders in front of the vehicle.
3. The Smallest Groups Make for the Best Adventure
   One of the most fundamental elements of a great nature expedition is a small group. Our guests get a more personalized experience, and there's plenty of room to spread out and angle for photos. In fact, while our Rovers hold 30 or more, we limit our groups to 16. Our Tundra Lodge accommodates 29 guests, with plenty of room to view bears through sliding windows and from the elevated deck, and lodge guests also enjoy Rover excursions limited to no more than 16. It may cost us a little more to operate with fewer numbers, but we—and our guests—know it’s well worth it.
4. Private Chartered Planes Maximize Our Time with Bears
   Chartered round-trip air transportation from Winnipeg to Churchill is a part of every polar bear program. By using private aircraft, we're able to travel to and from Churchill at times convenient for us, rather than losing a big chunk of a day to accommodate airline schedules and airport security lines. Typically, we depart Winnipeg around 9:00-9:30 am and arrive in Churchill in time for lunch. On the return journey, we normally leave after lunch, so we can maximize our last morning in Churchill.
5. Our Expedition Leaders Are Simply Extraordinary
   One of the most important aspects of any nature adventure is the quality of the guide. And to provide the world's best nature expeditions, we provide the very best Expedition Leaders. Our naturalist guides are experts on Arctic wildlife and natural history, and while many have a master’s degrees or Ph.D., they are chosen for their good nature as much as their good grades. Each year, we fly our Expedition Leaders in from around the world for annual training, to share ideas, skills and best practices. In Churchill, our Expedition Leaders average 10 years' guiding experience. It's a quality level that's unmatched in the industry. Click here for bios of Natural Habitat’s Expedition leaders.
6. The Tundra Lodge Offers a Private Polar Bear Experience
   The Tundra Lodge, which Nat Hab occupies exclusively for the whole of polar bear season, is a unique rolling hotel placed in an area of high bear density at the beginning of each season. It accommodates up 29 guests, and each guest has a single private compartment similar to a sleeping berth on a train. Guests share six flush toilets in individual bathrooms, plus four individual hot-water showers. A large lounge with sliding windows provides unimpeded bear viewing from the warmth of the “living room.” There are also several outdoor viewing platforms, each with steel-mesh flooring enabling guests to get a close-up look at any bears that may wander below! The dining room is staffed by a professional chef whose creative menus add an element of luxury to this most unique and remote of adventure locales.
7. We Support the Local Community in Churchill
   At Nat Hab, local communities are central to our mission of Conservation through Exploration. The people of Churchill—a population of just 900—are not only essential to the protection of polar bears, they are also dear to our hearts. As they have been gracious hosts to our guests and guide team for more than 30 years, we have built a mutually beneficial relationship based around the shared goal of protecting their environment, wildlife and culture. Nat Hab partners with town leaders to provide support to residents, including community breakfasts for hundreds of townspeople; providing fresh produce, milk, cereals and snacks for the school breakfast program; contributing to food drives with leftover groceries from meals served aboard our Polar Rovers; donating furniture and housewares; and helping fund Rocket Greens, a cutting-edge hydroponic growing system at the Churchill Northern Studies Center. We are also proud to have been the lead facilitator in developing enhancements to the community recycling program, especially related to tour company operations and guest activities in and around Churchill. And, during three seasons of the year, the economic activity we generate through sustainable tourism also supports local enterprises in Churchill, including Indigenous-owned businesses.
8. WWF is Our Conservation Travel Partner
   Because of our reputation for running the world's finest and most environmentally conscious nature expeditions, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has selected Natural Habitat Adventures as its exclusive conservation travel provider, a designation that makes us very proud. WWF scientists provide our Expedition Leaders with the latest research and information on wildlife, habitats and conservation initiatives, which our guests get exclusive benefits from. It's an innovative partnership you won't find anywhere else.

The Nat Hab Polar Bear Difference