Men’s Journal
By Hudson Lindenberger
If you’re looking to save endangered species and protect the world’s wildest place, it’s not a bad idea to go and see them. “Without tourism most of the remaining wild areas of the world would cease to exist,” says Ian Salisbury, general manager of The Bushcamp Company in Zambia. “If we are to conserve habitats and abundant wildlife, then these areas have to be able to generate income, so that governments and other agencies can pay for their upkeep. In effect, the animals have to pay for their own survival, and if people are prepared to pay to spend time watching or photographing them in a sensitive and responsible way, then that is surely better than allowing their decline through loss of habitat or hunting.” The dollars that come from responsible, sustainable tourism like safaris and expeditions to the remote corners of the world have hugely positive effects upon preserving the wilderness. With that in mind, here are 10 once-in-a-lifetime trips that you can take that also help.
Tundra Lodge
The Place
Churchill, Manitoba, is located right smack in the middle of the annual polar bear migration, as they head towards the ice as winter approaches. Located above the Arctic Circle, the town quickly becomes enmeshed in darkness as winter approaches. Therefore the window to see the bears is relatively short — October 11–November 21.
The Animals
The Tundra Lodge is a unique rolling hotel that is in the optimal position to observe the bears as they head north. Tall enough for the bears to walk under, the lodge allows people to watch the bears from their own beds. Daily excursions allow guests to see caribou, Arctic foxes, hares, ptarmigans, and snowy owls. As the darkness of the polar winter settles over the lodge each day, the chances of seeing the Northern Lights are high.
Insider Tip
The Lazy Bear Cafe in downtown Churchill offers some of the best dishes in town. [From $7,895 for a six-day expedition in 2017; adventuresmithexplorations.com]
