Churchill, Manitoba Tundra Buggy Excursion

Our final morning in Churchill was September 6, 2024. We were driven on a bus for about 30 minutes out to the tundra buggy parking area. These buggies are very large with giant wheels. There is even a stove on board for heat during the colder part of the season. We didn't need the heat as we had another beautiful day. Our mission was to find more polar bears and whatever else we could find.

Kevin and Evelyn in front of tundra buggy

Our guides Kelly and Joe in front of tundra buggy

The tour was a total of over three hours. Our flight had been delayed, so we got to stay out a bit longer than planned. For the first hour or so, we didn't see much. The scenery was beautiful, though.

Then we saw this beautiful eagle.

One of our fellow tour participants then spotted what she thought was a bear. Everyone in the buggy was constantly looking for bears, and it finally paid off. It turns out there were two of them. Most likely a mother and her cub from last year. As you can see from all the white rocks lying around, it's hard to spot a bear.

We also saw these Ptarmigan birds which are commonly known as prairie chickens and this Merlin falcon.

It was time to end our tour and get back on the bus. It was a great tour, and we were lucky to see some wildlife. But, the adventure wasn't over. On the way back on the bus, we saw two more bears!! This one was huge. He must have noticed us stopping to look at him, because he moved off into the woods.

Then as we were driving along the coast of the Hudson Bay, we spotted this guy in the fireweed. Fireweed is a beautiful wild plant that grows all over the north in the summer. It was mostly done blooming by the time we arrived, but there were a few plants still blooming. How kind of the bear to pose for us in the fireweed.

We had another delicious lunch at the lodge, and then headed to the airport for our flight back to Winnipeg. I was originally a bit hesitant to book this tour because it was quite expensive. However, I'm so glad I did. It was truly a trip of a lifetime, and we were so fortunate to see as much as we did. This adventure will go down as one of the most memorable trips we've ever been on. Worth every penny!!!

Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!