Explore the Most Incredible Canadian Safaris

Updated on Jan 08, 2024 | Canada Visa Online

Canada is home to a diverse fauna. Explore the most incredible Canadian safaris in the world. If you want to be a part of a great safari adventure and looking for places to visit, then it is high time you embark on a wildlife safari holiday in Canada.

It will undeniably be your best safari adventure as the country has some hidden gems of places that will absolutely make any adventure seeker fall in love with Canadian safari.

It is not an unknown fact that Canada is the world’s second-largest country, and most of the uninhabited natural places are home to many numbers of wildlife species. The landscape is known for its diversity, starting from the rocky islands to tundra regions. The low human population makes this place a perfect wildlife haven.

Although Canada is known for its magnificent and beautiful picturesque landscapes, people often overlook Canada for a wild safari. Interestingly Canada is home to many numbers of wildlife species, from grizzlies to marine Beluga whales; the list is quite long. Canada is a fantastic place to watch, explore, and experience wildlife safaris. The adventurous Canadian safaris are numerous, ranging from Polar Bear Safari and African Lion Safari to watching Beluga whales.

What are Some of the Greatest Canadian Safaris?

The following places are considered the best places for adventurous lovers and wildlife explorers to plan their Canadian Safari:

  • Polar Bear Safari in Churchill, Manitoba
  • Beluga Whale Safari in Churchill, Manitoba
  • Bells Coola Bear Safari in British Columbia
  • African Lion Safari in Ontario
  • Narwhal and Polar Bear Safari in Canadian Arctic
  • Orca Whale watching in Vancouver Island, British Columbia
  • Banff Wildlife Safari in Alberta
  • Victoria Whale and Wildlife Cruise
  • Jasper National Park Safari in Alberta

Arctic Canada Safari in Churchill, Manitoba

Manitoba is known for two great icons – Polar Bears and Beluga whales. A Canadian safari is incomplete without the Polar Bear Safari, and the best place to spot them is Churchill.

Churchill is a unique place situated on the edge of the Hudson Bay, located in far northern Manitoba. In the northern part, in the cold lands of Churchill, amidst the landscapes, far away from British Columbia, there is a beautiful snowy land comprised of tundra regions with mighty rivers. 

Though polar bears are the main attraction here, there are other fantastic wildlife adventures present here, including watching or even swimming with Beluga whales, catching a glimpse of Arctic fox, gray wolfs, snowshoe mink and hare, otters, varieties of seals, etc.

Polar Bears Safari – Churchill

Churchill, a town in Manitoba, is one of the best places to spot cute, cuddly polar bears in the tundra region of Canada. This place is popularly known as the Polar Bear Capital of the World. This is considered one of the greatest Canadian safaris.

When to visit?

Plan your safari in the months of October and November, popularly known as the polar bear season. The polar bears make their way back here, to Hudson Bay, after summer. As the bay begins to freeze, there is a high chance for you to see the King of the Arctic, the polar bear on the shores of Hudson Bay, in his natural habitat. The polar bears roam the entire place in search of seals, popularly known as the winter hunting season, providing the visitors a chance to interact. 

Beluga Whale Safari – Churchill

Churchill is not only known as the Polar Bear Capital of the World, but also, it is the Beluga Whale Capital of the World. Belugas are extremely social and always travel in large groups, usually known as pods. There’s a considerable possibility of witnessing many numbers of pods in the Churchill River.

Beluga Whale Safari – Churchill

When to visit?

In the months of July and August, you can witness thousands of Beluga whales in the Churchill River Estuary. In the summer, thousands of Beluga Whales swim right into the Churchill River as they consider this as their summer home to mate and populate.

Plan either a summer safari and enjoy with Beluga whales or a winter safari to see the polar bears. There are many Canadian Safari packages and tours available to plan a luxurious as well as adventurous holiday. 

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Bella Coola Bear Safari, British Columbia

The Bella Coola Valley is situated on the western Pacific coast of British Columbia. It is a small, isolated valley that is popular for the Grizzly bear-watching safari in the Great Bear Rainforest. This Bella Coola Valley is considered the gateway to the Great Bear Rainforest, the largest coastal temperate rainforest in the world. This rainforest is home to the famous black bears, grizzly bears, and the rare white spirit bear.

An interesting fact is that there are around 26,000 grizzlies living in Canada, and most of them live in British Columbia. Bella Coola Valley is one of the best places to see and observe the grizzlies of Canada.

Grizzly bear

When to visit?

Though these bears live in this place, the best time to see them is during the salmon run season, which usually starts in May and continues until the end of September to mid-October. Trying to spot grizzlies is one of the best ways to explore the icy rivers of British Columbia. The best bear-viewing spots are in Tweedsmuir National Park, the largest park in British Columbia. There are many packages available regarding bear safari; plan your adventure with the help of those Canadian safari guides. 

African Lion Safari, Ontario

One of the best places to go on a lion safari in the world is African Lion Safari Park, located in Ontario, Canada. This is the best place to see the majestic African lions taking a stroll in the park full of pride.  

If you want to go on a safari and get a closer view of more than 1000 exotic birds and animals in a natural reserve, then African Lion Safari will be your best choice of adventure. You can look at a list of exotic birds and animals from around the world, starting from African lions, giraffes, rhinos, fallow deer, etc., in a drive along a trail through many of the Lion Country. 

There are multiple options available; either you can explore the safari park via a bus, or you can drive through the park by yourself. You can get all details from the official website. This expedition occupies a special place in the Canadian safari list.

Narwhal and Polar Bear Safari, Canadian Arctic

This unique Canadian safari allows you to explore the Canadian Arctic region, where you can catch a glimpse of the beautiful, rare narwhals in the world. Canadian Arctic is home to approximately 75% of the world’s narwhal population. Though they make an appearance at any part of this Arctic region, the most reliable places to see them are near the floe edge of Baffin and Bylot Islands. The floe edge is where the sea ice meets the open water, and most of the marine mammals congregate at this line of life.

This place is unquestionably one of the places with stunning landscapes, icebergs, cliffs, and glaciers. 

When to visit?

The world’s great migration season is from May to June, the best time to plan your Narwhal and Polar Bear Safari.   

You will also get to see the polar bears in action, hunting for food along with seals, walruses, and belugas. The best packages offer you to observe narwhals and feed them near the floe edge. Plan accordingly and enjoy your Arctic summer!

Orca Whale Sightings in British Columbia

In the whole wide world, Vancouver Island is the best location to spot Orcas, also known as killer whales. This is a famous whale-watching point. The sound of the Pacific Ocean surrounds the entire Island. This whale species is one of the most powerful predators in the world, and you can spot them here.

Vancouver Island’s coastal waters are home to approximately 300 Orcas. If you plan this Canadian safari during the summer, you may get to see Orcas traveling in pods. They are known for their complex social behavior and emotions. 

When to visit?

An interesting fact is that resident Orcas of this place live there year around, whereas the migratory species are known to visit only during the migratory season between May and October. 

Banff Wildlife Safari, Alberta

Banff National Park is Alberta’s first national park; that was established in 1885 and is currently one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, with more than 4 million visitors traveling annually.

It is a must to plan a wildlife safari in Banff National Park as it is home to many snow-capped mountains, pine forests, glaciers, blue-colored alpine lakes, and many wildlife-like grizzly bears, moose, deer, big horn sheep, and elks. There are many fun activities included in almost all the tour packages provided, including hiking, skiing, etc. You can take a nature walk here and experience the place’s scenic beauty on your own.

This is one of the best places in Canada to spend your summer! It is indeed one of the great places to witness the diverse fauna of Canada. 

Victoria Whale and Wildlife Cruise

Victoria is the capital of Vancouver Island, and as mentioned before, it is one of the best places in the whole world to spot whales. The surrounding waters of Victoria are home to many marine wildlife species. You can plan for this cruise across the Salish Sea in search of these whales, seals, sea lions, eagles, and otters. The cruise has often spotted Orca Whales and Humpback Whales, while the Minke Whales and Gray Whales make a rare appearance occasionally. 

When to visit?

Though whale-watching in Victoria is available throughout the year, it is always good to plan your cruise between the months of April and November, when the chances of seeing whales are 95-98%. 

Jasper National Park Safari, Alberta

Jasper National Park is famous for its diverse wildlife. This park is known for its phenomenal views, and you will spot wildlife. The park is surrounded by glaciers, crystal-clear blue lakes, waterfalls, and evergreen forests, which are home to many different species. The park is home to elk, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, bears, and wolves. Many varieties of birds also migrate to this park. An interesting fact is that Jasper National Park is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites as well as Canada’s largest park in the rocky mountainous area. But most importantly, Jasper National Park is the second-largest Dark Sky Preserve in the world.

When to visit?

Wildlife in Jasper National Park thrives throughout the year regardless of seasons and months. But summer Canadian safari experiences are the best. It provides an incredible adventure experience to all wildlife lovers. The place also provides a lot of fun activities, including hiking, camping, skating, etc.

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