“Viewing wildlife in their natural habitats keeps me returning to British Columbia at every opportunity.”

Denise Hunn

While I’ve never been lucky enough to visit the Great Bear Rainforest to look for the elusive Spirit Bear, I have been to Knight Inlet Lodge in both early summer and autumn to view grizzly bears from a boat and a hide. Either season the bear viewing is just phenomenal, in spring and early summer, from a boat, it’s mainly mum and cub viewing as they graze along the shoreline looking for molluscs and crabs or in the sedges, succulents, and grasses that abound in the estuary; the luxuriant spring growth provided the basic nutritional needs for the bears and draws them from the mountains to the estuary. Viewing stands are located along the Glendale River and in late August, grizzlies can be seen fishing for salmon. Whatever the season, the aim is to view the bears in their natural habitat without disturbing them.
As well as bear viewing, on longer stays at the lodge, you can take a marine tour during which I saw orca and humpback whales, seals, sea lions, dolphins, sea otters and a host of marine bird life.

Another lodge I’ve visited is Klahoose Wilderness Resort, 100% Indigenous-owned and sustainably powered off grid that offers an intimate, eco-experience. Klahoose Cultural Ambassadors guide guests into their traditional territory for profound cultural immersion and world-renowned, ethical viewing of marine life and the grizzly bears of Toba Inlet.
The resort provides two distinct world class wildlife seasons; from May to mid-August, the focus is on exhilarating marine safaris in Desolation Sound and Toba Inlet, searching for humpback, orcas and sea lions. Tours also actively look for coastal black and grizzly bears feeding along the shorelines with viewing from the boat. From late August to October guests participate in the experience of viewing majestic grizzly bears with tours, led by Klahoose guides venture to Toba Inlet’s rainforest viewing platforms to witness the dramatic salmon run – a rare and powerful wildlife spectacle.

As well as staying at bear viewing lodges there’s day excursions to see black bears feeding along the shoreline at low tide from Tofino between April and October and to see them in their natural habitat between June and October at Whistler. From Campbell River there are day excursions to view grizzly bears in either Toba or Bute Inlets between mid-August and mid-October.

Whale watching is another wildlife ‘must-do’ when in British Columbia with excursions operating from Vancouver and Victoria for orca and humpback viewing, Tofino for Pacific gray whales and humpback, and both Campbell River and Telegraph Cove for orca and humpback. On all these excursions other marine wildlife may be spotted including sea otters (oh they are just so cute!), seals, sea lions, dolphins, porpoises as well as birds such as bald eagles.

While there’s lots of reasons to visit British Columbia, the amazing wildlife viewing opportunities is right at the top of my list!