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Overview
NEW FOR 2020!
Experience the ultimate West Coast Canadian wildlife and cultural adventure on this Coastal Rainforest Safari; an exciting wilderness experience among the diverse wildlife of British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest. This unforgettable nature experience includes whale watching, black bear and grizzly bear viewing, and a unique opportunity to learn about the Indigenous culture of the Kwakwaka’wakw people, who have resided in the area for over 14,0000 years.
You will stay in luxury safari-style tents at the Skull Cove base camp on Branham Island (40 km north of Vancouver Island’s Port Hardy by boat), which is strategically situated in the heart of wildlife-rich waters on an island covered in temperate rainforest.
This itinerary is flexible and can be tailor-made to suit you; if you want to add extra days in one area, extend the holiday or maybe change the direction of travel. Talk to one of our experts about how to make this holiday the perfect one for you.
The Safari Camp
The Coastal Rainforest Safari camp is in Skull Cove on Branham Island, which is in a remote wilderness location in British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest. The ocean-side safari tents are spacious canvas-walled tents that are raised on wooden platforms made from locally milled cedar. Each tent is furnished with a king or two twin beds, dresser, bedside tables with lamps, a wooden bench, and a propane fireplace. Each tent includes a private ensuite bathroom with toilet, sink, and hot shower.
To reach the camp a short flight of stairs are climbed from the protected cove where the boats are moored and the paths throughout the camp are all boardwalked for both guest comfort and to protect the forest floor. However, guests should be comfortable walking a couple hundred metres over uneven and potentially slippery ground as while much of the wildlife viewing is done by boat, there are times when you will go ashore to view bears along the riverbanks, stroll along a beach, or to visit a First Nations’ cultural site.
Mr Edwards - Travelled to Quebec"It was an amazing experience for us as a family "
We returned from our trip yesterday and I wanted to send a quick thank you as it exceeded our expectations. Your help in putting together the trip and arranging the vouchers etc. meant that it all went smoothly and the places that we got to see were very special indeed; there were some that you would definitely not find yourself. You promised wildlife and it certainly delivered, with 32 whales over the two whale watching trips, a black bear and 7 moose.
It was an amazing experience for us as a family and one that we will remember for a long time and will have to work very hard to replicate.
Itinerary (5 Nights)
Here’s a day-by-day guide to your itinerary. Feel free to ask us to add other days or ideas and excursions by contacting us directly, so we can give you the best price.
Day 2
Vancouver to Port Hardy
Head out to Vancouver airport once more and take a Pacific Coastal flight to Port...
Day 2
Vancouver
to Port Hardy
Head out to Vancouver airport once more and take a Pacific Coastal flight to Port Hardy.
If your safari is part of a longer, fly-drive itinerary, you will be making your way by car and ferry over to Vancouver Island.
On arrival in Port Hardy, you will be check-in at the Kwa’lilas Hotel.
1 night Port Hardy
Day 3
Port Hardy to Branham Island
You will check in at Coastal Rainforest Safaris’ office in Port Hardy office at 10am...
Day 3
Port Hardy
to Branham Island
You will check in at Coastal Rainforest Safaris’ office in Port Hardy office at 10am and be driven the short distance to the dock where luggage will be loaded in preparation for your adventure. After meeting the crew and taking part in a short safety briefing, you’ll depart around 1230pm on a leisurely journey exploring the islands and waterways that separate Vancouver Island and the B.C. mainland. These waters are home to a wide diversity of wildlife, including humpback whales, orcas, sea otters, sea lions, and seabirds.
You will arrive at the camp late afternoon where camp staff will be waiting to welcome you and help you settle into your tents. After getting oriented, you’ll meet back at the group lounge to enjoy appetizers and local Vancouver Island wines and craft beers, before indulging in a succulent seafood dinner prepared by the talented chef, before retiring to your safari-style tent to be lulled asleep by the sound of the waves gently crashing against the rocky shoreline.
Included meals: Lunch and Dinner
Day 4
Branham Island
Today starts with a hearty breakfast and French-pressed coffee at the oceanside dining table. After...
Day 4
Branham Island
Today starts with a hearty breakfast and French-pressed coffee at the oceanside dining table. After breakfast, you will depart camp for a day of grizzly bear viewing. Depending on the season, you will view the bears in different areas and in different ways—from our 12-passenger boat to smaller inflatables, or even from land as we walk around the local streams and rivers.
You will return to camp late afternoon for a relaxing dinner and a restful evening sleeping under the stars in your safari tent.
Included meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 5
Branham Island
Today is an exciting ‘wild card’ day. After another hearty breakfast, you will be departing...
Day 5
Branham Island
Today is an exciting ‘wild card’ day. After another hearty breakfast, you will be departing camp for a day of wilderness adventure. Depending on the weather, the tides, possible wildlife sightings, and the wishes of the group, your guides may decide on another day of bear viewing or whale watching. Perhaps you’ll experience seabird and sea otter spotting, a visit to the Nakwakto Rapids, or a visit to the picturesque long sandy beach at Burnette Bay – or you may even enjoy an action-packed day that includes a combination of these activities.
Included meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 6
Branham Island to Port Hardy
After breakfast, the boat will be loaded to head back to Port Hardy; it will...
Day 6
Branham Island
to Port Hardy
After breakfast, the boat will be loaded to head back to Port Hardy; it will be a leisurely voyage cruising back to Port Hardy, always on the look-out for more wildlife to view.
You will arrive back in Port Hardy between 10:30 and 11:00 am, allowing time for you to catch a mid-afternoon flight back to Vancouver. However, weather could delay the arrival back in Port Hardy and you may want to consider spending an extra night there before either adding more time and another leg on your adventure or before flying home to the UK.
