Where to See Canada’s Wildlife: Best Spots from Coast to Coast
For British travellers craving untamed landscapes, and close encounters with some of the planet’s most iconic creatures, few destinations compare to Canada. Polar bears roam frozen shores, grizzly bears fish in glacial rivers, humpback whales breach in tidal bays, and puffins crowd Atlantic cliffs in their thousands.
A country where landscapes remain intact, migrations still unfold naturally, and wildlife encounters feel unscripted; here’s where to experience the country’s most extraordinary animals in their natural habitats.
Knight Inlet, British Columbia: Grizzly Bears
Knight Inlet Lodge is one of Canada’s premier coastal locations to watch grizzly bears fishing for salmon.
In late summer, salmon push themselves upriver through glacier-fed channels, and the bears follow. From secure viewing platforms and from boats, you can observe grizzlies standing mid-current, focused and waiting for the perfect moment to strike. A quintessential Canadian wildlife experience, June is another fabulous month to visit, with the mothers bringing their young out of hibernation to feed on the nutrient-rich sedge grasses in the estuary.
Escape to Knight Inlet Lodge with Canada expert Jeanette Dembrey…
Churchill, Manitoba: Polar Bears
Churchill is widely regarded as the best place in the world to see polar bears on land.
The most popular months to visit are October and November, when the polar bears gather, waiting for the sea ice to form. What is less well known is that summer offers exceptional viewing too.
From July through to the late autumn freeze, Canada’s Ice Kings move along the “Polar Bear Highway”, a natural, centuries-old migration route along the Hudson Bay coast. Several remote ecolodges, including Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge, are located directly within this coastal habitat, meaning the polar bears can be encountered throughout the entire ice-free season, each period an opportunity to witness different light, landscapes and bear behaviour.
Vancouver Island, British Columbia: Orcas
Around Johnstone Strait and the northern coast of Vancouver Island, orcas move through rich feeding grounds in tight-knit pods.
This area is among the best places in the world to observe resident and transient killer whales in the wild. Naturalist-led excursions at Berry Island Wilderness Lodge (formerly Farewell Harbour Lodge) provide insight into behaviour, conservation and pod dynamics.
Located in the Broughton Archipelago, the lodge is a magical place blessed with some of nature’s most charismatic wildlife: including grizzlies, the bears foraging in lush coastal estuaries and towering evergreen forest. Families with children from seven years old are welcome to book.
Discover Berry Island Lodge with Canada expert Jeanette Dembrey…
Klemtu, British Columbia: Spirit Bears
In the Great Bear Rainforest, the Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation protects the rare white spirit bear, a unique subspecies of black bear found only in this region. With only a few hundred in existence, these bears are considered sacred, embodying the spirit of the rainforest.
As one elder shared, “The spirit bear teaches us about patience, respect, and the interconnectedness of all life.”
Legend has it that “Goo-wee” (Raven) made one in every ten black bears white to remind the people of a time when glaciers covered the ground and how the people should be thankful for the lush and bountiful land of today.
Visit Spirit Bear Lodge from late August to October, when salmon runs increase the chance of spirit bear sightings along the forested rivers and estuaries.
Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia: Humpback Whales
The Bay of Fundy’s dramatic tides create nutrient-rich feeding conditions that attract humpback whales each summer and autumn.
From June to October, whale-watching tours offer close-up views of humpbacks lunge-feeding and diving, often alongside fin and minke whales. A memorable addition to any fly-drive, the combination of powerful marine life (many of whom are known to the guides by name) and sweeping Atlantic scenery make this one of the finest whale-watching experiences in Canada.
Timmins, Ontario: Wolves
Near Timmins in Northeastern Ontario, you will find a conservation-focused resort where you can overnight in a glass cabin surrounded by wolves. Residing in a vast 10-acre wilderness and with an additional seven acres of dense forest and a spacious field, the wolves are free to roam, and they are particularly active around the cabins.
An opportunity to observe these intelligent and often misunderstood animals, the “Sleeping with the Wolves” experience allows you to witness authentic pack behaviour up close, from dusk howls to early morning interactions, and all in their natural habitat.
Based at Cedar Meadows Resort & Spa, the property also offers daily wilderness tours where you can get up close and personal with moose, bison and elk while riding in a tractor-drawn wagon through the 100-acre wildlife park.
East Coast, Newfoundland & Labrador: Puffins
Newfoundland & Labrador is widely considered the best destination in Canada for spotting Atlantic puffins, with vast colonies gathering along rugged cliffs from May to August.
The Elliston Puffin Viewing Site on the Bonavista Peninsula offers remarkably close land-based viewing, while boat tours to the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve reveal North America’s largest puffin colony.
Magdalen Islands, Quebec: Harp Seals
Each March, harp seals gather on the ice floes around Quebec’s Magdalen Islands to give birth.
While helicopter tours provide sweeping aerial views, you can also photograph harp seals from the ground, standing directly on the ice with experienced guides. This eye-level perspective offers an extraordinary opportunity to observe mothers and pups interacting in their natural Arctic environment.
Sable Island, Nova Scotia: Wild Horses
Nova Scotia’s Sable Island is one of the farthest outlying islands in Canada, the narrow, crescent-shaped sandbar dominated by breathtaking sand dunes.
So remote is this part of the world that it is home to only five inhabitants (two people have been born on Sable Island since 1920) and roughly 500 wild horses that are descendants of animals introduced to the island in the 1700s.
A unique wilderness experience, the isolated island is only accessible by air or sea on day trips, with visits taking place from June to the end of October.
St. Lawrence River, Quebec: Beluga Whales
Near Tadoussac, Quebec, in the cool waters of the St. Lawrence River, a resident population of beluga whales thrives.
These small, white whales are known for their vocalisations and expressive movements. Guided boat tours and carefully managed kayaking experiences allow you to observe them respectfully in what is one of the southernmost beluga habitats in the world. The best time to visit is between June and September, when calmer waters and longer daylight hours allow for optimal viewing conditions.
Dramatic river-meets-fjord scenery adds to the experience, with forested cliffs plunging into deep, whale-rich waters.
Wanuskewin Heritage Park, Saskatchewan: Plains Bison
Situated near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan’s Wanuskewin Heritage Park reintroduced plains bison in 2019 as part of ecological restoration and cultural renewal efforts.
These powerful animals once shaped the vast grasslands of North America, and here their return tells a deeper story, one that connects the land, the wildlife, and thousands of years of Indigenous history.
Visit Saskatchewan with Canada expert Joanne Moores…
Discover Canada through its wildlife. Whether you’re drawn to bears, birds or coastal whale encounters, our specialists will tailor every detail to your interests.
Call us on 020 8776 8709 or email Frontier Canada at canada@frontier-travel.co.uk and start planning your next holiday. ATOL PROTECTED No. 5405 ABTA W3207.
