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| Title | Bear Tracking Project, Northern Sweden |
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| Description |
A programme for those seeking a short term deep wilderness experience, alternative to a holiday, ideal for a short break, families, couples with children, retired folk, travellers, nature enthusiasts, wildlife photographers, and so on. Live in the heart of pristine Swedish wilderness. Volunteers can join every year for one to two week durations in July and August. Individuals, groups, families and students all welcome. The ProjectLive in a cosy fully equipped wooden cabin in the forest just on the edge of the National Park.
Bear tracking or bear viewing is made with respect for the bears and on nature terms - absolutely no baits. This means there is no guarantee you will see a bear, but it is likely, as the valleys carry over 30 brown bears in the area around Sånfjället National Park where you will be staying and hiking. There will be hideouts and special areas where you can sit and scan the valleys with your binoculars or camera. Basically you will be spending a week watching wildlife and being immersed in a wilderness setting that is becoming rare in the world. You will have clean pure water to drink straight from the streams and lakes, golden eagles nesting on the tree tops, beavers building their nests alongside the river banks, predatorial wildlife living freely, such as lynx, wolverine and bear, as well as other wildlife, such as reindeer, moose, deer and so on. Also a special silence that only wilderness provides. The one week itinerary is flexible but would look like this: Day 1. Pick up in Sveg, possibility to do shopping for the week. Coffee upon arrival at the base camp - Dalsvallen, orientation and talk on programme, access to amenities.
Day 2. Bear tracking and viewing (local fauna & flora discovery), local map and compass reading, basic survival skills etc. Day 3. Fly fishing course. Day 4. Canoe/beaver tracking on the river.
Day 5. Day off for hiking Sånfjället National Park, fishing, more canoeing (if interested), extra bear tracking (if interested). Day 6. Bear Tracking and viewing (wilderness survival). Day 7. Packing up, cleaning and lift to Sveg. A day of bear tracking and viewing also involves other wildlife, such as moose, reindeer etc. and information on the local flora and fauna, basic survival technique tuition. You may also visit the bear's hibernation dens to see how they live throughout the winter months. A day of bear viewing usually lasts 8 hours and can go late into the night during the summer periods when bears and other wildlife are more active. Lodging, Food & TravelFood Lodging
You will live in a fully equipped shared cosy wooden hut with 3 rooms, bathroom, kitchen, electricity, running water etc. (left). Participants will share a wooden hut, which can fit up to 10 people in. You can also rent a private hut, but at an extra cost. Guiding Who can join?
People of all ages can join the project - this includes families, couples with children (ideally children over 10yrs old), individuals, groups and so on. Communication will be done in English, so you will need to speak at least a basic level of English - some German and Dutch is also spoken, as well as Swedish of course. No special skills are needed, however, an interest in wilderness, peace and quiet are necessary for bear viewing, as they have very developed hearing and smell and can hear us from a long way off. Anyone interested in one week's genuine nature experience would really fit in! In addition, you will need to be able to walk at least 5kms through rough terrain without any problems, be able to swim (if you go on a canoe trip), have good hiking (and/or rubber boots), have rain clothing and warm clothing (sitting still, waiting on September evenings in the fjäll (mountain) can be quite cold), have a day pack and also have your own binoculars/telescope (it is really worth bringing these!). Transportation:
You will have to arrange to travel to Sveg, which is approximately 4-5 hours north of Stockholm. International flights all arrive into Arlanda Airport, Stockholm, and from there, you can take a bus to Sveg or you can rent a car. RyanAir, the cheap fare airline also flies to Skavsta and Vasteras Airports, about 100 Kms away from Stockholm from London and Paris - check Ryanair for prices. Or check Norwegian for flights into Arlanda Airport, which has very reasonable prices. For more details on travelling to Sveg, or to Sweden, please email Vicky McNeil and we would be happy to advise. Please note, it is mandatory for you to take out travel and medical insurance for the duration of the project. Additional details |