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Natural Wonders Photography
Tylwyth Teg
Llanigon
Hay on Wye
Hereford
HR3 5QA
United Kingdom
Natural Wonders Photography
Tylwyth Teg
Llanigon
Hay on Wye
Hereford
HR3 5QA
United Kingdom
Stay at a family run wilderness centre with long hours of wildlife watching in the light northern summer nights. Purpose built hides provide the perfect spot to watch the shy European Brown Bear from large males to mothers with their cubs. The forest is also home to the Siberian Jay, White Tailed Eagle, Golden Eagle and Black Kite.
This location is one of the best places in Finland to photograph and observe wild Brown Bears in their natural habitat. Multiple bear sightings are common in the summer months. You are likely to see bears foraging, playing, climbing trees (especially young cubs) and all manner of natural characteristics although remember that they are wild animals so nothing is guaranteed.
During each day you can also walk in the forests, spot Fieldfares, Redwings and the many Finches that habitat in the forest. You can also watch birds at the feeding station at the centre. Woodpeckers, bullfinches and red squirrels are often present. Guides are available throughout your stay to answer any questions about the bears and other wildlife that you may have. Janette is also on hand throughout your stay to chat about all things photographic and anything else you may wish to discuss.
Please note that many of the rooms have en-suite facilities but there are some rooms were the toilet and shower is not en-suite but they are for the exclusive use of the room occupant. They are very clean. An evening snack is provided at the centre. Sleeping bags are provided.
Day 2 begins with breakfast at the dining area of the centre. During the day you have free time to walk in the forest or watch the birds at the bird feeding station. Janette will also be available to answer questions that you may have and to discuss photographic techniques. Throughout an English speaking guide will also be available to tell you about the bears and deal with other queries. Dinner is served at 3pm as at 4pm we depart for our first night in the bear hides.
Transport is by car or minibus and then a short walk into the forest to the hides. The walk is over a woodland floor so at times may undulate but it is no more than about 30 minutes to the hides. By 5pm you will be settled in your hide, with snacks and drinks ready for the night ahead bear watching. The walk is 1.5km long.
Hides are purpose built with toilet facilities and bunk beds to sleep in if you need a nap at times. The bears are attracted to the hides by a careful program of summer baiting over several years. This makes these particular hides one of the best and most reliable in Europe for bear sightings. The time of year also provides 24 hours of light so it is light enough to watch bears throughout the night if you choose to do so.
Days 2, 3, 4 and 5 are the same, free time during the day to do as you wish followed by a night in the hides watching bears and other species that may appear returning to the centre in the morning for breakfast. For days 3, 4 and 5 you will stay in one of the Professional Hides. These are located in the swamp, forest and pond areas. They are smaller than the main hide and are for 1 or 2 people. There are also Professional 1 man Hides for use. Your evening on day 6 is likely to be in the Evening Hide but depending on your flight times you may have the chance to spend a night in the Main Hide or one of the Pro Hides.
On day 7 we transfer back to the airport ready to fly home to London. We will leave early for our journey home. Please note that the departure time back to the airport will be determined by your flight time.
Please note: Sometimes the itinerary may change but this will not interfere with game viewing and photography opportunities!
Will I see Brown Bears?
Yes, yes, yes! Although wildlife is unpredictable we expect you to have several bear sightings including mothers with their cubs. From the main hide it is not unusual to see up to 40 different bears throughout the night. We have had 100% success rate so far.
What happens on the first and second day?
When you arrive at the centre you will be offered a snack and a hot drink. You will then settle into your room for the night.
Breakfast is at 8am every day. At 9am we will have an informal chat about the day and deal with all of your questions and queries. After that the day is pretty much your own. Tea/coffee and cakes are available at 12noon and the main meal is served at 3pm. Between times you may take a forest walk, take photographs of the birds from the bird feeding station, take an optional bird watching trip, boat trip or just chill, it is entirely up to you.
At 4pm you will depart for the hides ready for your first nights bear watching.
How long is the transfer?
It is about 2 hours transfer time from Kajaani to the centre.
What is the food like?
Breakfast is a buffet style with breads, cheese, ham, eggs, salmon, tomatoes, red peppers and cucumber. Porridge and jam is also served. Cereals and yoghurt is available.
At noon tea and coffee is available with cake.
At 3pm you will have your main meal. Finnish cuisine is simple and basic with fresh salad, bread and drinks followed by a pudding.
In the hides you are provided with snacks, tea, coffee, water and biscuits.
You may want to bring a few snacks with you in case you get the munches!!!
You will not go hungry!
What is the walk like to the hides?
The walk is along a forest path which, in places, is covered by wooded walkways. It is an undulating path and has normal forest debris along it including tree roots. If it rains it can be muddy and boggy and so it is best to bring wellies or good walking boots that are waterproof so that your feet remain warm and dry. It is about 1.5km long.
The walk to the pond hide is slightly shorter but definitely wetter and boggier. Waterproof boots/wellies are recommended. If it is hot and sunny then it is not so boggy!!!
How fit do I have to be?
You will need to be able to carry your photographic equipment along the 1.5km forest path to the hides. Other than that there are no great physical demands and so a reasonable level of fitness is all that is required.
What is the climate like?
Just like watching wildlife, the weather can be unpredictable. Generally it is warm at the time that we visit BUT it can be very cold at night whilst in the hides. If it rains you will also be exposed to the elements. You will need to ensure that you bring warm clothing and a waterproof jacket. A layered system is best in order that you can take layers off, or add layers as temperatures fluctuate. There may also be bugs and mosquitoes to contend with so remember anti bug spray and anti itch cream in case you are bitten. It does sometimes rain which makes the paths slippery and sometimes boggy. Generally though at this time of year the weather is good.
What are the hides like?
There are a number of hides at the centre. There are two main hides which are well equipped with bunk beds, a toilet and room for about 10 people. It overlooks the main feeding area for the bears which is a clearing in the woods. These are the hides that you will use for the first and last nights of your stay.
There are 3 areas for the pro hides. The marsh or swamp hides, the forest hides and the pond hides. They are all different and provide different photographic opportunities. You will be in one of the three hides for nights 3, 4 and 5 and possibly 6 depending on your transfer and flight times.
The marsh hides are located at the edge of an open clearing that is usually covered with cotton grass. It has wooded area around it. The bears can approach from either side, the front or the rear! It provides great opportunities for environmental shots especially if the bears approach from the front and walk through the marsh towards you. It is very pretty.
The forest hides are located a little further up from the main hides. They are positioned in areas where the bears will be very close. Sometimes they are so close that you can hear them sniffing the hides and breathing outside.
The pond hides are located in a different area and overlook a large pond. The bears will, in the main, be on the other side of the pond and so if it is not windy you will have the opportunity to obtain reflection type shots. The hides are also in a great position to watch the sunset and sunrise.
What Camera Equipment will I need?
This will come down to personal choice and be determined by how much you can carry. If you can carry your kit, bring as much as you can!
If you struggle with weight bring a smaller lens and teleconverters or extenders. Generally you will use anything from a wide angle to a long prime up to 600mm.
For Nikon users the most versatile is the 200-400mm lens with a teleconverter. For Canon users the 100-400mm with extender, or of course the new 200-400mm Canon lens with built in extender.
Please note that in the forest hides you are unlikely to need anything longer than 200mm. This is simply because the bears are so close to you that the longer lenses are not required unless you like to take eyeball and nostril shots of the bears!
A wide angle and macro lens is only needed if you like to take these types of shots and intend to do some of this during the day or to use the wide angle lens in the forest pro hide.
If you do not have a DSLR please do not worry. You will still have the opportunity to get great shots with a compact zoom or bridge camera.
Will I need a tripod?
Yes and no! You will not need a tripod in the hides. The pro hides in particular are small and it is difficult to place a tripod in them. In all of the hides plates are provided for you to attach a ball head or gimbal head so please bring this with you.
At the centre there is a bird feeding station which attracts local birds including Siberian Jay, Woodpeckers and Bullfinch. A tripod is best to take photographs of the birds at the feeding station. Red Squirrels also frequent the bird feeding station so you can take images of them also.
You can also go on a forest walk from the centre during the day so you may wish to take your tripod with you for landscape or macro images. It is entirely up to you.
Should I bring a tripod head?
Yes, if you have one. All hides have a plate fitted for you to attach a tripod head to. Don’t worry if you do not have one though as bean bags are supplied. Although not the best bean bags in the world they will help to steady your camera. You may wish to bring your own bean bags but remember that you would need to carry it to the hides. A gimbal head is useful also.
My friend / partner does not want to take photographs but would like to see bears. Can they come along?
Yes of course! Bear watching is good fun and very interesting. Everyone is welcome to come and see the bears.
What clothing do I need?
The weather can be unpredictable just like wildlife. Despite the time of year it can be very cold at night. Layers and warm clothing are recommended.
The path to and from the hides whilst normally dry can get very wet and boggy, especially if there has been rain. You will need waterproof boots/wellies to keep your feet dry.
Why would I want to use a pro hide? How does a pro hide differ from the main hide?
The pro hides are a great opportunity to obtain images of bears from different locations with different backdrops from reflection type images in the pond hide to bears in an open field of cotton grass and in a forest setting. From the pro hides you can spend time watching bear behaviour including cubs playing, sometimes bears swimming across the pond, bears fighting and bears up trees. The bears will visit the pro hides throughout the night and you will have plenty of time to compose your images in the different natural settings.
One of the differences between the pro hides and the main hides, apart from the locations, is the size. The pro hides are designed for a maximum of 2 people. You can hire one for your own use or share with a friend. They all have sleeping facilities, a toilet, sleeping bags and a mattress. They are very cosy!
From the pro hides the images that you obtain are in a more natural setting as they are generally less cluttered with bears! You will still see plenty of bears but they tend to arrive in family groups or pairs and so it is easier for you to shoot an image without another bear in the background.
Why do you go at this time of year?
There are two reasons the first being that at this time of year you will see lots of cub activity. They are great fun to watch and photograph. The second reason is because there will still be cotton grass in the marsh which is very pretty, especially with bears walkig through it!
I decided to book Janette’s Bird of Prey workshop as a practice run, which was brilliant and this gave me the confidence to book the Finland Trip.
The trip itself was amazing, the accommodation and the food was good and the staff very helpful. In main hide we saw a lot of bears and I have to admit to being somewhat “trigger happy” with my camera taking hundreds of photos. Over the next three nights I took the opportunity of booking the three pro-hides, forest, marsh and pond; which I would thoroughly recommend. Whilst you don’t see quite as many bears in one go, what tends to happen is the different bear families wander in and out of each location, so you get more time to consider and compose your shots, whilst watching the bears interact and play. The hides themselves are basic but at the end of the day you’re there to photograph and watch these wonderful animals.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Natural Wonders, to anyone who wants to take better pictures. Janette is a lovely lady; she is extremely customer focused, tremendously patient and helpful. I have learnt so much from her and when she wasn’t teaching me new camera or editing skills we were simply having a great laugh. I am so looking forward to my next trip.
There is the opportunity to spend the night in 3 professional hides, which, while rather snug and basic, are well worth it as you get to see the bears in a variety of backdrops. In addition to the photographic opportunities, which are numerous, you also get the benefit of Janette’s considerable experience. I have been on a number of photography holidays/courses and I can honestly say I have never learnt so much especially in relation to editing in Lightroom. Janette tailors her approach effortlessly to the experience of each member of the group and is always on hand to give advice and tips. She has an open and encouraging style, which in my experience is not always the case with tour leaders on these types of holidays.
I came back with some stunning photographs, an increased confidence in using Lightroom and some truly wonderful memories.
Janette was just brilliant (so down-to-earth), gave me some good tips and advice on how to take THAT photo. Hasten to say I came away with some amazing photos of bears and sunsets.
It was such a brilliant trip which far exceeded my expectations and Janette with her knowledge of bear photography and of the family run Markinselkosen centre just made it. I would highly recommend this trip to Finland – not only for ideal photography, the entertainment/antics of these adorable bears but for the various “hide” settings. I will certainly be booking another trip with Janette.
It was a most wonderful experience getting so close to these magnificent animals which allowed me to take some interesting photographs as the bears went about there daily business of searching for food in the forests and meadows in a most beautiful setting. It was certainly a visit that I will never forget.
There were so many bear sightings, and Janette was always on hand to give photography tips. I am so happy with my images. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend tours with Janette. I’ll see you on the next one, Janette!
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We're here to help and are happy to answer any questions you may have, any time!
+44 (0)7913-415-701
We're here to help and are happy to answer any questions you may have, any time!