Brown Bear Safari - Steppes Discovery

Sweden Sweden: Sweden
BROWN BEAR SAFARI
• Led by the ‘Bear Whisperer’, Hakan Vargas, renowned throughout Sweden for his knowledge and
passion for bears.
• View bears from the comfort of a custom made hide allowing for unbeatable photographs.
• Based out of Vargas Lodge in the beautiful wilderness of Halsingland – the ‘bear province’ of Sweden.
• Bathe in the lake next to the lodge or take nature walks looking for beavers and moose.
Summary
Summary
There is no better opportunity to see European Brown Bears in Sweden than under the guidance of Hakan
Vargas, from his custom built hide in the forests of Halsingland. Bear watching holidays require an expert
guide and Hakan, our leader and host on this trip has spent his whole life tracking and photographing bears in
the wilds of Sweden. Staying at a beautiful lakeside lodge and viewing and photographing bears from the
comfort of a custom built hide, this trip is meant for wildlife photographers and lovers of wildlife and wild
places. Seeing wild Brown Bears less than 20 metres from the tip of your nose is a wildlife experience never
forgotten.

Overview
Overview
Your Your experts
experts
This short trip is designed for those who want to see brown bears in the beautiful
wilds of Sweden. Travelling in a group of 8 people your fellow travellers are likely
to be a collection of wildlife photographers and general wildlife enthusiasts who all
feel inspired by the natural world and unspoilt wilderness. While the accommodation
is fairly basic the setting is exceptional, offering tranquillity and the possibility of
seeing one of Europe’s biggest land mammals in its natural habitat. Most trips at this
time of the year are rewarded with excellent bear sightings as well as the likelihood
of seeing Roe Deer, Moose (the bear’s favourite prey), Red Squirrel and possibly
Beaver near to the lake. With extended daylight at this time of the year, boreal
birding opportunities are plentiful as well as the opportunity to spot Black-throated
Diver and Goldeneye. August is the perfect time for enjoying Sweden’s wildlife as
the days are long and the temperature is mild – on average around 60 F. A basic level
of fitness is required in order to enjoy the trekking from Vargas Lodge to the hide and
an ability to survive on a minimal amount of sleep is a distinct advantage as once the
bears arrive in front of the hide, you will not want to leave them for bed!
Hakan Vargas:
Håkan is a nature photographer and filmmaker who has contributed to radio and TV
productions about bears and golden eagles. He is not only an authority on Swedish
wildlife (especially bears) he is also great fun to be with. Full of amusing anecdotes
and interesting facts on the conservation of Sweden’s wildlife, 3 days with Hakan at
the hide he personally built with his father many years ago are what wildlife holidays
are all about! Especially when you know his wife, Eva is waiting back at the lodge
they call home preparing delicious home cooked Swedish grub.

Itinerary
Itinerary
Designated Group flights for this trip:
Outbound
Heathrow (London) Arlanda (Stockholm) BA0776
Depart at 07:40 and arrive 11:05
Inbound
Arlanda (Stockholm) Heathrow (London) BA0781
Depart at 18:40 and arrive 20:15
The flights above are not included in the cost of the trip however Steppes Discovery is
able to book these flights on your behalf.
Day 1: Arrive Stockholm, Arlanda and transfer to Vargas Lodge
A vehicle will be waiting at Arlanda airport to pick you up from the British Airways
flight detailed above. If you are not arriving on the designated group flights you will
need to ensure you are at Arlanda arrivals hall at 11:05 to coincide with the British
Airways flight arrival.
The journey from Arlanda to Halsingland is approximately 4 hours so you will stop for
lunch enroute (not included in the cost of your holiday). The journey north is very
picturesque passing lakes and wooded terrain and becoming wilder and more scenic,
the closer you get to Vargas Lodge. On arrival you will be greeted with coffee, tea
and snacks while Hakan explains the schedule for the next 3 days.
Your hosts, Hakan and Eva are warm and hospitable and have lived and managed the
lodge for many years. Hakan is a respected authority on Swedish wildlife, especially
bears and is an accomplished photographer. Eva is a consummate chef and prepares
locally sourced ingredients using traditional and delicious Swedish recipes. They make
a formidable team and have a charm and sense of humour that makes it a pleasure to
share their company. The lodge is beautifully located next to Lake Stora Öjungen and
surrounded by forest - home to bears, wolves and other fauna. The communal dining
area is very welcoming and homely while the individual cabins are basic but have
comfortable beds and a balcony overlooking the lake. None of the cabins are en-suite
so toilets and shower facilities are just a short walk away.
After you have settled in there is time for a swim in the lake or a traditional Swedish
sauna if you prefer. Alternatively, you can take a walk around the lake looking for
beavers that are sometimes seen at this time of year. Dinner will be served at around
7pm and weather permitting will be an alfresco affair, on a terrace overlooking the
lake. Hakan will give an informal lecture with images this evening about the bears
and other wildlife in this area before retiring to your cabins.
Day 2: Vargas Lodge and Hide
After a leisurely breakfast, you will trek to the hide which takes approximately ninety
minutes. The trek is moderately demanding so a basic level of fitness is required to
enjoy the trek without it being too challenging. En route, Hakan will be looking out
for signs of bear activity and will point out the wealth of interesting fauna and flora
that is found in Halsingland. On arrival at the hide Hakan will explain the
‘housekeeping’ rules.
The hide is self contained consisting of an eco-toilet, 4 bunk beds and a Calor gas fire.
More importantly there are 8 viewing windows, each with a platform beneath it for
resting a camera body and lens and a camouflaged hole in the wall where the end of
the lens can stick out. There are also office-type chairs on wheels in front of each
viewing window to allow for optimum manoeuvrability and comfort.
After the group has familiarised itself with the hide Hakan will leave vegetables and

fruit in front of the hide to attract the bears before returning to the lodge for lunch.
Return to the hide after lunch for the rest of the day and overnight. At this time of
the year it hardly gets dark at all so viewing and photographing of bears can be done
throughout most of the night.
Dinner and drinks will of course be provided when at the hide, as are covers, blankets
and pillows for sleeping. The bunk beds are all lined up communally but curtains can
be drawn for added privacy. If you know you are a light sleeper then probably best to
bring ear plugs! The accommodation is basic but where else can you wake up and
immediately see bears on your doorstep!
Day 3: Vargas Lodge and Hide
Have breakfast at the hide before returning to the lodge to relax and catch up on
sleep. Take a boat out onto the lake and enjoy a swim, take a walk around the lake
and the surrounding area or simply enjoy the peace and tranquillity of this beautiful
setting in Sweden’s leading bear province!
After another of Eva’s exquisite lunches you will return to the hide for more bear
watching.
Overnight at the hide.
Day 4: Transfer to Arlanda airport
After a light breakfast at the hide you will return to the lodge for a shower and a
sauna for those who wish. After a late brunch you will leave the lodge at
approximately midday for your drive back to Arlanda airport for your flight home.

Dates
Dates
August 2012 exact dates to be confirmed
Please note: If these dates do not suit you we can arrange for a tailor made trip.
Main Main tour tour cost cost
cost
From £695 per person in twin-share accommodation excluding international flights based on a minimum of
4 people booking.
Group Size
Group Size can range from 4 to 8 passengers.
Includes
All accommodation on a full board basis, all activities, all transfers and naturalist guide.
Excludes
International flights (which we can arrange for you), travel insurance, tips and gratuities.

Important Important information
information
International Flights
We can, if you wish, organise your international flights into and out of Stockholm, Arlanda. Booking your
flights through us gives you greater financial protection under ATOL regulations – please ask for further
details. To mitigate the carbon dioxide released into the high atmosphere through your air travel, we donate
£10 per client to Rainforest Concern, an organisation that works hard to prevent the depletion of the world’s
rainforest.
Weather
We have selected our trip dates to coincide with extended daylight hours and mild temperatures. Morning and
evenings can be cool so you’ll need to pack a fleece to stay warm.
Health And Fitness
A reasonable level of health and fitness will allow you to fully appreciate the trekking element of this trip.
Essential items
You should take sun-block, sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat and swimwear. When walking, wear colours that
blend with the scenery – neutral tones are best. Long trousers or track-suit (not jeans) give protection against
thorns and do not leave you cold when wet. Good footwear and a light coat or sweatshirt for the cold
mornings is advisable, as is a good pair of binoculars. Charging batteries is no problem for digital cameras and
videos at Vargas Lodge.
Photographic equipment
For the best results you should have either a digital SLR or film SLR type camera. Bridge or hybrid cameras,
although now popular, are primarily designed to be used in an automatic mode and as such you may lose out
on some of the photographic tuition as well as control of your images in the field. You will also need a lens of
a reasonable photographic length, something like 400 or even 500mm. Prime lenses are optically better but
carry a high price tag so, a zoom lens such as the Sigma 150-500mm or the Canon 100-400mm are potentially
good choices. In some situations a zoom lens of up to 300mm may suffice but often you may ‘lose out’ on
some opportunities simply through not having enough magnification. Converter devices giving either 1.4 or 2
times magnification can be purchased for just over £200 and can often come in very handy when needing that
extra bit of zoom. If you have a spare or additional camera body it is recommended that you bring it, even if it
is just an old or obsolete one, safaris can be taxing on camera equipment and malfunctions can and do occur.
This could be disastrous if it occurs on day 1 of your tour!

Our Our Our commitment
commitment
An unavoidable consequence of travel is the emission of carbon dioxide into the high
atmosphere and while Steppes Discovery takes measures to reduce the carbon
footprint of its holidays, regrettably it is not yet possible to make them carbon
neutral. In order to offset these emissions we give £10 per client to Rainforest
Concern. Rainforests have a central role to play in the slowing of climate change and
yet we are removing forests from the planet at a faster rate than they can grow back.
Rainforest Concern supports projects that look to preserve the forests that we have
rather than replanting new ones, working to safeguard biodiversity and local
communities and in so doing mitigate climate change.
Nature´s Best is the first national quality label for nature tours in Europe, recognising
operators who are committed to ecotourism. Hakan and Eva’s operation in
Halsingland is endorsed by Nature’s Best.
Our travel partners, accommodation, service providers and ground agents are all carefully chosen to ensure
their commitment to the environment, most being quality, family owned businesses – reflecting the unique
character of the places, the abiding hospitality of its people and the remarkable spirit of its wilderness.
Now come along and see for yourself. With us it won’t cost the earth!
Want Want to to discuss discuss this this trip?
trip?
Please call Jarrod Kyte on 01285 643333 for more details or to make a booking
A love of wildlife and wild places has long been Jarrod’s motivation for travelling. At
his happiest when photographing big cats in Africa, Jarrod spent two years in Kenya
managing a luxury tented camp in the Masai Mara, together with his wife and young
son.