Searching for the European Brown bear
In May, we embarked on a short trip to Finland with the primary goal of photographing brown bears in their natural habitat. After some research and tips from fellow photographers, we booked our photography expedition directly with the Martinselkonen Wildlife Centre.
Day 1: Flight to Kajaani, Finland
We flew with Finnair, connecting through Helsinki, before finally landing in Kajaani. Upon arrival, our guide picked us up and led us through the Finnish taiga forests to Pirttivaara, which is 160 kilometers from Kajaani. The base for our bear excursion was an old Russian border post, transformed into a basic yet comfortable hotel with 7 rooms (5 double and 2 single). The staff, mostly consisting of the guides themselves, were seasoned experts in Finnish nature. It was clear we were in the hands of specialists.
Our travel package included three days and nights of game viewing from three different hides. We opted for the so-called ‘pro hides,’ specially designed for photographers. Departing from the lodge, we headed to the hides each day around 4:00 PM, where we would remain for the entire night. During this time of the year, darkness descended but was never pitch black, allowing us to continuously capture photos with light-sensitive lenses.
After a short drive, we stopped by the edge of a lake, starting our journey with a brisk walk through the forest. On the first night, we stayed in the forest hide, aptly named for its wooded surroundings. Wild bears here were provided with extra salmon feedings. Around the pro hides, guides scattered food pellets that were thankfully invisible in photos. Bears attracted by the salmon would stop along the way to eat these pellets, providing opportunities to capture photos from just a few meters away. It was an incredible experience! We concluded the first session with nearly 20 bears on our tally, including large male bears and cubs only a few months old. Around 7 AM, the guides would pick us up because we spent the night in the hide without them. Inside the hide, you could actually get a good night’s sleep, but the adrenaline rarely allowed for it. We slept during the day back at the lodge.
Day 2: Swamp Hide, Martinselkonen Wildlife Centre
On the second evening and night, we settled into the swamp hide. Bears passed by here as well, en route to their favorite fish meals. The marshy surroundings added an extra dimension to the photos. Here, we encountered many bears, including some we hadn’t seen during our first session. In the middle of the night, a mother bear and her cubs stood upright against our hide—a truly awe-inspiring sight!
Day 3: Pond Hide, Martinselkonen Wildlife Centre
Our last night was spent at the pond hide. Unfortunately, we had bad weather as it began to rain. This was unfortunate because this location was ideal for capturing beautiful reflection photos on a clear day. The number of bears was considerably less than the first two days.
In addition to the abundance of bears, we also observed several birds of prey up close: black kites were flying back and forth, and the white-tailed eagle made an appearance. Regarding nocturnal raptors, our guide led us to a roosting site of several hawk owls and to the nest of a magnificent Ural owl within a hollowed tree trunk. Around the lodge, there were also numerous songbirds, a few great spotted woodpeckers, and several squirrels. There were plenty of opportunities to capture beautiful images during the relaxation hours.
A trip to this stunning piece of Finnish nature is highly recommended. A package including a three-night stay in the pro hides, as described above, costs approximately €600, including all meals.”
Stijn Cavens