The endless expanse with countless lakes and forests captivates many people. In Finland, these forests are also home to many animals. The journey to the bears and wolves in Finland is a trip to the most powerful hunters of the European forests.
During 5 days we go in search of Bears, Wolves, Wolverines and various birds of prey. While we observe the large mammals for 4 days from small wooden hides, we search for owls on foot deeper in the forest in the middle of the week.
Our base is located about 3 hours east of the northern Finnish city of Oulu. The lodge is picturesquely situated in the forest, right next to one of Finland's countless lakes. The rooms are small but comfortable. The lodge grounds feature a typical Finnish sauna by the lake as well as friendly birds and squirrels.

The aim of this trip is to encounter the most fascinating predators in Europe. Eye to eye with a Bear or a Wolf - it's heart-stopping and we often even forget to take pictures!

Eastern Finland is one of the best regions in the world for observing them. In June and July, we have plenty of light for a very long time, which is particularly pleasing for photographers.
We wait for bears, wolves and wolverines from small wooden cabins, the hides, from late afternoon onwards. The animals often roam in front of the hides and often stay longer for a small snack. They are often only 10-20 meters away. On good nights we see 3-4 different bears, sometimes several times. There are also several wolves from the local pack that pass by the hides on their forays. From time to time we even see them encounter bears. In the trees, we often see white-tailed eagles watching the scene.
We spend the whole night in the hides, ready at all times as soon as an animal approaches. The hides are relatively comfortable, with sleeping facilities and an, admittedly rustic, toilet.

The animals are supported here with some food in front of the hides. On the one hand, this keeps them in front of us a little longer,. But more importantly, it helps to prevent animals from getting too close to villages.

One afternoon/evening we go in search of various owls. The mighty Great Grey Owls and the elegant Northern Haw Owls raise their young during this time, so they are also active in good light.

During our time in the Finnish forest, we live in a pretty former lumberjack lodge. The lodge is beautifully situated right next to a lake, which invites you to swim after a typical Finnish sauna. Numerous bird houses and feeders around the lodge provide great photo opportunities.

The rooms are small, but clean and comfortable. However, we spend more time in the hides than in the lodge anyway. Meals are also served in a nice lounge, usually as a buffet.
Here we can also prepare our food in the form of sandwiches and drinks for the hides before we set off later in the afternoon.

We arrive at the lodge in the early afternoon and then have some time to move into our rooms and settle in. After a meal, we soon set off for our first session in the hides, where we spend the whole night. As we are in the hides as a group, we can take turns sleeping and keeping an eye out.
At around 8am, we head back to the lodge where breakfast awaits us. Afterwards, most of the participants lie down for a few hours after a refreshing swim until we start all over again in the afternoon.

The climate in summer in Finland can be very variable. Rainfall often pushes temperatures down to around 10 degrees Celsius. Sunshine, however, can push the thermometer up to 30 degrees. Especially in the hides, it can get very warm at the start of the sessions. So you need to be ready for anything in terms of clothing. Long clothing is also good against mosquitoes. This is particularly important for the owl trips. The ground is often swampy, so rubber boots are also recommended.

For photographers, things are also not easy. Bears and wolves can pass by 100 meters away, but also 10 meters away. Medium - large lenses will normally be able to cover most encounters. If the animals come very close, you can even make nice videos with cell phones.
Ball heads from tripods are also very useful for moving the camera comfortably in the hides. There are devices for this.

We don't know whether the first animals will come by after 20 minutes or 5 hours. A book or podcast provides some distraction.