Howling with Wolves

Photos from top: 1,3:Andrea Barghi; 2:Marcus Jonson

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Wildlife > Howling with Wolves

A hair-raising walk on the wild side and chance to learn more about this fascinating predator

Wildlife holidays in Sweden: Bergslagen

Wolves have always been one of Sweden's most magical and iconic animals: mysterious, charismatic, wild and powerful, they fire our imaginations and awaken our primal spirit.

On this extraordinary forest adventure, you will travel on foot and by car through one of the country's most active wolf territories escorted by a skilled local guide. The experience offers you very good chances to hear and howl along with a wolf pack, to see their tracks and feel their presence in the surrounding wilderness. Hearing the howls of a wolf pack in its natural habitat is a unique and spine-tingling sensation.

Photo: Marcus Jonson

The tours are run in cooperation with scientists at Sweden's premier predator research centre. The centre focuses and tracks the movements of some of Sweden's most important predators, including the brown bear and lynx as well as the wolf. The tour begins with a visit to the station and a detailed lecture on wolves by a leading wolf researcher, who will inspire you with tales of first-hand encounters with the wolves in the nearby territory. Then it's time to head out into the woods to create your own wolf experience!

Please note that for 2008 there is a change in the accommodation arrangements for the tour to enable you to have the best possible chance of howling with the wolves and bring you into the heart of their territory.

Previously, accommodation for this experience was in a forest hut in an authentic charcoaler village (this can still be added as an optional extra before and/or after your wolf howling experience). For 2008, you will be spending the night in the middle of the wolf territory in a Sami “lavvu”, or teepee. The tent can comfortably accommodate 8 people and each participant will have their own sheepskin rug, sleeping bag and pillow. Food will be cooked outside the lavvu and the wolf tour will take place in the surrounding forest.

The advantage of this is that the lavvu can be set up in the best possible location for hearing the wolves. In conjunction with a local wildlife research station, tracking information is available on the whereabouts of the wolf pack, which enables your guide to choose the camp location accordingly.

The tent will provide comfortable sleeping accommodation, but you should be aware that there will not be much time for sleep during your night out with the wolves! You will be awake until late into the night as part of your experience, and up again with the sunrise (between 3am and 5am).