Wild Sweden: Realm of the Wolf

It is just a short international flight from London to Stockholm and a drive of less than two hours to the tranquil and beautiful forests of central Sweden, home to such mammals as Elk, Grey Wolf and Eurasian Lynx, species all long extinct in the British Isles. It is these sought-after animals on which we will focus during this fascinating 5-day holiday amongst the scenic lakes and dense forests of Sweden’s Bergslagen region, in which these larger mammals far outnumber the local human population.

Our guides live in these forests and spend much of their time tracking and watching its four-legged inhabitants, to which they are deeply devoted. We will spend three full days exploring the forests of the region, enjoying their birdlife and such mammals as Red Squirrel and perhaps Stoat or Pine Marten by day. On one evening, we will take to one of the nearby lakes where Eurasian Beaver is common, travelling silently by electric boat. We are likely to pass several beaver lodges along the way and, as dusk falls, we will search for the inhabitants of these lodges as they commence their busy evening activities. On another day we will explore the territory of a local Grey Wolf pack, walking in the forests of the region looking for signs and tracks of the pack. A sighting of these wolves in such dense terrain is a rarity but, returning to the forest as dusk falls, we will enjoy dinner over the campfire in the heart of the forest and our guide will call to the pack and endeavour to attract a response — for the howling of wolves at night is one of the most memorable experiences that the natural world has to offer!

We will spend much of our time travelling on foot through the forests using only the animal trails, and our guides will share with us their knowledge of tracking both Elk and Grey Wolves and demonstrate various ways of communicating with them. As many of the species that we will be searching for are easier to see at dusk – and we will need to stay out late to try and hear the howls of the local wolves – we can expect some late nights during the tour, but no compulsory early mornings!

We will also spend the final night of the holiday actually camping in comfortable tents out in the wilderness within wolf territory. We shall enjoy a delicious dinner around the campfire and hopefully listen to the local wolf pack howling nearby. In the morning we shall have access to the hotel to freshen up after such a special and unique night.

There will be time to relax during the day too, appreciating the stillness and the stunning scenery. As we explore our beautiful surroundings, we hope to find a number of special birds including Whooper Swan, Black-throated Diver, Common Crane, Crested Tit, Black Woodpecker and Ural Owl, while butterflies may include the impressive Camberwell Beauty. Everything will be enjoyed to the full.

At Färna Manor we shall be staying in beautiful accommodation with very tranquil and relaxing surroundings with excellent habitat on our doorstep. There is a spa and award-winning food here, adding a real element of luxury to our stay.