Experience a wildlife safari
Forget Africa for a moment. If you want to experience exciting, wild animals, then go on a safari in Norway! Not convinced? Read on. Okay, there are no wild lions, giraffes or elephants in Norway, but you can see bears, musk ox, wolves and whales here!
Here is the list of the wild animals we think are worth seeing, and where you can find them.
Sea Eagle
- The sea eagle is the fourth largest eagle in the whole world!
- The wingspan can be over two and a half meters
Where can you find them?
Located along the entire coast but especially in the three northernmost counties. Occasionally you can meet sea eagles by inland lakes, but they thrive best off the coast.
When should you look?
All year. It is perhaps most exciting to follow in the summer because then there is so much activity with their newborn chicks demanding frequent meals.
How to spot them?
Go on a Sea eagle safari in the Lofoten Islands. Bring good binoculars and look for noisy flocks of gulls in the air. They are often a sign that an eagle is nearby. Sea eagle nests can be impressive structures and can be as big as a small car. But keep a good distance to the nest, because during the breeding season the sea eagles are extremely protective.
Moose
- 750 kilos is normal for an elk bull
- The antlers can be one and a half meters wide
Where can you find them?
You can meet moose in large parts of the country: in the woods, in the mountains, in-cabin gardens, but also in the middle of the highway if you are really unlucky. Most moose are found in the large coniferous forests in eastern and central Norway. Grimsdalen, Fokstumyra, and Folldal are known for extra-large moose.
When should you look?
The elk bull is most beautiful during the rut in September with fully grown antlers. At that tim, moose are more concerned with checking each other out than caring for humans.
How to succeed best?
At sunrise and sunset, the moose is most active. If you drive a car on a forest road and scout, there are great opportunities to see one. Moose are not as afraid of cars as they are of humans. You can also sit high in the terrain with a view of a bog, felling area or fields, because here the moose likes to graze at dusk.
Beaver
- The beaver cuts down huge trees to make it’s trademark dams and homes
- The traces of the beaver are easy to see, but the carpenter himself is not so easy to spot
Where can you find them?
The beaver is found in large parts of the country, but the core area is in Agder and Telemark.
When should you look?
The best chance of seeing beavers is at night in June and July. At that time, the kits, who were born in May, begin to explore the surroundings. They are a little less shy than their parents.
How to succeed best?
If you sit completely still near an inhabited beaver hut and just observe, you can experience a lot. If you have access to a canoe or kayak, you will get even closer.
Musk Ox
- Musk Ox have such a prehistoric appearance that if you meet one, you almost expect to see a mammoth around the next turn as well.
- Musk Ox in Norway became extinct during the last ice age. The ones we have here now are descendants of animals that were brought from Greenland and released into Norway in the late 1940s.
Where can you find them?
Only established in Dovrefjell, west of the E6 between Hjerkinn and Oppdal.
When should you look?
You can visit musk oxen at any time, because they are in the same area all year round. January is best if you want to experience the extreme adaptation they have to the cold. Newborn calves appear in April and if you want to be there when the bulls measure their strength in heat, battle commences in September.
How to succeed best?
You can often see musk oxen just by driving along the E6 or taking the train over Dovre. If you want a close meeting, a walk from Snøheim tourist cabin is recommended. Keep a distance of at least 200 meters to the animals. They may look placid and tame, but these are wild animals that do not hesitate to defend themselves if they feel threatened.
Killer Whales and Humpback Whales
- Killer whales can be nine meters long and are actually the world's largest dolphin species.
- Humpback whales are even larger, on average 60 tonnes. Both species regularly visit the Norwegian coast.
Where can you find them?
Killer whales and humpback whales feed on herring. Where the herring are, the whales follow. For thousands of years, herring have swum to the coast of northern Norway during winter, but exactly where varies from year to year. In recent years, the sea off Skjervøy has been the hottest tip
When should you look?
Just as difficult as predicting exactly where the herring will come from is predicting when it will arrive. Usually, the herring have been with us from the end of October to the middle of January.
How to succeed best?
Go on a whale safari in Tromsø. If you join such a trip, you will get very close to the huge animals. If the herring and whales come all the way into the fjords, you can also experience the giants from land.
Arctic wildlife on Svalbard
The unique wildlife on Svalbard is in itself worth experiencing. If you have a dream of greeting a walrus or experiencing the world's largest mammal, the majestic whale, then walrus safaris and whale safaris in the polar summer are for you. Not to mention polar bears. With a panoramic view from the boat, you can see and smell the walruses lying and rolling on the beach.
Throughout the autumn, when the midnight sun leaves us, you can experience the northern lights safari from a boat. Can you imagine a more magical way to see the northern lights? The quiet polar night allows you to gather impressions and find peace out at sea. Far away from the city's street lights, you will be able to see the northern lights brighter than ever.
Wolves
- The wolf is the dog's ancestor, but unlike the family's labrador, it does not come wagging when you call at it.
- After many years of intense hunting, the wolf has developed an extreme shyness and an almost supernatural ability to avoid us, humans. That's why it's extra fun if you get to see one!
Where can you find them?
There are about 60 all-Norwegian wolves, in addition to about 40 that moves back and forth across the Swedish border. The government has decided that all these wolves must stay in a wolf zone that covers Østfold, Oslo, Sørlige Akershus, and south-eastern Hedmark. If you want to see wolves, this is where you have to go.
You have the greatest chance if you visit the territory of the two largest flocks in the wolf zone: the Deisjø flock in Hedmark with six animals, and the Letjenna flock close by with seven to eight animals.
When should you look?
In March, the young wolves leave their parents' territory to create their own. Then it is also mating time for the wolf pair that leads the pack. This means that March is a month where the wolves are much on the move and thus easier to spot.
Wolves prefer to move along natural paths in the terrain, such as over frozen lakes and marshes, or along forest roads. If you sit in a place with a good view of such trails, and several days of patience, you may be lucky enough to see these wanderers.
Brown Bear
- A brown bear can weigh up to 320 kilos
- It is strong enough to kill an adult elk bull alone.
- Fortunately, the brown bear is more vegetarian than carnivore and avoids us humans
Where can you find them?
There are approximately 140 brown bears in Norway, distributed between Hedmark, Trøndelag, Nordland, Troms, and Finnmark. The biggest opportunity to see one is in Pasvik in Finnmark.
When should you look?
The best time to look for bears is in the spring, preferably in late March. Then the hungry bears come out of the den and wander in search of food. In the autumn, the bears are also extra active and thus easier to spot. They will soon be in a den and scour the forest for berries to fatten up before the long winter sleep.
How do you succeed best?
Sit in a place overlooking open areas in the forest where lots of fresh grass or plenty of berries grow. If you know of a moose carcass eaten by a bear, you should ensure a good view that way, because the bear often comes back to eat more. Be careful in the wind direction so that it always blows towards you, otherwise, the bear can smell you from a long distance.
Have a good trip on safari!
Wildlife activities
Wildlife in Norway
Animals in Norway
Norway is renowned for having some of the most spectacular landscapes in the world, with dramatic vistas and breath-taking views around every corner. However, it’s also home to some of the most beautiful animals around the globe, many of which can be hard to see in the wild elsewhere.
Whale-spotting in Norway
There are plenty of fantastic outdoor activities in Norway, but whale-watching is undoubtedly one of the most interesting. Norway is one of the best places to see whales, and tourists from both near and far have travelled to Norway to catch a glimpse of these fascinating creatures.
What Are the Benefits of Bird Watching?
Every year, millions of people trek through the great outdoors to bird watch. Bird watching is growing more and more popular in Norway due to the staggering amount of natural splendor the country has to offer. Lucky for avid bird watchers, an abundance of natural splendor equals thriving wildlife.
Animals in the arctic
It should come as no surprise that the Arctic region is one of the toughest places on earth for wildlife to live. Humans have been able to adapt fairly well to living in this part of the world due to the ability to wear clothing and reside in heated structures throughout the majority of the winter. However, for the animals that are forced to stay outside and venture through the Norwegian fjords and other areas of the Arctic, the climate is much more inhospitable.