You can learn more about Seabourn’s Alaska & British Columbia voyages here.
Mention Africa’s “Big Five” (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, Cape buffalo) and a safari vacation nearly sells itself. Yet Alaska offers its own quintuple of incredible creatures that should be atop every wildlife lover’s must-see list. Here are five magnificent animals that make the Great Land great—and why your clients will want to see them on a Seabourn voyage.
Bear — Alaska is home to all three species of North American bears: black, brown (including grizzlies), and polar. The massive Kodiak bear, another brown bear subspecies found only on islands in the Kodiak archipelago, can weigh up to 1,500 pounds and stand ten feet tall. The best viewing spots are along salmon-rich streams and tidal flats where bears congregate, like the Chilkoot River in Haines—setting for Seabourn’s must-do bear and eagle quest.
Moose — Moose are the largest member of the deer family, with bulls standing an average of six feet at the shoulder and weighing more than half a ton. Yet for all that bulk, they are incredibly adept swimmers and can cross land at up to 35 miles per hour. Thousands of moose forage in the river valleys surrounding Fairbanks, and are often spied while traveling the 56-mile-long Chena Hot Springs Road northeast to the popular springs, especially around the sloughs and swampy areas starting at mile 15.
Caribou —During the summer months, reindeer—called caribou in North America—travel upward of 3,000 miles to reach the Arctic’s tundra, the longest annual migration of any land mammal on Earth. Males can weigh upward of 400 pounds, nearly twice the size of females. (Interesting note: Both sexes grow antlers, a singularity among deer species.) Denali National Park hosts the most, with a herd numbering around 1,700 animals.
Dall Sheep — The northernmost wild sheep in the world, Dall sheep are able to scale steep, mountainous terrain thanks to the rough pads on their cloven hooves. The premier viewing spot in Alaska (and perhaps the entire continent) is along a scenic stretch of the Seward Highway about 20 miles south of Anchorage. A mineral lick lures the sheep close to the road at Windy Corner, located around mile 106 on Turnagain Arm; a turnout lets visitors watch these agile white animals clinging to the rocky cliffs above.
Wolves — Upward of 10,000 wolves roam Alaska’s vast terrain, the most of any U.S. state. While these elusive pack animals are notoriously difficult to see in the wild, you can increase your client’s odds by recommending a six-day, pre-cruise Seabourn Journey to Denali National Park, one of the top viewing spots in the world.
You can learn more about Seabourn’s Alaska & British Columbia voyages here.
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