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FAQs
Preparing for
Newfoundland and Labrador
For a thousand years, Newfoundland
has drawn explorers — the Vikings, Audubon, Roger Tory Peterson.
This coming summer you can join them in discovering one of the
world's last natural places. The rugged sea cliffs of the coastal
islands teem with guillemots (murres), gulls, razorbilled auks,
puffins, and other species of seabird. We will visit places where
seabirds are so plentiful they block the sun. Newfoundland boasts
North America's second largest gannet colony, together with the
Continent's four largest Atlantic puffin colonies, and the world's
two largest Leach's storm petrel colonies. This storm petrel is the
world's second most common seabird. The forty seabird species found
off the rugged coast include a variety of gulls and sea ducks,
together with five million shearwaters from the southern hemisphere.
You don't have to be a birdwatcher to be awed by the variety and
numbers. Inland you'll find osprey, bald eagles, grouse, ptarmigan,
and a unique combination of northern and sub-arctic birds.
When it's time to take a break from
looking at the birds, there's world-class whale watching, huge
caribou herds, challenging salmon rivers, and a moose population
greater than the population of historic St. John's, the capital
city. Newfoundland's cities and towns offer you the hospitality for
which the island is famous, plus a unique blend of seafaring
traditions and modern conveniences. Come prepared to have fun! The
following are some commonly asked questions and answers about our
Newfoundland programs. For further information, please feel free to
contact us! We always reply.
Q
What is the weather like?
A
Day-time summer temperatures can range from 10-25
°C (50-75 °F), while nights may go a few degrees lower. The
weather is quite changeable, so be prepared. It is not
unusual for people to wear T-shirts and shorts while viewing
15-storey-tall icebergs.
Q
What should I bring?
A
Along with the clothing you would regularly
bring, take a warm sweater, raingear, light boots, and (very
important) your camera and binoculars. Sunscreen is very
important for our boat trips as the sunlight reflects off
the water. Our leaders carry field guides and local
literature for you to enjoy during the holiday.
Q
Will we see whales?
A
In season — late June to early August — our
visiting groups have always seen humpback whales. Often
other whale species — minke, dolphin, fin — are also seen.
There may be single days when whales elude us, but during
this time the whale watching is the best in the world. Every
summer we have days where our guests see four to six species
and dozens of individuals. We have been studying and
watching whales since 1979 without incident, but there is
always the possibility that climatic or oceanographic
changes might cause a redistribution of these animals. No
one can make promises for nature, but she has been very good
to our guests over the years. In 2001 we started providing
research expeditions (our
Northern Whale Study) looking at orcas and humpbacks off
northern Newfoundland and southern Labrador in September.
These excursions also enjoy fabulous success with up to six
whale species and 20,000 individual whales/dolphins on our
trip lists.
Q
Are there any dangerous
plants or animals?
A
Newfoundland does not have any snakes, other
reptiles, skunks, poison ivy, poison oak, or ragweed. Lyme
disease has not been found here. Common sense will prevent
most problems. Occasionally groups will see black bears.
Your guide will advise you on the best way to avoid these
powerful animals, but common sense is still your most
important asset. Mushroom lovers please note: Newfoundland
has a wonderful and diverse mushroom fauna, but the
indicators of safe mushrooms in Europe usually denote
hazardous North American species. To be safe it is best to
avoid picking them.
Q
I want two or more weeks in
Newfoundland, but your programs are one week long. Can people
travel with Wildland Tours and then set out independently?
A
Yes. Guests often use our week-long tours to
orientate themselves to Newfoundland before setting out to
explore the place on their own. Our leaders are a wealth of
information, and they can help you plan the perfect
independent holiday for yourself.
Q
I like to travel
independently, but I also like the idea of going with a local
expert. How much freedom is there on a Wildland Tours holiday?
A
There is a great deal of freedom and fun! For
example, at our caribou viewing stop we usually find a herd
ranging in size from several dozen to several thousand
animals. Everyone is free to wander the countryside on your
own, photograph wildlife, and explore; but we do ask that
you not get lost! At some sea cliff areas our guests can
choose to sit and watch the whales and wildlife go by or
walk along the scenic coastline. Evenings are always free
although we do offer optional moose and bear hunts (with
camera only!) from our rural hotels. During our time in the
cities there are lots of wonderful evening entertainment
options. On other portions of the holiday there is free time
for exploring, shopping, canoeing, fishing, etc.
Q
Are there many flies and
mosquitoes?
A
As with any wild
place, there is a diversity of insect life. We spend most of
our time in coastal areas where there are very few pests.
Even when we go inland the flies are seldom a serious
problem. We should point out, however, that you should
prepare for flies on the in-land stops of the Labrador
portion of the Viking Trail
Experience.
Q
I have vertigo. Will this
be a problem? What about seasickness?
A
Although we do travel near some cliffs, you will
not be required to walk close to a cliff edge at any point.
We visit a spectacular gannet stack, which we also use for
land-based whale watching. American writer Robert Finch said
this about the place: "Here a person could go up to the very
lip of oblivion with nothing to stop him but the will to
live." You can, however, enjoy the wonders without going too
close. In fact, a traditional ballad, Let Me Fish Off
Cape St. Mary's, inspired by this remote, rugged place
is perhaps the most haunting song in the large repertoire of
unique Newfoundland music. If you are prone to seasickness,
you can still fully participate in our Newfoundland
Adventures, Viking Trail
Experiences, and May
Magics. We have the flexibility to avoid rough seas, and
usually the waters are so calm that seasickness is not an
issue. Even the Whale Study
Week is usually fine for people who occasionally suffer
from motion sickness.
Q
How safe is the city?
A
St. John's people have a long tradition of
welcoming visitors and providing world-famous hospitality.
The city's roots go back over 500 years. Its rugged,
sometimes bloody history has somehow shaped it into one of
North America's most peaceful and friendly urban areas. St.
John's boasts North America's lowest murder rate, and the
urban parts of the entire province are protected by the last
police force on the continent to carry firearms. (Despite
the low crime rates and a decline in offences, the police
succumbed to "pistol envy" in 1998 and became an armed
force.) There is very little crime, but guests should always
follow the basic rules of travel safety.
Q
How ecologically friendly
is Wildland Tours?
A
Wildland Tours has been offering holidays for
animal lovers since 1984. Prior to 1984, company president
Dave Snow worked as a wildlife and environmental researcher.
In the early days of Wildland Tours, Dave worked as a
teacher and as a science educator with a new environmental
education centre. Whales, seabirds, and salmon were all
areas of hands-on field work. Dave continues to write for a
variety of magazines and work for environmental causes.
Wildland Tours sponsors a local environmental education
scholarship and contributes to worthwhile causes. The
company also runs a gift
gallery for nature lovers. This gallery is located below
the Wildland Tours offices in St. John's and serves as a
local headquarters for guests. The gallery highlights the
natural wonders of Newfoundland and Labrador. All of the
company's activities incorporate recycling and conservation
measures. The company and its staff have received local and
national honors for their environmental leadership,
including the 1990 Governor General's Award for
Conservation. This national honor recognized David's
participation in numerous environmental protection campaigns
and his efforts as an environmental journalist. With that
award, Wildland Tours President David Snow joined a long
line of distinguished previous winners including David
Suzuki and Robert Bateman. In early 2000, Wildland Tours
received the provincial award from the Canadian Parks
Service recognizing our pioneering efforts in developing
sustainable tourism.
Q
How good are the holiday
leaders?
A
Our leaders boast a great mix of local experience
and knowledge. Some are authors, others are professors, and
all sport a unique mix of knowledge, humor, and training.
Expect a qualified, remarkable, and fun traveling companion.
Q
What is the refund policy
if I can't make the trip?
A
Everything is totally refundable until 30 days
from a holiday's start date. Full payment is required at the
30 day point but if you have to cancel, we usually keep 10
per cent or provide a full refund if we get a replacement
person on the holiday. Some of our hotels do charge if a
reservation is cancelled within 30 days so we do need to
assess a fee. If you cancel on the planned day of arrival,
we will still refund 50 per cent of the holiday costs. We
are more generous than the large holiday companies who keep
your money when unforeseen events disrupt your travel plans
because we truly want to share the wonders of our home land
with you.
Q
I am a birder. Is this a
good vacation for me?
A
The Viking Trail
Experience incorporates two ferry rides described as one
of the planet's best pelagic bird watching trips. (This
adventure is the ferry ride between Labrador and
Newfoundland. Non-birders enjoy the whales, seals, and
icebergs on this trip.) The
Newfoundland Adventure holiday features some of the
world's most significant seabird colonies but we also take
the time to enjoy land birds, wildflowers, whales, moose,
and everything else nature has to offer. Our hotel in Terra
Nova National Park features some very good birding trails
and our leaders often lead early morning bird walks (while
the non-birders continue sleeping). Birders and all
interested guests receive Newfoundland bird checklists and
our leaders all carry field guides. A person who loves
birding and enjoys other aspects of a holiday (scenery,
culture, music, butterflies, plants, animals, etc.) will
enjoy all of the holidays listed on our website. If you want
nothing but birds on your vacation we do provide exclusive
birding holidays to some American Audubon societies and
European birding groups every year. Contact us for those
dates and itineraries.
Q
My interest is history and
archaeology. Should I take one of your tours?
A
Our Viking Trail
Experience holiday has been described as one of the most
archaeologically diverse vacations in the world. The new
world's oldest burial mound (older than the pyramids!), the
only authenticated Viking site in North America, and various
national historic sites and parks tell the story of 10,000
years of human habitation. The mountains, wildlife, geology,
fossils, unique foods and culture all work to enhance your
understanding of how the early peoples and more recent folk
lived in this unique maritime landscape. Besides the
spectacular wildlife and amazing sights, our Newfoundland
Adventure is a history lover's delight that also features
some interesting time travels. You'll visit the ongoing
archaeological excavation of Baltimore's 1621 colony where
archaeologists and enthusiastic visitors are unearthing
approximately 4,000 artifacts a week! Stroll around the site
of the last battle of the Seven Year War! Hear the true
tales of pirates and princesses!
Q
What is the biggest
challenge of these holidays?
A
Our exotic location at the continent's eastern
edge usually makes it necessary to book airline tickets
early in order to select your choice travel dates and
receive the best airfare. Check out the
Travel
Information section on this website.
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