Ultimate Yellowstone & Grand Teton Safari

Arrive in Jackson on the edge of Grand Teton National Park, in the shadow of the mountain range's jagged spires. This historic ranching town turned luxury outpost refuses to give up its dungaree and work glove vibe, and its Western heritage is on full display here, from the saddle-seat bar stools at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar to its wooden boardwalks and elk antler arches on the corners of the town square. With a local ski hill a few blocks from the center of town and rodeo grounds nearby, it’s typical to see mountain athletes alongside working cowboys. The southern gateway to Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, Jackson is surrounded by vast wild terrain home to apex predators like grizzly bears and wolves, plus plenty of hoofed herbivores, some of which occasionally wander through town. Despite its growing opulence, Jackson retains its Old West character, exuding a deep reverence for all things wild. We spend the first night of our Yellowstone Country safari here, meeting our Expedition Leaders and fellow adventurers at a welcome dinner this evening.

Nothing quite prepares you for the drama of the Grand Tetons, which rear up in a row of pointed peaks from the floor of Jackson Hole. Protected forever in one of America’s most stunning national parks, the Tetons are icons of the West’s wild majesty. Grand Teton's wildlife is as magnificent as its mountains, and we may see elk, pronghorn antelope, mule deer, bison and eagles as we traverse the park today in our North America Safari Cruisers. With large windows, comfortable bucket seats with charging points, and a pop-top roof that lifts completely up for a 360° view on the landscape, these custom vehicles are designed for optimal wildlife viewing. This afternoon, water level permitting, float the placid Snake River beneath the jagged backdrop of the Tetons, looking out for moose, beaver, osprey, pelicans, or even a black bear near the river’s edge.

Moose are our goal this morning as we search the willow-covered bottomlands of Oxbow Bend just east of Jackson Lake, an area relished by this largest member of the deer family. The slow-moving water provides habitat for fish that are food for other wildlife, and we may spy river otter, beaver, muskrat, osprey, bald eagles and American white pelicans. Continuing north to enter Yellowstone, we get our first glimpse of the geothermal features that dot the park landscape. From bubbling mud pots to eruptions of boiling water rocketing skyward, Yellowstone’s geysers and hot springs captivated early explorers like John Colter and Jim Bridger and prompted conservationists like Teddy Roosevelt to encourage protection of the park’s natural wonders. In 1872, Yellowstone became the world’s first national park. We also learn about fire ecology as we drive through recovering areas once ravaged by wildfires. At Old Faithful this afternoon, there’s ample time to see the famous geyser erupt and to walk among the fumaroles and simmering springs nearby.

Much more of Yellowstone lies ahead, including Hayden Valley, a favored grazing area for large herds of bison and elk. The park is home to some 4,000 bison, the largest land mammals in North America, which we expect to encounter today. Bighorn sheep are likely to be on view near Mount Washburn, and we may also spot coyotes and bald eagles. A stop at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, where Yellowstone Falls pours off a sheer cliff into a thousand-foot-deep gorge, offers the park’s most inspiring vista. This afternoon, continue into the Northern Range along the park’s remote top edge, where we use spotting scopes to search for grizzly bears and wolves. Though Yellowstone's famous gray wolves are elusive and almost always seen at a substantial distance, the park's remote northeast sector is the best place in North America to look for them. We have the added advantage of working closely with wolf researchers in the park, who help us track them. At the end of an exhilarating day, head to our hotel near the northern boundary of the park where we spend the next two nights.

Early this morning, head east into the broad meadows of the Lamar Valley in search of wolves, grizzly bears and large herds of elk and bison. Gray wolves were reintroduced here to their native ecosystem amid much controversy in 1995. After a 70-year absence following their government-sanctioned eradication, wolves have again flourished, supported by bountiful prey, and their predatory presence has helped to right imbalances in the ecosystem. But as prey numbers have diminished and wolf hunting outside the park has increased, the frequency and proximity of wolf sightings has dropped. We often spy them, though, and our guides' high-powered spotting scopes bring their activities in for a closer view. Late in the day, we make one more traverse of the Lamar Valley, skirting the Northern Range as we continue to look for wildlife, including wolves that are often more prevalent around dusk.

This morning, we stop to walk among the white limestone terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs, where we often see many elk in the area. Steaming with thermal water that spills over the travertine layers, the springs have been described as a “cave turned inside out,” with heat-loving organisms called thermophiles adding distinct colors to the mineral-laden formations. After a last opportunity for wildlife viewing in the Northern Range, we exit the park and follow the Yellowstone River through Emigrant Canyon into the scenic Paradise Valley, flanked by the Absaroka and Gallatin ranges. Arriving in Bozeman, we check in to our hotel in the city's historic downtown and recount our adventures over a farewell dinner this evening.

Our Yellowstone safari concludes this morning. If your flight schedule permits, the day is free to enjoy Bozeman, a historic Old West/New West town with a rich mining, ranching and trapping heritage. The city boasts 47 individual properties on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, its thriving economy is increasingly driven by tourism and technology, and it’s also home to Montana State University. Bozeman offers a wide range of cultural and outdoor activities. A highlight is the Museum of the Rockies, a Smithsonian Affiliate and repository for state and national dinosaur fossils, including Montana's mounted T. rex skeleton. A transfer to the airport to meet departing flights is included.