An Exclusive Winter Wildlife Expedition Deep into Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks
In the pale light of sunrise, we survey the open expanse of Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley, searching for wolves. With expert naturalist guides at our side and spotting scopes poised, we hope to see a pack emerge from the forest, energized by the awakening day. In the distance, a large male halts and sniffs the frozen air. We sense the mystical aura of this beast of legend. Elegant predators, wolves are an important part of the Yellowstone ecosystem, where elk, bison and other prey provide sustenance. Winter’s white mantle offers a pristine backdrop against which to search for these elusive wilderness icons. The land itself is part of the magic, too, with steaming geysers and trees covered in ice crystals beneath an immaculate blue sky. Discover Yellowstone with us on this rare winter wildlife safari—your spirit will never be the same.
Trip Highlights
- Track Wolves with Naturalist GuidesOn this small-group Yellowstone adventure, search for wolves in the remote Lamar Valley—the best place on Earth to see them—with the aid of scientist researchers
- Experience "Fire & Ice" in YellowstoneTravel by private snowcoach to Old Faithful and see steaming geysers erupt in a crystalline spray against the snowy backdrop
- View Elk on a Teton Sleigh RideJourney by horse-drawn sleigh across the National Elk Refuge in Jackson Hole for close-up views of the vast winter herds beneath the Grand Teton spires
Wolves, Elk, Bison & More on One EPIC Winter Wildlife Adventure!
You simply won't find a more comprehensive itinerary through the winter depths of Yellowstone Country. On this one-of-a-kind wildlife odyssey, we capitalize on the quiet season to get you into the parks' hidden pockets via historic Bombardier snowcoaches. Our guides are intimately familiar with the habits and behavior of local wildlife, including Yellowstone's legendary wolves, and will do their utmost to reveal them. And there's nothing like watching animals against winter's white mantle of snow. What else makes this rare nature adventure so distinctive? Read on!
- A Small Group Enhances Your Chance to Observe Wildlife
Our small group size—approximately 14 travelers plus two NHA Expedition Leaders and an adventure assistant—means we can travel in smaller vehicles with access to backroads and places tour buses can’t reach. Keeping our groups small also allows us to move quickly to areas where wolves and other wildlife have most recently been spotted, and to quietly observe them without disturbance. If you want to see wildlife—not just passing scenery out a bus window—this is the only way to go. - Exclusive Nat Hab Safari Trucks—Special Pop-Top Roofs Enhance Viewing!
As on an African safari, the quality of your adventure vehicle is key to exploring America's national parks. A far cry from the typical buses other companies use, Nat Hab has crafted new Mercedes Sprinters into specialty North American Safari Trucks. Three double-wide pop-top roof hatches plus large side windows allow for 360-degree views of the landscape and wildlife. Every guest has a window seat and plenty of room for camera equipment and other gear. These exclusive vehicles make a big difference in your overall experience! - Travel by Horse-Drawn Sleigh through the National Elk Refuge
The National Elk Refuge in Jackson, Wyoming provides, preserves and manages winter habitat for the nationally significant Jackson elk herd and for endangered birds and other big game animals. On a private horse-drawn sleigh ride, we get in among the elk for close-up photos of the thousands that winter here. - Visit with Local Naturalists and Photographers
Because of our long working relationships in the area, we're able to arrange a visit with Dan and Cindy Hartman, renowned Yellowstone naturalists and photographers who reside in Silver Gate, Montana, just outside Yellowstone National Park. The Hartmans will join us for lunch and a presentation in Cooke City, where Dan owns a photography gallery. - Stay in Classic National Park Lodgings Usually Inaccessible in Winter
Among other accommodations we have selected to enhance our proximity to wildlife, you’ll have the special opportunity to stay at Old Faithful Snow Lodge. Inaccessible by road during winter, these secluded lodgings are accessed via overland snowcoaches—a trip highlight in their own right! - Your Expedition Leader Is a Professional Biologist, Naturalist and Educator
Our NHA Expedition Leaders have intimate knowledge of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and its abundant wildlife. Your guide will be in constant communication with local wolf researchers, allowing your small group to have the most up-to-date, insider knowledge of wolf locations and activities. Our Expedition Leaders have been guiding in this region for an average of nearly a decade, and they receive additional training and resources from WWF’s top scientists. We're proud that our guides are the ones called upon to train and teach new local guides. See Expedition Leader bios with traveler comments regarding the quality of our leaders. - Our Quality-Value Guarantee Ensures Your Outstanding Winter Safari Experience
With Natural Habitat Adventures, you receive our exclusive guarantee that clearly states that we will meet the high expectations we set forth in our promotional materials. To our knowledge, this is the most ambitious guarantee made by any adventure travel company. Read our important promise. - Feel Good About the Way You Travel
We all care about the planet, and you can travel with us knowing that the emissions from your trip are 100-percent carbon-offset. Natural Habitat Adventures is the world’s first carbon-neutral travel company, a feature that is especially critical when considering that the world's wildlife is under substantial threat from our planet’s warming temperatures. - Natural Habitat Adventures Is World Wildlife Fund’s Travel Partner
Because of our commitment to environmentally friendly travel, as well as the exceptional quality of our small-group nature adventures, World Wildlife Fund, the world’s leading environmental conservation organization, has named Natural Habitat its worldwide travel partner — a designation that makes us exceedingly proud!
