The ice chart revealed that the ice had moved to the east, further away from land. The mouth of Raudfjord was accessible and still filled with fast ice. That morning M/S Stockholm slowly moved through the floes of ice as we were all on the bridge scouting our way in.
As M/S Stockholm nestled close to the fast ice edge, we immediately spotted the first polar bear walking in the distance. We decided to anchor and wait. As we watched the Arctic world go by, another bear suddenly appeared and started to walk straight at M/S Stockholm. When the bear reached the water’s edge it effortlessly slipped in the water and immediately disappeared out of view in between the jumbled pieces of ice.
By the time lunch came we had spotted a male and a female bundled up in their day bed on the slope on the mountainside. We all agreed that we were going to sit tight, be patient, and wait to see what could happen next. The snow and visibility kept coming and going so we took the opportunity to learn a little more about polar bears in the saloon at M/S Stockholm while one of the guides kept watch. Our patience was rewarded. It was perfect timing: when the talk ended the guide came down and said that the couple was walking towards the ice edge!
It was an amazing sight, seeing the two animals interact as they made their way towards us. They took the same route as the previous bear had taken, straight towards M/S Stockholm and then along the edge. Eventually, they disappeared into the snow. Seeing these enigmatic animals in their environment is an incredible experience, we felt extremely fortunate. What an amazing day!
Text: Eva Molin Westerholm
Please note: Depending on the lens used for a photo or video shot an animal may appear to be closer than it is. We always follow strict wildlife guidelines to ensure that we do not cause any disturbance.