Wildlife
Welcome to a world where nature takes center stage. Immerse yourself in a landscape where majestic wildlife roams freely, where marine mammals dance in the coastal waters, and where the skies are adorned with the regal presence of eagles. At our safari camp, we invite you to embark on a captivating journey into the heart of British Columbia’s untamed beauty.
Prepare to embark on a remarkable journey, where you’ll encounter some of the world’s most captivating creatures in their natural habitats. From the playful charm of sea otters and the majestic presence of humpback whales to the awe-inspiring flight of bald eagles and the elusive coastal wolves, every moment in our wilderness is a cherished opportunity to connect with the wild.
Join us as we explore the enchanting world of these remarkable animals that call our coastal region home. Each encounter is a chapter in the story of our magnificent wildlife, and we invite you to become a part of this extraordinary narrative. Let’s begin this adventure together, one that promises unforgettable memories and a deeper appreciation for the wonders of the natural world.
Sea otters
After being devastated by the fur trade, sea otters were reintroduced to British Columbia in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Our safari camp is nestled amidst prime sea otter habitat and is home to a thriving population of these endearing creatures. Sea otters bring a touch of whimsy to your wilderness experience, captivating visitors with their playful and charming antics as they effortlessly float on their backs, showcasing remarkable dexterity as they crack open shellfish. A few years ago, we had the honor of hosting a journalist who delved into the world of the sea otters surrounding Hope Island. You can read the article to learn more about these captivating creatures and their remarkable journey.
Humpback Whales
At our safari camp, you’ll have the privilege of witnessing the awe-inspiring presence of humpback whales as they feed in the rich waters that surround us. These magnificent creatures exhibit sheer power and grace, creating unforgettable moments in nature’s symphony. Many of the whales stay in our area all season, and our guides can identify them on sight. Others may just be traveling through as they migrate further north or are heading south for the winter. We share photos from our tours with the Marine Education and Research Society to identify individual whales and recognize areas of critical importance to the species.
Orcas
Known for their intelligence and striking black-and-white markings, orcas grace our waters with their majestic presence. Our region hosts two distinct eco-types: inshore fish-eating orcas (residents) and mammal-eating orcas (Biggs/transients). While not as commonly sighted as humpback whales on our tours, encountering these incredible creatures is an experience to remember.
Sea Lions
Not far from our safari camp, you’ll find several large year-round sea lion haul-outs. Here, you can observe hundreds of sea lions as they soak up the sun, hunt for fish, or engage in playful antics in the surf. These sociable marine mammals bring an extra layer of delight to your coastal adventure, providing unforgettable encounters in their pristine natural habitat.
Sea Birds
Delight in the graceful flight and vibrant plumage of the numerous seabirds that grace our shores. From rhinoceros auklets, common murres, and pigeon guillemots commonly seen, to other species like Sooty shearwaters and Red-necked phalaropes that visit throughout the season. On some safaris, we venture offshore to an important bird nesting area, where you’ll witness hundreds of puffins, thousands of murres, and an array of other seabirds.
Black Bears
Vancouver Island is home to a sizable black bear population, and we may find them foraging along the beaches at low tide. Join us for a chance to observe these majestic animals in their element, creating unforgettable memories of your wilderness retreat.
Coastal Wolves
The islands surrounding our safari camp are home to several packs of coastal wolves, a rare and remarkable subspecies known for their adaptability to the rugged shoreline. Coastal wolves have adapted to a diet of around 90% seafood, including clams, barnacles, salmon, and occasionally seals or sea lions. While they are elusive, our knowledgeable guides position you in the best spots for likely sightings when conditions permit.
Bald Eagles
Get ready to be captivated by the regal presence of bald eagles, the timeless symbols of freedom and strength. These majestic birds nest on the many islands surrounding our safari camp and frequently gather to feast on schooling fish, such as herring. Witnessing dozens of eagles gracefully swooping down on a ball of herring and soaring back with talons full of fish is an awe-inspiring sight that will undoubtedly fill you with wonder.
Minke Whales
Although the smallest of baleen whales, minke whales are known for their sleek and streamlined appearance. They favor specific feeding areas near our safari camp, but they can be elusive due to their long dives, unpredictable surfacing patterns, and smaller blows compared to larger whales.
Dall's Porpoise
With their striking black and white markings and playful demeanor, Dall’s porpoises are a true delight to witness. Known for their speedy displays as they ride the bow waves of boats, Dall’s porpoises add an element of excitement to your marine wildlife adventure.
Port Hardy Whale Watching and Sea Otter Viewing Tours
We are located in Port Hardy at the north end of Vancouver Island.
We’re hitting the road for the Outdoor Adventure Show @outdooradv in Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary! Come say hi at the Coastal Rainforest Safaris booth and join Andrew Jones in the Best of Canada Theatre for a wildlife-packed talk featuring Vancouver Island North and our new multi-day September Wildlife Spectacular tours.
Toronto (Feb 20–22)
🎤 Theatre: Fri 4:30 + Sat 12:45
Vancouver (Feb 28–Mar 1)
🎤 Theatre: Sat 4:30 + Sun 12:45
Calgary (Mar 21–22)
🎤 Theatre: Sat 2:15
#WildlifeTravel #AdventureTravel #WhaleWatching #VisitPortHardy #GoNorthIsland #IndigenousBC #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia #ExploreCanada
What if your whale watching trip helped fund the science that protects whales?
On July 11 and 12, 2026, @coastalrainforestsafaris and @baycetology are teaming up for a rare offshore expedition out of Port Hardy. We will be searching remote waters for elusive species such as sperm whales, beaked whales, pelagic killer whales, and more. Best of all, your participation directly supports Bay Cetology’s conservation research in real time.
This is an expedition-style weekend with long days and variable sea conditions, making it a great fit for adventurous wildlife lovers.
Details and booking are available on our website (link in bio).
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#whaleresearch #whalewatching #visitporthardy #gonorthisland #indigenousbc
We are proud to share that our skipper and guide, @thomaswamiss , has been named a finalist for the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) Indigenous Tourism Awards in the Outstanding Staff Person category.
Thomas brings professionalism, calm leadership on the water, and a deep commitment to sharing culture and place with every guest. If you have travelled with him, you already know how much care he puts into every trip.
We have a great team at Coastal Rainforest Safaris, and the recognition Thomas has received in being named a finalist for this award speaks volumes about him and the culture our whole team brings to every trip. While this nomination is for Thomas, it also reflects the care and professionalism all our skippers, guides, and support staff deliver every day.
Congratulations, Thomas. We are honoured to have you on the CRS team.
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#IndigenousTourism #ITAC #IndigenousTourismAwards #DestinationIndigenous #TheOriginalOriginal #GoNorthIsland #VisitPortHardy
Photo-ID in action 📸🐋
Back in July, we encountered two humpback whales on an offshore trip that did not match any local photo-ID records. We later learned from @mersociety that neither whale appears in global databases either.
When we submit fluke photos from our tours, MERS can match unique markings and build sighting histories over time. That long-term data helps us better understand feeding areas, site fidelity, population estimates, and migration routes, plus so much more.
These two will soon receive temporary ID numbers from MERS, which is the first step in turning a brief encounter into long-term knowledge.
#humpbackwhale #photoID #citizenscience #WhaleWatching #visitporthardy #GoNorthIsland #indigenousbc #vancouverisland
Shearwaters are a common sight on our birding-focused tours all season, but later in the summer and into the fall they often show up on our Sea Otter and Whale Watching tours too.
We may spot Sooty and Short-tailed Shearwaters in the hundreds, and sometimes the thousands, as they move close inshore to feed.
#Birding #BCBirdTrail #Seabirds #BirdingBC #VisitPortHardy #GoNorthIsland #VancouverIsland #IndigenousBC
Rainy days still deliver. 🌧️🐋
Photos from this past August 16. A wet morning turned into a remarkable wildlife day: Northern Resident orcas, sea otters, sea lions, and humpback whales.
We can’t guarantee rain or wildlife, but we always do our best to show guests the wild beauty of our coast.
Thanks to everyone who braved the weather with us.
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#Orcas #SeaOtters #HumpbackWhales #SeaLions #WhaleWatching #VisitPortHardy #GoNorthIsland #IndigenousBC #TheInfiniteCoast
As we close out the year, we have been looking back at some of the rare encounters we had with species beyond our regularly seen sea otters, humpback whales, and sea lions.
Sperm whale (photos 1 and 2): A first for our entire staff. We detected clicks on our hydrophone and later spotted the unmistakable sideways blow of a sperm whale. It was approximately 18 metres long, about twice the length of our boat. While rare, these huge whales are a possibility on our Pelagic Birding tours and our new multi-day September Wildlife Spectacular trip.
Northern Resident super pod (photos 3 and 4): In August, several of our Sea Otter and Whale Watching tours found a super pod of Northern Resident orcas made up of matrilines from clans A, G, and R, with lots of activity and mixing. This super pod was in the remote waters northwest of Port Hardy, and we were the only boat out there with them each day.
Horned puffins (photo 5 and 6): We regularly see hundreds, sometimes thousands, of Tufted Puffins on our Puffin and Seabird tours, but this year we were especially fortunate to see Horned Puffins on every trip. There are estimated to be fewer than 50 breeding pairs in all of British Columbia.
Wolf pups (photos 7 and 8): We had several coastal wolf sightings on our day trips and select multi-day tours. One familiar pack had four pups this year.
King Eider (photo 9): A male King Eider in full breeding plumage is an exceptionally rare sight in British Columbia. Remarkably, this bird was seen on many of our July trips just minutes from the dock. King Eiders are normally found in the High Arctic.
Fin whale (photo 10): The second-largest whale in the world, and typically farther from shore. We were lucky to see two on one Pelagic Birding trip. In this photo you can even spot parasitic copepods on the whale’s flank that can reach 30 cm in length.
Thank you to everyone who joined us this past year. We are already looking forward to what next year brings.
#WhaleWatching #WildlifePhotography #Orcas #RareBird #SpermWhale #FinWhale #visitporthardy #GoNorthIsland #indigenousbc
Sperm whale photos by Andrew Jennings
Joining a tour with Coastal Rainforest Safaris is more than just going whale watching. It is connection, respect, and stories shared in the places many of our guides and staff come from.
Here is what Indigenous tourism means to our CRS team, and why it matters.
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#IndigenousTourism #VisitPortHardy #GoNorthIsland #VancouverIsland #ExploreBC #TheInfiniteCoast #ResponsibleTourism #indigenousbc #WhaleWatching #SeaOtters
While wildlife is the main draw of our tours, we also find simple beauty on our routes between sightings. When wind, waves, and tide line up, ocean swells peak and break over a submerged rock in T̓łat̕ła̱sikwa̱la First Nation territory.
📷 Photo: @davehutchisonimages
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#OceanSwell #Waves #CoastalWaters #OceanVibes #Seascape #VisitPortHardy #GoNorthIsland #VancouverIsland #ExploreBC #IndigenousBC
A calm-water moment from T̓łat̕ła̱sikwa̱la First Nation territory. Two sea otters drifting alongside a kelp bed, calm and curious, and completely at home out here.
📷 Photos: @davehutchisonimages
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#seaotters #visitporthardy #gonorthisland #vancouverisland #explorebc #indigenousbc #TheInfiniteCoast
A September highlight: seeing the A62 matriline of Northern Resident killer whales passing by Hardy Bay at the end of one of our trips. It is always a privilege to watch these magnificent animals travelling together and surfacing in rhythm. Moments like this are a powerful reminder of how special these waters are.
📷 Photos: @davehutchisonimages
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#Orcas #KillerWhales #NRKW #NorthernResidents #WhaleWatching #VisitPortHardy #GoNorthIsland #VancouverIsland #ExploreBC #IndigenousBC #TheInfiniteCoast
Turn the sound on and count the tail lobs… 🔊
Filmed this summer in T̕łat̕ła̱sikwa̱la territory, where this humpback spent minutes tail-lobbing while we floated at a respectful distance.
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#WhaleWatching #humpbackwhale #taillobbing #WildlifePhotography #visitporthardy #GoNorthIsland #VancouverIsland #ExploreBC #indigenousbc #theinfinitecoast