🔊 Sound on! 🔊 Never mind the weather—any day can be the best day when you have wildlife like this coming by your camp! 👀
It was a misty, damp afternoon at one of the Kingfisher basecamps, but fortunately, whales don't mind the rain, and we were lucky enough to have this incredible encounter with a passing pod of orcas.
Did you know? Orcas live in a matrilineal structure, meaning they stay with their mothers throughout their lives. Therefore, any males you see in a pod (those with the taller, straighter dorsal fins) are unlikely to be fathers to the whales around them but rather brothers, uncles, cousins, or nephews!
👇️ Ready to explore some of BC's best marine wildlife habitats? Click the link 🔗 below to join a trip this summer!
https://kingfisher.ca/base-camp-kayaking/
A spotlight on the enigmatic lion’s mane jellyfish🪼
While the lion’s mane jellyfish can be found in most colder northern waters around the world, it doesn’t make them any less fascinating, especially when you catch them in water as clear as this!
Here’s some of our favourite facts about lion’s manes—share yours in the comments!
🪼 They’re one of the largest species of jellyfish. Their bell (the round dome hat) can grow up to 2.4m, and their tentacles as long as 30.5m—that’s as long as a blue whale!
🪼 They’re identifiable by their colour, which can range from a pale orange to deep red, as well as the distinctive 8 lobes of the bell.
🪼 They’re a great reminder why you should never touch any wildlife! Those long hairy tendrils are covered in thousands of cnidocytes—tiny stinging cells. A lions mane’s sting isn’t fatal, but it is certainly unpleasant. Fortunately, the majority of these cells can be removed with vinegar—but we’re betting the lesson might stick!
🪼 Like all jellyfish, they don’t have a brain!
👉 Hoping to see something that can be even bigger (but significantly less smart) than a blue whale this summer? You never know what the rich waters of Haida Gwaii might provide—click the link 🔗 below to learn more!
https://kingfisher.ca/kayaking-haida-gwaii/
A view from the edge of the world...
When was the last time you went into the real wilderness? If it's been longer than you'd like, we know some spots where you can get back to that kind of wild adventuring—why not join us this summer?
👇️ Our Southern Gwaii Haanas Explorer brings you into the heart of Gwaii Haanas, and to the very start of the wide-open Pacific. Spaces are filling up fast, so click the link below to reserve your spot while you can!
https://kingfisher.ca/southern-gwaii-haanas-explorer-kayak-tour/
📸 : @Zach Taylor
Don't forget to peek at what's under your boat—you never know what you might be missing otherwise! 🐙 👀
If your goal is to go kayaking through incredible intertidal waters for moments like these, we've got two essential tips:
1. Never underestimate the power of polarized sunglasses to see past the glare on the water.
2. Choose a remote area with less frequent boat traffic for the healthiest, most vibrant underwater ecosystems—somewhere like, say, Haida Gwaii!
With the opportunity to paddle through K’iid Xyangs Ḵ’iidaay (aka Burnaby Narrows), one of the most diverse and densely populated marine ecosystems in the world, our Southern Gwaii Haanas Explorer is the perfect place to test your kayak skills in beautiful, lively waters. Who knows what you might see?
👇 Learn more by clicking the link below!
https://kingfisher.ca/southern-gwaii-haanas-explorer-kayak-tour/
🤔 What's your favourite intertidal creature to spot while kayaking? Let us know in the comments!
From sunrise to sunset...
Let's just say we know some spots for magic moments like these. 😉
👉 Our Kayak with Whales basecamp combines the best of comfortable camping with spectacular wildlife viewing—sometimes before you even get in your boat.
Click the link 🔗 below to secure your spot!
https://kingfisher.ca/kayak-with-whales-kayak-tour/
repost from @iamcityoc who joined one of our base camp kayak tours last year, "🛶☀️🏕️🐋🦅🦭🐬 waking up to the sounds of humpback whales... 😍"
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#explorevancouverisland #explorebc #explorecanada #gonorthisland #kayaking #camping #kayakwithwhales #whalewatching #grizzlybear #johnstonestrait #vancouverisland
Sometimes the best part of an expedition is seeing how far you've come—and how much farther you could have gone.
You know you're in the heart of the wilderness when you can paddle and camp in the backcountry for days and still need to boat for hours past wild shores just to reach the frontcountry.
👇️ There's no wilderness quite like Gwaii Haanas, but don't take our word for it—click the link below to come see it for yourself!
https://kingfisher.ca/kayaking-haida-gwaii/
🎵 Flying - Carl Storm
Orcas passing our base camp early this morning.
Not a bad way to start the day. Video taken this morning by Kingfisher guide Thomas Wamiss. "We were fortunate enough to have a big group of orcas come cruising right passed our base camp this morning before breakfast."
We still have a few spots remaining on four and six day kayak tours from late August to mid-September (prime wildlife viewing time). For an up to date list of remaing availability for this season visit https://kingfisher.ca/remaining-2018-availability/
Great video from guest @jasonjob from a trip this past weekend.
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#stayinsidethekelp #kayakwithwhales #orcas #killerwhale #wildandfree #bornfree. #johnstonestrait #basecamp #vancouverisland #whalewatching #explorevancouverisland #explorebc #explorecanada #kayak #kayaking #camping #gonorthisland @amcgilli @molnoutdoors
Play with sound. Video from Kingfisher guide @amcgilli "A humpback whale rolling around in bull kelp. The sound of their blow never gets old."
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#explorebc #vancouverisland #BritishColumbia #travelbc #canada #kayaking #seakayaking #nikoncanada #nikon #oceanlife #pacificocean #nature #sharevi #humpbackwhale #whales #johnstonestrait #discoverbc #pacificnorthwest #wilderness #wildernessculture #hellobc #instarepost20
#kayakwithwhales #johnstonestrait #basecamp #explorevancouverisland #explorecanada #kayak #gonorthisland
The other day we posted a photo taken from a whale watching boat of an orca passing one of our base camps . Well this is what our group sitting on the rocks at camp experienced. Thanks to our guest @jasonbob for the video
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#kayakwithwhales #landbasedwhalewatching #orcas #killerwhale #johnstonestrait #basecamp #vancouverisland #explorevancouverisland #explorebc #explorecanada #kayak #kayaking #camping #gonorthisland @molnoutdoors @amcgilli
Video by Kingfisher guide @thomaswamiss of watching orcas from one of our base camps last week.
#orcas #killerwhale #landbasedwhalewatching #kayakwithwhales #johnstonestrait #vancouverisland #explorevancouverisland #explorebc #explorecanada #camping #nrkw
Video from Kingfisher guide @amcgilli from last week's Kayak Wiith Whales base camp tour. "A few clips of the Northern resident killer whales. We had spectacular vocalizations but unfortunately my camera didn't pick it up. The vocalizations you are hearing were recorded by the Vancouver Aquarium of the A clan. This will give you an idea and appreciation for what the whales sound like. Enjoy!"
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@kayakwithwhales #explorebc #vancouverisland #BritishColumbia #travelbc #killerwhale #orca #blackfish #kayakwithwhales #vancouveraquarium #nikoncanada #nikon #marinelife #pacificnorthwest #whales #johnstonestrait #discoverbc #pnw #northisland #pacificocean #nature #protect #canada #explorevancouverisland #vancouverisland #explorecanada. #johnstonestrait #kayak #kayaking #camping
Video by a Kingfisher guide @endofnorth 'A fantastic trip guiding in the Johnstone Strait . Humpback encounters of the close kind !"
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#kayakwithwhales #humpbackwhales #humpback #whalewatching #explorevancouverisland #explorebc #explorecanada #johnstonestrait #vancouverisland #kayak #kayaking #camping
Video of tail slapping humpback whale by Kingfisher guide @kellerudie
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#kayakwithwhales #humpback #humpbackwhales #tailslapping.#whalewatching #mist #fog #explorevancouverisland #explorebc #explorecanada #johnstonestrait #vancouverisland #kayak #kayaking #camping
Video by Kingfisher guide @thomaswamiss "We've been so lucky seeing so much wildlife lately! The orcas came cruising right by camp early this morning"
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#kayakwithwhales #orcas #orca #whalewatching #explorevancouverisland #explorebc #explorecanada #johnstonestrait #vancouverisland #kayak #kayaking #camping
Base Camp Kayaking - Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures
A short video to give you an idea of what you can expect on our base camp kayak tours off northern Vancouver Island
We offer three different base camp itineraries: "Kayak With Whales", "Whales and Grizzly Bears", and "Family Kayak With Whales". To begin your adventure visit https://kingfisher.ca/base-camp-kayaking/
Kayaking Vancouver Island North
A little taste of the scenery and wonderful wildlife encountered on our kayak tours around northern Vancouver Island.
To begin your own kayak adventure visit https://kingfisher.ca/
What to Wear on Your Kayak Tour
Kingfisher guide Allie Carroll outlining what clothing you should be bringing on your kayak tour with us. Our website has a what to bring list for each of our tours plus guests receive a guest handbook with even more details on preparing for our trips.