When you see wildlife photographs in the pages of popular nature magazines, they always strike you with their quality and beauty. But few people stop to consider how much time and effort goes into each shot. Professional photographers may spend weeks in a hide, waiting for the perfect moment.
Professional photographers can, of course, afford to do that. But for most travellers, that kind of approach is simply out of reach. When time is limited, you want to see as much as possible within a short holiday.
That said, there are places where wildlife is so abundant that remarkable animal encounters are virtually guaranteed every single day. Kamchatka is one of those places. Here, wild nature surrounds you on all sides.
We are delighted to share photographs by Evgenia Kulish, taken during a single week-long trip to Kamchatka. The results are extraordinary — in such a short time, she captured an astonishing variety of Kamchatka's fauna.
Sea Lions
Steller sea lions are the largest members of the eared seal family. On Kamchatka they haul out on coastal rocks, gathering in vast colonies. You can watch them from a boat — the animals are accustomed to people and show no aggression, though the males, which can weigh up to a tonne, cut a thoroughly imposing figure.
Spotted Seals
Larga seals behave in completely different ways on land and in the water. On the rocks they are clumsy and easily startled, but the moment they enter their natural element they become graceful, curious creatures that swim right up to divers to have a closer look.
Bears
Kamchatka brown bears are among the largest in the world. In the Kronotsky Nature Reserve and along rivers during the salmon run, they can be seen in great numbers. The bears are absorbed in fishing and allow photographers to approach at a safe distance.
Orcas
Orcas appear regularly off the coast of Kamchatka. They hunt fish and seals, and occasionally come very close to boats, offering incredible opportunities for observation and photography.
Birds
The seabird colonies on Kamchatka's coastal cliffs are staggering in scale. Tufted puffins, cormorants, gulls, murres and many other species nest here. The seabird bazaars are one of the most vivid impressions of any Kamchatka journey.
Kamchatka is a place where every day brings new encounters with remarkable wild creatures. Join one of our expeditions and see it for yourself!
