This June, we travelled to the wild forests of Eastern Finland to the base camp at Kuikka – close to the Russian border, in search of the region’s Boreal predators — Bears and Wolves. It was a week of long nights, shifting light, and endless photographic challenges, from soft northern dusk to misty dawn. Each night brought new moments — fleeting, unpredictable, and unforgettable.

London to Kuikka 

Our trip began with a flight from London to Helsinki, arriving around lunchtime and giving us a relaxed break before our onward flight to Kuopio. At Kuopio, our driver was waiting, and our group of six, along with Bret, our guide, set off for Kuikka — a three-hour drive that took a little longer than expected but rewarded us with a glimpse of a wild forest reindeer. After a brief stop in Kuhmo for supplies, we arrived to a hot meal, unloaded our gear, and settled in for a relaxed first evening — still broad daylight.

Day 2 – First Night in the Hides

We woke to a cool, damp morning and a mixed forecast for the week. After breakfast, Bret gathered us for a short briefing, covering what to expect during our long hide sessions — from hide etiquette to the likely behaviour of bears and, with luck, wolves.

With over 14 hours in the hides each night, pacing ourselves was essential. Between sessions, there was plenty to photograph around the lodge — red squirrels, siskins, and bullfinches at the feeders, all keeping our cameras busy.

Dinner was at 4 pm, after which we prepared sandwiches and filled flasks for the night ahead. Then, loaded up with gear, we set off for the Paradise meadow — a marshy hide site right on the edge of no-man’s-land between Finland and Russia.

Paradise Meadow

The first few hours were quiet. Gulls and ravens patrolled the clearing while a distant cuckoo called through the forest. Then, a bear suddenly dashed across the open ground — too quick for a photo but enough to set hearts racing. Soon after, a female with three yearling cubs appeared briefly, only to be spooked by another bear, returning a bit later.

Twenty minutes after the bear family returned, a lone wolf emerged from the shadows. — a pale shadow in the half-light, circling the bears. What followed was an extraordinary hour of interaction — the wolf circling, the bears standing their ground, and the cubs even chasing the wolf at times as if it were a game. For nearly an hour, bears and wolf shared the scene — a photographer’s dream and challenge rolled into one. Working in near darkness, we pushed our ISO limits and relied on the faint, silvery glow of the northern night to capture the moment.

The Midnight Hour

The light levels tonight were incredibly low, and working in such conditions pushed our gear — and patience — to the limit. We were shooting at extreme ISO settings, balancing exposure against noise, concentrating hard through the midnight hours while taking turns with Mark and Wendy to keep watch.

By 1.30 am the bear family finally retreated into the forest, leaving the wolf to feed alone in the gloom of the early morning. Ten minutes later, a pair of bears — a male and a female — appeared and chased the wolf off.

As dawn broke, a pale wolf crossed the clearing once more, its soaked fur glistening in the first light — a perfect finale to our first night. By 7.30 am we were heading back to Kuikka for breakfast and some much-needed rest.

Day 3 – Another Night at Paradise

After catching up on some much-needed sleep, we spent the afternoon photographing red squirrels and forest birds around the lodge before heading out for a second night at Paradise.

Soon after settling in, a white-tailed eagle landed nearby — an impressive start providing some great photo opportunities. Then came a large male bear, his golden muzzle glowing in the evening light. The mother bear and cubs followed, playful and restless, offering superb opportunities for action shots as they stood upright, tumbled, and climbed.

Just before 9 pm, a wolf crossed the clearing, later returning to howl — a spine-tingling sound that cut through the still air. Through the night, bears and wolf continued their delicate dance of dominance and caution, and by dawn, the forest fell silent once more.

It was another long, cold night of photography — high ISO settings, slow shutter speeds, and constant focus in the dim light — but exactly the kind of challenge that makes this kind of trip unforgettable.

Selection of more Images from the trip

Day 4 – Lakeside Hides

By now, we’d settled into the rhythm of Kuikka life: sleep, recharge, prepare, and head out again. Tonight’s hide was beside a peaceful forest lake — a beautiful setting, the kind of place where you could just sit and listen to the wilderness.

Within ten minutes, a nervous bear appeared but bolted. The calm water mirrored the sky and trees, and while we waited, white wagtails, swallows, flycatchers, and teal kept us entertained.

At 10.25 pm, our familiar pair — the big male and smaller female — appeared across the lake. They kept moving, making focusing tricky in the fading light. Later, as the last glow faded, a striking golden female emerged. Working at the extremes of ISO , we tried to capture her in twilight — fleeting, but worth every frame.

As mist rolled across the lake, distant wolves howled and bears rumbled in the forest. We stayed alert through the quiet hours, taking turns with our friends Mark and Wendy to keep watch, always ready for that next moment.

Day 5 – The Forest Hides

After recharging both ourselves and our batteries, we headed for our final night — this time in the Forest hides, a more enclosed, intimate setting perfect for close encounters.

Within 45 minutes, a big male bear appeared, moving steadily through the trees — immense and powerful at such close range. Later, the mother bear and her three cubs returned, playful and full of energy, giving us a final burst of wonderful images.

We worked quietly in the dim forest light, pushing every bit of performance from our cameras. The large male and his smaller companion reappeared before slipping back into the shadows. Later, the mother and cubs returned for one last visit — a fitting farewell.

By midnight we quietly packed up, returning to Kuikka fifteen minutes later — warm, content. Ready for a good night’s sleep.

Day 6 – Kuikka to Kuopio, and Home

After a good night’s rest, we woke to our last morning in Finland. Bags packed, we shared a final breakfast before the three-hour drive to Kuopio. Stopping in Nurmes for lunch and a quiet reflection on a week of remarkable moments.

The flights home — Kuopio to Helsinki, then on to London — went smoothly.

Reflections

Looking back, it’s the stillness of the boreal forest, the long, cold hours, and the challenge of photographing Boreal Predators in near-darkness that made it all worthwhile. Working in such testing conditions pushes every bit of skill and patience, but the rewards are unforgettable.