Encountering a 400-pound brown bear can be a daunting experience, yet I felt a sense of tranquility as Roxie and her adorable two-year-old cub, Pebbles, approached us. “She’s using us as a shield,” expedition guide Mike Hillman quietly remarked. “Take a seat and please, no abrupt movements.”

Hillman, an experienced expedition leader from Natural Habitat Adventures’ Alaska Bear Camp, was right on the mark. Roxie often visited this particular area of Lake Clark National Park, along with her male admirer, Pom. Hillman had followed their behaviors closely, like a fan of a reality show. Pom didn’t seem to get the hint that Roxie wasn’t interested. So, she cleverly avoided him by crossing a rushing stream and hiking up our observation ridge, knowing we would deter Pom. It worked perfectly; he soon turned his attention to another mother bear and her cub, who cleverly climbed a tree to evade him.

These sightings in June are typical rituals during the bear mating season in early summer in south-central Alaska. They signal the approach of the pre-hibernation fattening season – a time celebrated by Katmai National Park’s popular Fat Bear Week. This annual event features a bracket tournament enabling people to monitor and vote for the plumpest bears of the year. This year marks the event’s 10th birthday, yet Fat Bear Week is just a glimpse into the many ways to experience these magnificent animals.

During my four-day stay at Alaska Bear Camp, a safari experience run by the World Wildlife Fund’s travel partner, Natural Habitat Adventures, I witnessed these furry giants play, climb trees, dig for clams, and engage in mating behavior. Here’s how you too can embark on an unforgettable brown bear safari in Alaska.

How to organize a brown bear safari in Alaska

With over 100,000 brown, grizzly, and black bears in Alaska—more than any other state—many tourists can catch sight of these creatures while hiking, cruising, or road tripping. However, the safest and most reliable method to see brown bears, particularly those made famous by Fat Bear Week, is by participating in a guided tour of south-central Alaska.

“This small habitat at the Alaska Peninsula’s base is the premier bear-watching location globally,” Hillman stated. “Rich salmon rivers and sedge meadows attract these brown bears in significant numbers.”

I selected Bear Camp, an intimate glamping option accommodating 14 guests on a private property adjacent to Lake Clark—one of the least frequented national parks in the USA—due to its secluded nature and safari-style bear sightings. Similar to a Tanzanian safari, Bear Camp allows visitors to stay in the wilderness in comfortable glamping tents (secured by an electric fence), while enjoying guided excursions throughout the day to various animal-viewing points. These include public overlooks in the national park and exclusive observation platforms just for Bear Camp visitors. On special mornings, guests may begin their day witnessing bears clamming as the sun rises above the Chigmit Mountains—without ever having to leave the camp.

Located about 150 miles south of Lake Clark, Katmai National Park is well-known for Fat Bear Week and the renowned salmon run at Brooks Falls. This chaotic event attracts scores of hungry brown bears trying to catch fish on their upstream journey. Luckily, travelers can stay overnight at Brooks Lodge, which is just a short stroll from Brooks Falls—if they manage to secure a reservation. The lodge requires reservations to be made through a lottery system, which usually fills up at least a year in advance. Adventurous visitors might also grab a limited permit at the nearby Brooks Camp; reservations for this camp open in early January and, like Brooks Lodge, are quickly snapped up.

Additionally, day trips for bear viewing at Lake Clark and Katmai are available through floatplane tours.

If you’re traveling from Anchorage or Homer, spending the night in bear country has a significant advantage: you’ll have more opportunities to observe the bears, especially during their peak activity and photogenic hours in the early morning and evening.

Best Times to See Alaska’s Brown Bears

To experience the most spectacular views of brown bears and favorable weather conditions, plan your visit to south-central Alaska, which includes key bear observation areas like Lake Clark and Katmai, between June and early September. The best bear viewing experience varies by month, each offering a unique aspect of Alaska’s bear life.

June marks the beginning of mating season in the area. During this month, hibernating bears wake up and begin to look for mates while indulging in protein-rich sedge grasses and clams.

By July, all eyes are on Katmai, where the breathtaking salmon run begins. Meanwhile, at Lake Clark, bears continue to enjoy sedge and hunt for clams during this time. It’s also a perfect moment to catch a glimpse of mother bears with their lively cubs, as explained by Bear Camp Expedition Leader Jessica Morgan.

As the season progresses into August and September, bears work to gain weight before the hibernation period. Early August often brings a smaller salmon run to Lake Clark’s waterways just outside Bear Camp’s private viewing area. For those who appreciate stargazing, mid-August offers an additional highlight: the conclusion of the continuous midnight sun and the beginning of Alaska’s northern lights viewing season.

Most excursions to this area will wrap up by September, but the celebrations carry on into early October with Fat Bear Week. During this fun event, Katmai bears grow exceptionally stout due to the bountiful salmon run. Spectators can join in online to learn about the contestants vying for the title and cast their votes for the winner.

Bear-Watching Safety Tips

While bear attacks in Alaska are rare, you should always keep in mind that brown bears are wild animals and can become dangerous if they feel threatened, according to the National Park Service. If you’re exploring on your own, stop by the nearest visitor center or backcountry station to get specialized bear safety information for the area. It’s generally safer to move in groups and make noise, whether with a bear bell or by talking loudly to avoid surprising any bears.

For safety reasons, I highly recommend going with a guide. For instance, Hillman is very familiar with the bear behaviors around Bear Camp. He noted that while he felt safe with Roxie and Pebbles, we would have quickly retreated to the safari vehicle if we spotted the dominant male, Pom.

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Guides at Bear Camp enforce strict rules about how guests should move around. All excursions to and from the vehicles or observation areas must be done in a tight, single-file line. “If we see a bear, we’ll all group together, and I’ll place myself between you and the bear,” Hillman explained. “I’ll read the bear’s body language to determine what it might do next.” Because of these guidelines, Natural Habitat Adventures recommends that children be at least 10 years old to participate, although there is no strict age requirement.

Staying overnight in bear territory also requires strict precautions. Bear Camp is protected by an electric fence, but guests still follow additional safety measures—such as keeping food out of tents and storing scented toiletries in designated boxes in the main dining tent—to avoid attracting bears.

Enhance Your Alaska Wildlife Experience

While brown bears take center stage in south-central Alaska, there’s an array of other wildlife to observe, both large and small. During our visit to Bear Camp’s historic homestead, we spotted foxes, and on our way to the airport in the fishing town of Homer, we saw a grazing moose. If you have some extra time in Homer, consider booking a wildlife cruise in Kachemak Bay to see sea otters, seals, whales, and puffins before heading back to Anchorage.

Instead of spending the ends of your Alaskan adventures in a busy city like Anchorage, you might improve your chances of spotting wildlife by staying in a cabin at the recently opened BlueWater Basecamp. This boutique retreat is nestled in a forest adjacent to Chugach State Park and is just 40 miles (under an hour’s drive) from Anchorage International Airport. I was one of the first guests to stay at this base camp upon its opening this summer. Choosing these outdoor accommodations over a city hotel provided me with a memorable farewell to Alaska: watching a young black bear roaming near Eklutna Lake.

This article about planning a bear safari in Alaska was originally published on FamilyVacationist.com.

The opinions and views shared in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of YSL News. FamilyVacationist.com and TourScoop.com are managed by Vacationist Media LLC. We utilize the FamilyVacationist travel recommendation process to evaluate and choose ideas for family vacations, family destinations, all-inclusive family resorts, and traditional family trips for all ages. TourScoop focuses on guided group tours, tour operators, reviews of tour operators, tour itineraries, and recommendations for travel gear.