The water station
Suitable for 2 persons, the hide has been mostly built with recycled material. A 180 x 20 cm one-way glass provides extra comfort for observations. There is a customised foldable shelf so you can use your own tripod. Photo openings can be replaced by one way glass windows.
Photographing through the special glass does not interfere with contrast and sharpness of your pictures but you will loose around 1.3 stops in light.
- Seats available : 2
- Floor area : 230 x 210 cm
- Internal height : 170 – 230 cm
- Recommended focal length: zoom lens (ideally 200 – 600mm)
- Pond size / depth : 490 x 180 cm / 1 – 8 cm
- Distance from the pond : up to 5m
- Bunk bed
Warm and dark clothes are advised.
The main hide
The hide for bear, buzzard and eagle watching has room for 4-6 people with its 18 m².
There are 10 photo windows, 8 at normal seat height and 2 from a lower angle.
There are two beds, 140×200 cm (you can lie 2 in 1), and extra bed/beds for companies with 5-6 persons. There is a simple toilet. Blankets, warm ponchos and pillows are also available, as well as warm slippers of various sizes and the floor has an insulating mat with rugs on top.
In winter time, there´s a gas fire for heating and also warm sleeping bags.
There is bad connection in the hide (ok for calls and texts but unstable internet).
Rules of booking
- If you´ve added the rebooking guarantee when you made your reservation, you can rebook your tour up to 72 hours before it takes place.
- A fee of 300 SEK will be charged for cancellation up to 40 days before arrival.
- Cancellation between 39 days & 15 days before arrival will be charged 25% of the total amount.
- 100% of the total amount will be charged at cancellation 14 days or less before arrival date.
Public transport
Travel on public transport to get to Wild Nordic!
You are warmly welcome to stay a little longer, if needed to accommodate bus and train times. Take the opportunity to rest or look through your pictures. Or why not do a little hike on the Gästrikeleden trail that goes just outside the door!
Links to train and bus companies that are suitable for traveling to Wild Nordic
- Train to Gävle/Sandviken with SJ
- Train to Gävle/Sandviken with Tåg i Bergslagen
- Train to Gävle/Sandviken with Upptåget
- Bus from Gävle to Sandviken (no 41) and bus from Sandviken to Kungsberg (no 43) X-Trafik
Bus no 43 shall go to Kungsberg (Further than to Järbo ) and get off at the bus stop Botjärn.
Bus (no 43) stops/goes 10 metres from Wild Nordic!
Who are we?
Sara
Ever since childhood, nature has been a big part of my life. When I was 15, I decided to never have a boring job and have since worked in the Northern Arctic Ocean with a killer whale safari company, as a whale counter and as a guide on Svalbard. After 18 years at sea, I longed to go home to the forest and realized what a fantastic nature we have in Gästrikland. After several years of early mornings and endless hours in the woods, I started nature and wildlife activities for guests. Since 2016 the business has been my full time job and I am extremely happy that I have the opportunity to showcase our beautiful animals, birds and nature in Central Sweden.
For me it is an incredible benefit to sit in a sleeping bag on an early spring morning, leaning against a rock in a cozy atmosphere, watching as the sun rises and everything comes to life. Trying to blend into nature and become part of it enhances the experience. When the moose rises on its legs or when an owl silently passes over my head, I am filled with a euphoric feeling that is difficult to measure with anything else.
Sara Wennerqvist, owner and founder of Wild Nordic
Christine
In the spring of 2018, I stopped working as a Personal Assistant.
Experiencing the forest’s equivalent of silence is among the best I know.
Meeting the brown bear’s gaze through the hide’s window makes time stop.
Hiking in and among the trails that the wild animals have created long before us makes you feel a tremendous respect.
I started working as a Nature Guide in the spring of 2018.
It is often me that you will meet when there is a knock on the hide door and it is time to go back to Wild Nordic’s meeting place. I am often eager to take part in everyone’s experiences, so eager that I sometimes forget to introduce myself.
Pierrick
After putting aside my passion for a few years due to various work experiences, I decided to change my life in favour of adventure and discovery.
In 2018 I picked up my photographic gear again for my first Scandinavian road trip. It was the year I fell in love with Sweden and its biodiversity.
Then my plan was to find a way to combine photography and my interest for nature. Eco tourism is, to my mind, a good solution to raise public awareness. WildNordic Sweden is the perfect place for, so I came first as a volunteer.
2020 was my first season as a nature guide and now I am proud to be a part of the team. Living close to nature was always a dream for me.
My new lifestyle gives me the opportunity to improve my naturalistic knowledge and my photographic skills but above all, its allows me to scale down my general consumption and to unwind my life.
FAQ about number of guests
Yes, thats fine. You might have to share the hide with other people.
Families with children are warmly welcomed. If the child / children are young and make sounds, the chances of seeing wildlife may be reduced.
Yes, that’s fine
You can be up to 6 persons in our big hide that is used for the activities Bear, Buzzard and Wildlife
FAQ about diet
At Bear watching and Night photo a hearty sandwich is served on arrival and breakfast buffét is served in the morning.
For all activities a thermos of tea/coffee can be provided for your time in the hide.
Please indicate any special diet / food allergies when booking, and we will arrange it!
Due to risk of fire, it is not allowed to heat food in the hide. Please bring packed food that does not need to be heated, such as sandwiches, pasta salad or soup in thermos.
FAQ about photography
Under each activity on the web page there is recommendations for what lens would be best.
Tripods doesnt work in the hides. There are bean bags, gimbals and swing tripods for your camera.
Flash is not allowed. The wildlife gets really scared of everything that is not natural.
There are several photo openings made of fabric, where the lens goes out. There is a wide shelf where the camera should be. You have three options for the camera; bean bag, gimbal or swing tripod.
FAQ about "This and That"
Click the booking button on the web page and a meny will appear. If you have any questions, don.t hesitate to contact us!
During the winter there is gasolin heaters, warm ponchos, very good sleeping bags, socks and slippers in all sizes.
During the summer there is warm ponchos, blankets, socks and slippers.
Unfortunately not. We have routines for arrival/departue/pick-up for many different reasons.
We walk on a small path with some rocks and roots. From the car to the hides its 100-300 metres to walk. We walk very slowly and have poles/sticks to lend if needed. The guide can carry your bag. Please mention this when booking.
The door should be locked from the inside as the wind might open it.
We put out food for the wildlife all year around. Not too much, just so they have a “snack bar” that they like to visit regularly