Seal safaris and wildlife watching
May – The Best Time for Seal Watching!
May is the prime season for seal-watching tours, offering the best chance to spot a Saimaa ringed seal basking on a rock. During summer, seals may come ashore at night, so we organize evening tours at sunset for a magical experience.
We also offer other safaris to the breathtaking archipelago of Linnansaari throughout the open-water season, from May 1st to October 31st. All safaris are conducted in small groups using open boats, ensuring a personal and immersive nature experience.
Join us for an unforgettable wildlife adventure!
Oravi – The Seal Watching Hub of Lake Saimaa
The endangered Saimaa ringed seal (Pusa hispida saimensis) is a unique species found exclusively in Finland, inhabiting only Lake Saimaa. The current population is estimated to be around 495 individuals, with over 90 pups born annually in recent years.
Ringed seals are the northernmost seals in the world, and while the Saimaa ringed seal is a subspecies, it differs significantly from other ringed seal populations in behavior, physical characteristics, and genetics.
For years, the village of Oravi has been the heart of Saimaa ringed seal research and tourism. Its prime location within the core seal habitat has made it the most important base for both researchers and seal-watching tours. Scientists studying the Saimaa ringed seal have used Oravi as their base for over 30 years, and seeing researchers heading out onto the water or ice is a familiar sight in the village.
Right next to Oravi, Linnansaari National Park is one of the best areas for spotting seals, with around 80 Saimaa ringed seals living in the region. In total, the population of these rare seals in Lake Saimaa is estimated to be around 450 (as of 2023). Haukivesi, part of the Saimaa lake system, has also recorded the largest seals ever found – the male Viljo, weighing an impressive 124 kg, and the female Ritva, weighing 97 kg.
Thanks to Linnansaari’s strong seal population, the area provides excellent conditions for seal-watching tours. Our tours are carefully designed to respect the seals’ natural behavior while offering unforgettable experiences for our guests. With an experienced guide, sightings are almost always guaranteed!
Join us for a truly unique wildlife adventure on Lake Saimaa!
You find more information about the Saimaa Ringed Seals here
Unforgettable Sealsafari in spring
See the endangered Saimaa seal in Linnansaari National Park with a professional seal guide! This is a small group safari! Small group safaris are perfect for solo travellers and superb for families. May is the main seal watching time!
Sunset Seal Safari
Enjoy the sunset and unique lake nature in Linnansaari National Park with a professional nature guide! From June to September the best time of the day to find seals and other wildlife is during sunset.
Sunrise safari (May-September)
A private boat tour to the beautiful Linnansaari National Park with a local nature guide
Early morning is the best time to spot wildlife – Saimaa ringed seals, beavers, moose, and a variety of bird species may be seen during the trip.
Accessible Seal Safari (May-September)
The tour is conducted in a fully accessible open boat equipped with a bow ramp, making it easy and safe for everyone to board.
PRIVATE Seal Safari
A private seal safari on the home waters of osprey and the endangered Saimaa ringed seal. The main seal watching time is in May when we can see the seals molting on the rocks. In summer the best time to spot seals is in the evening.
