Fairmont: Where The Wild Things Are (United States)
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Fairmont: Where The Wild Things Are (United States)
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Category: North America & West Indies / Carribean islands - United States
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2011-01-14
Come Face to Face with Nature at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
There’s no experience more authentic than coming face-to-face with a wild animal in the majesty of nature. With an incredible number of hotels set in parks, preserves and on lakes, rivers and oceans around the world, there are plenty of opportunities to discover wild animals with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. With colleagues who have a deep knowledge and understanding of the natural world and a long history of environmental stewardship, guests can rest assured that they will have the opportunity of a lifetime to see many creatures great and small when they visit Fairmont.
Big Game Watching
East Africa’s Great Migration is one of the world’s most spectacular Natural Wonders, involving a million wildebeest, zebra and antelope, along with the predators that feed on them. Fairmont Mara Safari Club in Kenya’s famed Masai Mara has direct access to an astonishing array of wild animals involved in the migration, including the famed Big 5: lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalo. To ensure the area is full of wild animals for many years to come, the resort has also teamed up with Working Wildlife Land Management Company to manage the Ol Choro Oiroura, a wildlife conservancy, which has begun a successful rhino breeding project in the reserve. North of the lodge is Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, which also offers access to an array of wild animals. In nearby Aberdare National Park, guests have caught glimpses of elephant, buffalo, zebra, colobus monkey and waterbuck. Also, next door is a non-profit animal orphanage guests can visit, which focuses on the reintroduction of the endangered Mount Kenya antelope - the bongo.
On the other side of the world, Fairmont’s three properties in the Canadian Rockies are in the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage site, and two Canadian National Parks, and offer some of the best wildlife viewing in North America. The trip from The Fairmont Banff Springs and Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise to The Fairmont Jasper Park along the legendary Icefields Parkway is known as one of the greatest drives on Earth. It also allows for plenty of wildlife viewing, from wolves and elk to mountain goats and bighorn sheep. There’s also the possibility of spying grizzly and black bears, caribou, moose and more. For guests who want a closer look, the hotels can arrange a visit to the Grizzly Bear refuge at Kicking Horse Resort, home to resident orphaned grizzly, Boo.
Over in British Columbia, bear sightings are a daily occurrence in the summer and fall seasons at The Fairmont Chateau Whistler. Guests enjoying an afternoon at the Golf Club are often pleasantly surprised to see bears come right onto the green and “join” in their game (while keeping a safe distance of course!). Nature-loving guests can try a Bear Viewing Tour with local black bear researchers on a 4X4 tour through the Whistler & Blackcomb Mountains. Visitors have also been known to spot animals such as the Columbian black-tailed deer, coyote, Ruffed grouse, Red-tailed hawks, Barred and Great Horned owls, and Western Hoary marmots.
In the woods of Quebec, perceptive visitors can look for the shy animals that populate the forest, including the elusive moose and black bear. At Fairmont Kenauk, guests can book chalets overlooking picturesque lakes that are perfect for soaking in the sun while watching for passing loons, jumping fish, or deer coming down to the water’s edge to drink. From May to September, guests wanting to spot big game can go on a bear watching excursion every afternoon with the resort’s expert staff. Fairmont Tremblant is around the corner from Mont-Tremblant Park, home to a rich collection of wildlife, including black bears, wolves, moose, deer, foxes and bald eagles. It's not uncommon to encounter one or more of these natives when hiking in the park’s 575 sq. miles of untouched wilderness. At the summit of Tremblant, guests can marvel at the incredible birds of prey swooping overhead. Or, for guests who want to stay closer to the resort, deer are commonly seen walking right by the windows of Windigo restaurant.
Desert Dunes
While many people think of deserts as lacking life of any kind, these impressive landscapes can be filled with unique plants and animals. Visitors to Fairmont Dubai can arrange a Desert Safari with the concierge, which will lead guests over the dunes of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, home to the highly endangered Arabian Oryx, multiple kinds of gazelles and many birds and small mammals. Fairmont Heliopolis & Towers in Egypt recommends a visit to the Wadi Degla Desert Conservation Area, where guests can try to spot the Nubian Ibex, Dorcas gazelle, foxes, hares, and large predatory birds such as buzzards and owls.
You Say Turtle, I Say Tortuga
Both coasts of Mexico are home to serene natural beauty and rare wild animals. From late August through early December, staff at the Fairmont Acapulco Princess on the country’s West Coast, gather to release baby turtles raised in the resort’s onsite turtle farm into the Pacific Ocean. Visiting children have the opportunity to participate by freeing a turtle themselves, and receive a Diploma in thanks for helping to preserve this precious creature. As of 2010, the resort has “launched” more than 130,000 turtles. On the Caribbean side, the beautiful gardens of Fairmont Mayakoba are home to a year-round Turtle Garden, where three different species of freshwater turtles reside. Also, from April through October, the female marine turtles that were born in the area arrive to begin nesting. The resort’s onsite Ecology Manager cares for the turtles’ nests and when the baby turtles are born, makes sure they arrive safely to the sea’s shore to begin their journey into the wild.
On the island of Maui, The Fairmont Kea Lani offers guests a unique opportunity to be immersed in the ways of the Island’s early seafarers through its Hawaiian Canoe Experience. Guests can paddle out and spot green sea turtles, puffer fish, yellow tangs, and Moorish idols swimming around the coral reef below or come across an endangered but curious Hawaiian monk seal. During whale season, it’s not uncommon to see more than one pod of whales spouting and splashing mere yards from the hotel’s shoreline. One island over, The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii on the Big Island offers the complimentary Honu (Turtle) Snorkel activity, which lets guests observe the Hawaiian green sea turtles underwater as they forage along the reef of Pauoa Bay.
At the Fairmont Royal Pavilion in Barbados, the resort’s beaches are popular nesting grounds for the rare Hawksbill sea turtles, and guests can dive right in with these gentle creatures. Whether they take advantage of the resort’s complimentary snorkel equipment or arrange a guided tour through the concierge, swimming with turtles has proven to be an inspiring experience for guests.
Wild Waterways
Eastern Canada is home to spectacular scenery and many beautiful lakes and rivers. In New Brunswick, Fairmont Algonquin can arrange excursions on Passamaquoddy Bay and the Bay of Fundy to watch the large numbers of migrating whales. Several whale watching tours are available, from zodiac speedboat to fully rigged sailing ship. Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu in Quebec offers sea kayaking in the St. Lawrence estuary, home to many marine birds and multiple kinds of whales in the summer. In fact, it is one of the few spots where wildlife watchers can spot the rare beluga whale. Excursions along the Malbair River in the Parc National des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie offers paddling through the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which houses black bears, beavers, martens and bald eagles.
In North America’s Pacific Northwest, the opportunity to spot some of the largest animals on Earth draws visitors from all over. On Vancouver Island, The Fairmont Empress can arrange tours on high-speed Expedition Catamarans. Guests can photograph killer whales (orcas), humpback whales, porpoise, sea lions and seals with picturesque island and coastal mountain backdrops. At Fairmont Olympic in Seattle, The San Juan Islands are a nearby group of 172 islands, where guests can go kayaking and whale watching. November through March, Killer Whales make their way into the city’s Puget Sound to hunt salmon, while January through early April affords the opportunity to spot Gray Whales.
About Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
With over 60 distinctive hotels, including the iconic Fairmont San Francisco and Fairmont Peace Hotel, Shanghai, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is an unrivalled collection of properties located in some of the world’s most coveted destinations. Known for its warm, engaging service and culturally rich experiences, this global hospitality brand features classic hotels that imbue a sense of heritage, sophistication and social importance and are often considered destinations in their own right. Fairmont is also committed to responsible tourism and is an industry leader in sustainable hotel management with its award-winning Green Partnership program. Fairmont is owned by FRHI Holdings Limited, a leading global hotel company with over 95 hotels under the Fairmont, Raffles, and Swissôtel brands. The company also manages Fairmont and Raffles branded residences, estates and luxury private residence club properties.
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