Issue 163: Matamanoa Island

Hey Explorer,

This is Adventure Fix, the newsletter that helps you discover extraordinary journeys and experiences across the globe.

Here’s what we've got for you today:

• Wildlife Encounters: Polar bear mother and newborn cubs safari

• Stays: Matamanoa Island Dive Resort

• Unique Experiences: Skeleton Coast flying safari

Polar Bear Mother and Newborn Cubs Safari

If you think seeing a polar bear in the wild is thrilling, imagine the heart-stopping moment when you catch a glimpse of a mother polar bear emerging from her den with her tiny, fluffy cubs.

Head to Wapusk National Park to visit the world’s largest polar bear denning area. During late winter to early spring, typically from February to March mother bears begin coming out of their dens with their newborn cubs.

Visitors to Wapusk National Park can witness this magical moment from the comfort and warmth of a heated van, designed to ensure that the bears remain undisturbed by human presence.

The experience is both intimate and respectful, offering a rare window into the early life of polar bears without compromising their safety or natural behavior.

Explore more:

• Polar Bear Mother and Newborn Cubs Photo Safari Highlights (video)

• Photographing Mom and Cubs in Wapusk (article)

Matamanoa Island Dive Resort

Matamanoa Island Resort is a secluded paradise located in Fiji's Mamanuca Islands, offering an idyllic escape for those seeking both relaxation and adventure. This resort is set on a pristine, private island with lush tropical foliage and fringed by white sandy beaches.

The resort offers a variety of accommodations that allow guests to wake up to stunning views of the ocean or tranquil gardens, with the sound of waves gently lapping on the shore.

For diving enthusiasts, Matamanoa Island is a dream destination. The resort is surrounded by thriving coral reefs teeming with colorful marine life, offering world-class diving and snorkeling sites.

Explore more:

• Matamanoa Island Dive Resort (booking info)

Skeleton Coast Flying Safari

The Skeleton Coast, a remote and dramatic stretch of Namibia’s coastline is one of the most desolate and mysterious places on Earth.

This stark yet stunning region is characterized by its haunting landscapes—miles of rolling, golden sand dunes that plunge directly into the cold, roaring Atlantic waves; vast, uninhabited desert plains; rugged canyons; and surreal geological formations.

Perhaps the best way to experience this place is soaring above it in a small aircraft. Guided by an expert pilot, you’ll glide over the coastline where the expansive panoramas and sweeping vistas unfold beneath you.

From this elevated perspective, you will gain an unparalleled sense of the country's diverse and dramatic topography, which takes you on a thrilling journey to its most remote and unspoiled corners, far beyond the reach of conventional travelers.

Explore more: 

• Namibia Flying Safari Along the Skeleton Coast (article)

• Sossusvlei Dunes and Skeleton Coast low flying (video)

Podcast: Travel to Western Tanzania 

Underwater: The angel at the end of the Earth

Nature: The spiral, a mesmerizing pattern found in nature and the cosmos

Astro: The midnight sun and how to see it

Parks: Most underrated U.S national parks

Where in the World

Wanna flex your adventure geography skills? Guess where this pic was snapped!

Here’s a hint: Adventure Fix Issue 137 featured this place.

Stumped? No worries. The answer is at the end of this email.

I’d love to hear what you think of this issue, scroll down to the poll to let us know.

Until next time…

Keep exploring,

-Amanda

 ANSWER: Pallay Punchu, Peru