Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Summer Experiences in Sweden
Majestic meetings with moose With great enthusiasm for caring for animals, Leif ‘Leffe’ Lindh opened up Gårdsjö Moose Park. As the summer approaches, the park now invites visitors to meet the kings of the forest. By Hanna Stjernström | Photos: Gårdsjö Moose Park
In 1876, the first ground for Gårdsjö farmstead was broken in the small village called Vansjö. Two generations later, the farm with the red houses and white corners was passed down to Leffe, the founder of Gårdsjö Moose Park. “I have been interested in animals since childhood and dreamed of opening a moose park for a long time,” he says. Known as The Moose Man, Leffe became
famous as the man who swims with moose. “I try to be with them as much as I can, especially when the calves are born, which has led to a great connection between me and them,” he says. The moose park opened in 2007, and today, the park is spread out over 25 hectares of forest and has been explored by visitors from 174 countries. Last year, a video of
the full-grown moose Olivia went viral after she ate tulips from the family’s kitchen table. Olivia had been living with the family for five months, after her mother rejected her. “For the first few weeks, I slept on a mattress next to Olivia to feed her every three hours. She became a family member,” Leffe says, and concludes: “The moose give you so much energy, and we want to give our guests a chance to experience that.”
Leffe and Holger the moose.
Over 10,000 guests visit the park every year. Photo: Tobbe Lektell
Web: www.gardsjoalgpark.se/en Facebook: Gårdsjö Älgpark
Explore Stockholm from a unique perspective There is an abundance of sights to visit when you find yourself in the capital of Sweden, and Stockholm Adventures gives you the opportunity to see the highlights from a variety of perspectives, under the guidance of experienced locals. By Nina Bressler | Photos: Stockholm Adventures
Stockholm is a city built over a multitude of islands, with water and wild nature easily accessible to everyone. Joakim Malm, owner and guide, had a dream to give every visitor the chance to experience this sense of nature within the city when he founded ICEguide in 2007, later acquiring Stockholm Adventures and today offering a variety of guided tours and experiences all year around. “I want to show everyone the greatest city on earth from its best side,” says Malm, and he does just that with an exciting range of activities and a great team of guides. You can enjoy Stockholm from the water on a Kayak Tour – both in the city and in the archipelago – or immerse yourself in nature on a Wildlife Safari Tour with the chance to spot a moose and try an authentic Swedish 72 | Issue 124 | May 2019
Midsummer meal, or why not take a bicycle ride around central Stockholm to see the cultural and historical highlights? Aiming to be a leader in sustainable tourism, Stockholm Adventures takes great measures to minimise its environmental impact while touring and makes ecological choices wherever possible.
The majority of tours start from the Adventure Café, conveniently located in the heart of Stockholm. All tours are in English as standard, with the addition of German and Dutch available on Bike Tours and special requests for private touring. Tour bookings can be made easily through the website, with staff on hand daily, for most of the year, to help in person, over the phone or via email.
Stockholm Adventures offers the chance to see Stockholm from a different point of view.
Web: www.stockholmadventures.com Facebook: Stockholm Adventures