For Australians fascinated by wildlife, seeing a true wolf up close has always been impossible on home soil due to strict import laws. But a groundbreaking new sanctuary in Bali is changing the game, offering intimate encounters with these often-misunderstood predators.
A Sanctuary Born from Passion, Not Profit
Alpha Wolf Lodge, the first venue of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, is a not-for-profit project co-owned by former UK pro skater and circus performer Mark Baker. Having lived and worked with wolves for over 25 years, Baker's mission is to dismantle centuries of fear and folklore.
"The whole point of this place is to teach people that wolves never ate grandma," Baker explains. He aims to overcome the myth that wolves are aggressive man-eaters, showing instead that "wolves are more terrified of people than we are of them."
All the wolves at the lodge were either born in Bali or arrived as pups. "This is not a zoo; it's not a circus and it's not a business," Baker emphasises. "The wolves are my children, our family."
From Cuddles to Beach Walks: The Wolf Experience
Located in the Nuana 'creative city' in Nyanyi on Bali's lower west coast, the lodge is about a 90-minute drive from the international airport. General entry costs $8.
Visitors can choose from a range of interactions, all designed with animal welfare in mind:
- Entering the enclosure to play with wolves: $22 for two people.
- Swimming with wolves in their pool or feeding and grooming them: $135.
- The premium experience of walking with wolves on a Bali beach: $315.
Profits are used to subsidise entry for local Balinese children and are donated to international wolf conservation charities, supporting animals under threat from hunting in places like Scandinavia and the United States.
Spending the Night with the Pack
For those wanting to fully immerse themselves, Alpha Wolf Lodge offers six guest rooms across three double-storey wooden homes shaped like traditional Balinese rice barns. Rates start at $108 per night.
It's positioned as a novel one-night experience rather than a full holiday stay. The on-site cafe serves high-quality, reasonably priced meals, with options like a chicken pesto dish with fresh vegetables for around $10.
Baker also addresses a common concern about climate. "People always ask, 'don't wolves get hot in Bali?'" he says. He points out that summer temperatures in wolves' native ranges like Russia and Canada can exceed 40 degrees Celsius, and the animals naturally shed fur. The Bali pack has a permanent summer coat, and they have access to a pool and an air-conditioned room to cool down.
By offering these unique encounters, Alpha Wolf Lodge provides a rare opportunity for Australians and other travellers to connect with one of nature's most intelligent and social pack animals, all while supporting a vital conservation mission.
