Wildlife in Antarctica

Overview

Antarctica is a continent of superlatives. It is the coldest, windiest, driest and most forbidding of all the major landmasses in the world. It is also one of the last true wilderness areas left on earth, largely unchanged since early explorers and whalers first landed on its inhospitable shores less than two centuries ago. The continent itself is roughly circular with a spindly arm, called the Antarctic Peninsula, reaching northwards towards Tierra del Fuego. South America is the nearest landmass, some 600 miles away.

When To Go

The Antarctic tour season is short - about four months, with each offering its own highlights. November is early summer: the spring pack ice is breaking up, and birds - especially penguins - are courting and mating. December and January, when penguins are hatching eggs and feeding chicks, are the height of the austral summer, bringing warmer temperatures and up to 20 hours of sunlight every day. In the late summer month of February, whale-watching is best, penguin chicks are beginning to fledge and adult penguins are ashore molting.

For Travel Packages

We've researched travel packages by the subsequent companies, all offering eco-friendly vacations in Antarctica. What makes these eco-friendly vacations? Read our guide on ecotourism to find out.

* ResponsibleTravel
* NatureTrek
* Natural Habitat Adventures

Helpful Resources:

Get the Lonely Planet Guide :: Antarctica. Ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Gape at the icebergs looming over your ship, stand awestruck in the midst of a teeming penguin colony, or glimpse a minke whale surfacing next to your Zodiac - Antarctica will astound and transform you. Written by authors with intimate knowledge of the region, this bestselling guide is your essential companion to The Ice.