Watch highlights of my wildlife experiences, below
Antarctica is the coldest, windiest, and most dry continent on Earth. The diverse wildlife that inhabits Antarctica has had to adapt to survive the harsh environment. It is isolated, remote, and the least inhabited place on Earth. Its ecosystem is fragile and highly vulnerable to human activity, making it crucial to protect its pristine wilderness and unique biodiversity. The feeling you get when you see your first penguin waddling, a whale blowing in the distance, or a seal basking on ice is indescribable.
To get to Snow Hill Island, Antarctica, is no small feat.
On our first day alone, our ship had to battle the notorious Drake Passage, some of the most dangerous waters in the world, and pass through the icy Weddell Sea to get to Snow Hill Island. Successfully landing our ship marked the first triumphant step, but the real test lay ahead.
To complete the second leg of the trip, you have to take a helicopter, and landing the helicopter is highly dependent on favorable ice conditions. Due to the weather challenges, most people who set out to visit Snow Hill Island are unsuccessful
Fortunately, luck was on our side. In the helicopter, I caught a sky-high glimpse of the largest ice sheet in the world and some Weddell seals basking on the ice!
Fun Fact: 98% of Antarctica is covered in ice!
But the true magic unfolded when we stepped from the helicopter onto the continent of Antarctica for the very first time. We were immediately greeted by a welcoming committee of Emperor penguins, waving and squawking. I felt like I was in a dream.
Then came a mile-long hike trekking through sea ice. Soon, we were surrounded by over 10,000 Emperor penguins and serenaded by the adorable sounds of penguin chicks. I felt like I was living in the movie “Happy Feet.” We spent hours marveling at one of the few colonies, holding chicks exclusively during their brief breeding season.
The return journey was equally magical, with countless sleepy, yawning Weddell seals bidding us farewell on our way back to the helicopter. It was an otherworldly experience forever etched in my heart.
Antarctica offers a myriad of wildlife encounters. Here are some highlights you can experience on an Antarctic expedition cruise.
Remember: nothing is guaranteed in the wild, especially animal sightings.
Penguins are the most iconic inhabitants of Antarctica. With no human population in Antarctica, penguins make up the largest population of “residents,” with about 12 million penguins living there. These birds are expert swimmers and divers, hunting for fish, krill, and other prey beneath the icy waters.
Penguin Terms:
Antarctica is home to several seal species, including the Weddell Seal, Leopard Seal, Crabeater Seal, and Antarctic Fur Seal. These seals feed primarily on fish, squid, and krill, except for the Leopard Seal, which will eat anything it can, including other seals and penguins.
Thanks to the abundance of krill in the Southern Ocean, an Antarctic cruise offers the chance to see iconic Orcas (otherwise known as killer whales), Humpback Whales, Minke Whales, and Southern Right Whales.
Antarctica is also home to various seabirds, including the Antarctic Petrel, southern Fulmar, Albatross, Snow Petrel, and South Polar Skua. These birds have adapted to life in one of the world’s most extreme environments thanks to adaptive features like webbed feet to stand on the ice and their white color to blend into the ice . We observed these rare white Snow Petrels and Albatross as we sailed across the Drake Passage.
Coming soon: Learn all about my stay on the Scenic Eclipse II
Want to get perks on your next Antarctica cruise? Contact me to plan your trip to Snow Hill, Antarctica, or anywhere else on the continent!
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