Wildlife Viewing
Antarctica may be remote when it comes to human life, but this continent showcases some of the most majestic wildlife on the planet — including lovable penguins, seals, and several varieties of whales. Between Buenos Aires, Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, and South Georgia, we’ve crafted this itinerary with 19 included features and Cultural Discoveries — many of which are wildlife expeditions — so don’t forget your camera and GoPro!
Whales
The White Continent is a paradise for whales, including right, sei, humpback, minke, fin, sperm, killer, and blue — the largest creature to ever inhabit Earth. Once in Antarctica, you’ll find that these enigmatic mammals are hard to ignore — they’ll breach the surface often to breathe, throw up a tail to say hello, and if you’re lucky, you may even witness a “bubble net feeding,” which is when a group of humpbacks form a circle and produce bubbles beneath schools of fish to force them to the surface. Just a classic whale’s snack.
Get your camera and GoPro ready: Your Expedition Team members are handpicked experts in everything from biology to photography, and they’ll not only offer you tips for photographing Antarctic wildlife, but spot it, too!
Penguins
Everyone loves penguins. These flightless birds are positively irresistible, thanks to their waddling walk, naturally occurring tuxedo uniform, and innate curiosity that compels them to approach humans and say hello! While on this Antarctic expedition, you can expect to view up to six varieties of penguins, including gentoo, Adélie, king, Magellanic, rockhopper, and chinstrap. South Georgia is a haven for breeding penguins, boasting colonies with tens of thousands of these birds!
Get your camera and GoPro ready: You’re likely to encounter anywhere from tens of penguins to hundreds of penguins on this adventure. Whenever possible, demonstrate scale in wildlife photography: Think big and capture the surrounding environment, too, which will both orient the viewer and depict this land of extremes as authentically as possible.
Fun fact: Penguins are synonymous with Antarctica, and you’ll have ample opportunities to photograph them. Just remember that Antarctic rules stipulate that visitors must maintain a distance of at least 5 meters from penguins, unless they approach you — and they often do!
Seals
From crabeater and Weddell to leopard and elephant seals, you may encounter solitary seals or even colonies of these hefty cuties. While seals do spend most of their time under the ice, you’re likely to view them on land, or luxuriating on a passing ice floe! The crabeater seal is the most populous species on the continent, while the Weddell is quite possibly the most handsome with their catlike whiskers, as well as the most seen. South Georgia is home to over half of the world's enormous southern elephant seals, the largest of all seals. Keep an eye out for newly birthed southern elephant seal pups alongside their mothers.
Get your camera and GoPro ready: Whether photographing seals from land or your Zodiac boat, try to see eye-to-eye with your live subject and shoot eye-to-eye, too. Seals are expressive, and a close-up shot will not only aid the viewer in relating to the subject, but also captures a priceless moment of eye contact with Antarctic wildlife.
Albatrosses
The Drake Passage is renowned for its alternating placid and rough seas, and for its albatrosses, too! These majestic seabirds are prolific in the Southern Ocean and feature some of the longest wingspans in the world, making for a mesmerizing sight. You might first encounter them on this fabled sea stretch, where they often trail the ship — think of them as an omen of good luck as you edge nearer and nearer to Antarctica.
Birdlife
Alongside albatrosses, Antarctic birds include skuas, kelp gulls, southern fulmars, snow petrels, and more. In the Falkland Islands, you’re likely to view the striated caracara, which was once endangered but has made a resurgence, thanks to conservation efforts. These birds of prey, like falcons, are fearless when it comes to the presence of humans, and they have excellent vision. While in South Georgia Island, known as “Serengeti of the Southern Ocean,” you will spot a wide variety of seabirds.
