Emperor Penguin Odyssey

Emperor Penguin Odyssey

Flying from Cape Town, South Africa we will land at the Ultima Airbase for a three or four day expedition including a trip by ski-equipped Twin Otter to one of three Emperor Penguin colonies in Dronning Maud Land. We will also visit incredible ice features in and around the Schirmacher Oasis during our three day stay in Antarctica.

Emperor Penguins are the only species that breed during the long cold Antarctic winter. The males huddle for warmth to survive the incredibly harsh winter. Read more about Emperor Penguins here.

We have permission to visit three colonies, Astrid, Lazarev and Ragnhild which affords us flexibility having regard to weather and ice conditions. This is a unique point of distinction with other operations offering Emperor Penguin colony visits.

We take the responsibility of visiting these remote and sensitive places very seriously. Over the course of a summer we take only a few dozen visitors to a colony compared to literally tens of thousands that visit penguin colonies each year on an almost daily basis from November through March on the Antarctic Peninsula. We also assist scientists by capturing aerial images under special permit to assist to understand colony size of these recent discovered and rarely visited colonies. All visits are conducted strictly in accordance with the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) guidelines for visitation of Emperor Penguin colonies including strict biosecurity protocols.

You will be based at Oasis Camp in the Schirmacher Oasis where a hospitality team will take care of your every need. Oasis Camp is both rustic and very comfortable. Enjoy sumptuous cuisine and even a traditional sauna in between excursions. You will be busy taking advantage of every opportunity to explore in and around the Schirmacher Oasis before and after your visit to the Emperor Penguins. Excursions include visits to the Ice Wall and Ice Tunnel; pictured below.