Guide to Spotting Wildlife in Antarctica
If you are a wildlife enthusiast, you would want to look for destinations that can help you make the most of your passion. While there are plenty of destinations around the world that offer wildlife adventures, Antarctica is the most unique of all. This is where you can enjoy wilderness like no other place on the planet, with a huge concentration of marine mammals and sea birds that coexist and thrive in one of the most challenging conditions on Earth. When you are taking a trip to Antarctica you need to focus on how you can plan your trip the right way to optimize your time and visit. If you have visited Antarctica in the past, you will know how to create custom itineraries for your trip. However, if you are visiting Antarctica for the first time you will want to search for experts like www.wildfoottravel.com to provide you with tailored plans and packages based on your preferences and budget. This will allow you to focus on your priorities as you explore the wildlife in Antarctica.
What is the Best Time to Visit Antarctica?
One of the important things that you need to know when heading to Antarctica is what time of the year would be best to find wildlife active. This is essential because you must understand Antarctica and how the climate works to help you make the most of your trip. November to March is considered to be the best time of the year when the wildlife is most active. During these months, you can enjoy the summer season in Antarctica, because for most of the day, the temperature will be above zero. Also, this is the time when the days are at their longest. This allows you to have more daylight to explore the wildlife during those hours. On the contrary, if you want to film and photograph Emperor penguins you will need to choose the winter months. They are generally active from September to November. If you are looking for whales in Antarctica you should choose to visit the continent from February to March. This is the peak sighting season and you can make the most of your trip. Hence, you will need to decide when to visit based on your goals and what you want to see in Antarctica. Most cruise expeditions preferably operate only during the summer season as ice conditions and weather get severe during any other time of the year.
Knowing Where to Spot Wildlife
Antarctica is the only continent on the planet with no terrestrial mammals. However, in order to spot wildlife in Antarctica, you need to know where to spot what. There are many islands across Antarctica and if you are looking for a particular species you should know where you can spot them.
South Georgia
If you are exploring South Georgia you will find plenty of birds here. This is a great place for bird enthusiasts who want to enjoy birds in the natural Antarctica environment. Here you can find the popit, Antarctica’s songbird. Apart from this, you can find various birds like the albatross which you can capture on your camera. If you are an avid bird lover you should visit South Georgia with a pair of binoculars for bird viewing to help you take a close look at them. While you are exploring South Georgia you can also find all sorts of penguins like King penguins, Macaroni and Rockhopper penguins. Similarly, you can also find all types of seals here like elephant seals and fur seals.
The Falkland Islands
Like South Georgia, The Falkland Islands are also a haven for birds like finches, thrushes and tussacs. This can provide you with an enjoyable experience as you watch the birds fly around. However, The Falkland Islands are also home to leopard seals, Peale’s dolphins and pods of Orcas that dominate the territory.
Macquarie Island
If you are looking for royal penguins, this is the only place on the planet where you will find them. However, apart from the royal penguins, you can also find rockhopper, king and gentoo penguins here that breed on this island.
Paradise Bay
Whales capture a lot of attention from tourists visiting Antarctica. If you are planning to capture stunning photographs of whales in Antarctica you can find them around Paradise Bay. Apart from this, you can also find them near Drake Passage. However, the species of whale you see may vary. There are seven species of whales in Antarctica but the most visible ones are minke whales, humpback whales and killer whales. Blue whales are hard to spot as they do not have large numbers.
What to Wear for a Wildlife Trip to Antarctica?
When you are heading to Antarctica for a wildlife expedition you also need to focus on packing smartly for your Antarctica trip. This is essential because you want to be comfortable and warm during the entire adventure. While you are on the cruise you have the advantage of moving in and out of the room. This means that when you are heading out on the deck you can put on a jacket and multiple layers to protect yourself. Most cruise ships do not allow open-toed shoes and this means that you need to put on hiking boots. Always make sure that you have joggers and lightweight pullovers that will keep you comfortable. Out on the deck when you are spotting whales and seals you can add on some gloves, parkas and beanies that will protect you from the cold weather. If you are getting out of the cruise ship you will want to know that most excursions take at least two to three hours. This means that you have no opportunity to run to your ship’s cabin and grab another coat or jacket. Hence, you need to make sure that you have a base layer along with a pair of leggings, woollen socks, a long-sleeve sweatshirt, a neck warmer, a beanie, gloves, snow pants, and even rain boots. This will ensure that you can clad yourself to stay warm for at least the next two to three hours.
In conclusion if you are heading out to Antarctica to spot wildlife it is wise to gear yourself with the best clothing to stay warm. You can spot different marine mammals and birds in different islands and regions and therefore you must be clear about what you want to look out for. With the right information, you can make things easier as you can spot the right birds and mammals during the right time of the year. You may also want to look at exploring Antarctica during the summer months to optimize your wildlife expedition. This is a guest post.
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