Emperor penguins tower up to 122cm in height and weigh up to 45kg. No wonder these majestic creatures feature so heavily in the marketing of many cruise companies.
Unfortunately those same marketing departments don’t speak to expedition leaders. If they did, they would find out that the vast majority of Antarctic travellers will have little or no chance of seeing an Emperor penguin.
Well the name King Penguin had already been taken!
George Robert Gray from the British Museum in 1844 realised that there was an even larger species of penguin than the previously named King Penguin.
So this one ended up as the Emperor.
This photo of a solitary Emperor Penguin was taken on the Antarctic Peninsula by a client but it is very rare to see one there
On the most popular Antarctic expedition cruises that take in the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands you will see many, many penguins. You’ll probably see thousands.
But you almost certainly won’t see an Emperor Penguin – unless you are very, very lucky.
For expedition cruise travellers intent on seeing these penguins in particular there are two obvious locations:
Apart from the very occasional sighting at the peninsula Emperor Penguins are most commonly associated with Snow Hill Island in the Weddell sea.
During most of the year, Snow Hill Island remains trapped in ice, rendering it inaccessible. However, for a brief window each season, guests have the extraordinary opportunity to arrive, via helicopter and travel across the sea ice to encounter thousands of Emperor penguins and their chicks.
Now it takes a bit of an effort to each Snow Hill and view the Emperor Penguins. Travelling into the icy Weddell Sea adds extra time onto cruises and usually requires the most hardy ice-breaker vessels. Or an early season departure before the Weddell Sea becomes impassible.
And the final part of the journey requires a helicopter landing (and then foot trek) or at least a 5km trek
So you need to be fit and mobile. And/or have access to a helicopter.
Note the use of words like ‘quest’ in the expedition description. There are no guarantees with expedition travel and the trip is at the mercy of the elements and the vagaries of wildlife.
The Ross Sea side of Antarctica is much less visited compared to the peninsula.
It takes less than 48 hours to reach Antarctica from Ushuaia via the Drake Passage.
But journeys from New Zealand or Tasmania to the Ross Sea side of Antarctica require trips of 3 weeks duration or more.
There are many reasons to visit this side of the continent and one is the (almost) guaranteed sighting of Emperor Penguins (along with Adelie. King and Royal penguins as well)
It would be wonderful to see an Emperor penguin in the Antarctic Wild.
You will see plenty of penguins on an Antarctic cruise, even King penguins if South Georgia is included on your itinerary.
But if you really, really need to see an Emperor Penguin then you need to choose your trip carefully.
and of course….we can help with that.
Call us today on 1300 654 861.
Or book a call below so we can call you back at a time convenient to you.
Originally from the United Kingdom, Simon has worked in the travel industry for over thirty-five years. Widely travelled, he is passionate about genuine expedition style travel — cruises and rail journeys.
Expedition Partners (formerly Flower Travel) specialise in expedition style travel by small ship cruise and private rail journeys.
PH: 1300 654 861
Monday-Friday 9.30am – 5.30pm
