White Desert
The Emperor Penguin Colony
To visit the immense Emperor Penguin colony of Ekstroem Shelf Ice we fly 2.5hrs along the coast line of Antarctica.
If you have ever seen 'March of the Penguins' then you will have a clear appreciation for how spectacular Emperor Penguins can be. The colony at Ekstroem Shelf Ice is no exception. Over 6,000 birds leave the open water and waddle through the surreal ice formations on the frozen sea ice. They then huddle into an enormous colony.
Passing the egg to the males for safekeeping, the females then head out to the open water to feed. The males are left behind to endure one of the most incredible events in nature - the long dark of the Antarctic winter. Without food or water for 4 months, they undergo temperatures as low as minus 60 C and winds of over 140km/h, losing half their body weight in the process. All the while, they hold their precious egg off the ice by balancing it on their feet.
As the Antarctic seasons change and spring arrives, the females return to hatch the eggs and we arrive shortly after this in mid-November. We set up a small camp near the colony and spend time engulfed by the sheer bedlam and excitement of the colony at its most busy time.
The penguins are completely unafraid of humans and this really is an experience like no other. The last season in 2008 was also the first time anyone but scientists have visited the colony, and with our field guides by your side, you will experience one of the greatest and yet, most rarely seen wildlife events on the planet!
INTO THE MOUNTAINS
As part of the experience, we look to drive out to the mountains approximately 3-4hrs from Whichaway Camp. Although no previous experience is required and you only need to be in normal physical shape to participate, this part of the experience is geared more to those looking for adventure and a real taste of what its like to be on a polar expedition.
The 4x4s are specially modified and were the first to drive to the South Pole in 2008. From the warmth of their back seats, you will witness Antarctica's sheer vastness unfold.
Depending on the weather and desire of our clients, we will either do a day trip or overnight in the mountains, setting up an expedition camp. The more adventurous can even spend a night in a sculpted igloo. It's quite an experience to wake up in the morning with the soft blue light shining through a cocoon of ice.
Once in the mountains, we do activities that range from scaling mountains, to cross-country skiing and kite-skiing. Only a handful of people have ever kited in Antarctica and speeding across the snow with the kite effortlessly powering you along is a truly exceptional feeling.
This part of the trip is about experiencing the thrills of being a polar explorer, without having to ski the equivalent of a double marathon a day and having to eat vast quantities of raw butter!
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