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Meet Antarctica's Wildlife
Prepare to be awestruck by the remarkable diversity and scale of wildlife across Antarctica. It starts with an abundance of krill welling up from deep, icy waters, which feed everything from the region's celebrated penguins to its colossal whales. Guests cruising to the Falkland and South Georgia islands - the latter considered one of the most biodiverse environments on earth - will experience another level of Antarctica abundance.
Gentoo Penguin
Gentoo Penguin
Sporting brightly colored bills and feet, gentoos are the fastest underwater swimmers of the penguin species. They spend the summertime with their chicks on the Antarctic Peninsula.
Adélie Penguin
Adélie Penguin
This iconic Antarctic species sports white-ringed eyes and a velvety black jacket. Endlessly entertaining to behold, Adélies appear to leap from sea, walking onto shore with a pronounced waddle.
Rockhopper Penguin
Rockhopper Penguin
Rockhoppers are distinguished by their diminutive stature, black forehead, red eyes and striking yellow eyebrows. They nest in the Falklands, with chicks hatching in mid-December through January.
King Penguin
King Penguin
This regal bird is the second largest of the penguin species, with about 100,000 of them calling South Georgia Island home. Adults sport black heads and vivid-orange ear patches.
Weddel Seal
Weddel Seal
These pinnipeds are among the largest, hardiest and most southerly of all seals. Accomplished divers, they are capable of staying underwater for up to an hour.
Blue-Eyed Shag
Blue-Eyed Shag
Found year-round across the Southern Ocean, blue-eyed shags make short foraging flights to the open sea where they dive for crustaceans and fish.
Orca
Orca
Orcas are the largest members of the dolphin family. Seen along Antarctic coasts, this carnivorous powerhouse is distinguished by a jet-black top and wide, white patches behind the eyes
Elephant Seal
Elephant Seal
This is the world's largest seal. One bull was recorded to be 22.5 feet long and over 11,000 pounds. Males are heard to roar from their trunk-like appendages during mating season.
Wandering Albatross
Wandering Albatross
With an average wingspan of 11.5 feet, these awe-inspiring birds can glide for hours at a time. A&K Philanthropy's Save the Albatross project is devoted to preserving these magnificent seabirds.
Antarctic Fur Seal
Antarctic Fur Seal
Called "sea bears" by early mariners, this medium-size seal was nearly hunted to extinction in the 19th century for its grayish brown coat. Today, some four million flourish on South Georgia.
Humpback Whale
Humpback Whale
Bearing long pectoral fins, a knobby head and formidable length, humpbacks feed in polar waters during the summer months — often breaching and slapping the water in dramatic fashion.
A&K Luxury Expedition Cruises to Antarctica
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Luxury Expedition Cruises Exclusively chartered, all-inclusive voyages led by A&K’s Expedition Team.
Antarctica, South Georgia & Falklands: Holiday Voyage 2024
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Luxury Expedition Cruises Exclusively chartered, all-inclusive voyages led by A&K’s Expedition Team.
Antarctica, South Georgia & Falklands Expedition 2025
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Luxury Expedition Cruises Exclusively chartered, all-inclusive voyages led by A&K’s Expedition Team.
Antarctica, South Georgia & Falklands: Holiday Voyage 2025-26
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Luxury Expedition Cruises Exclusively chartered, all-inclusive voyages led by A&K’s Expedition Team.
Antarctica, South Georgia & Falklands Expedition 2026
See Details
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