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EMPEROR
PENGUINS:
Snow
Hill Island Safari
November
6-19, 2007
November
18 - December 1, 2007
Antarctica
is a continent of superlatives. It is the coldest, windiest, driest, iciest and
highest of all the major landmasses in the world. It is the continent with the
longest nights and the longest days and it is home to the world’s greatest
concentration of wildlife. It is also one of the last true wilderness areas left
on earth – largely unchanged since the early explorers and whalers first
landed on its inhospitable shores less than two centuries ago. Considerably
larger than either the United States or Europe, and twice the size of Australia,
the continent is surrounded by a frozen sea that varies from one million square
miles in summer to 7.3 million square miles in winter. Beyond the ice are the
waters of the vast Southern Ocean that encircles Antarctica in a continuous ring
several hundred miles wide. The Southern Ocean isolates the continent from the
warmer waters of the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans to the north and this
meeting point, called the Antarctic Convergence, is the ecologically defined
northern boundary of the region. Our
journeys occur at the peak of the summer wildlife season. Bathed in long hours
of daylight, the area will be erupting with wildlife activity. Millions of
penguins gather to tend their fast-growing chicks; whales are seen in great
numbers, seals haul out onto ice floes and beaches, and numerous albatrosses and
other seabirds trail in our wake. We explore historic sites from the Heroic Age
of early Antarctic exploration and visit scientists working in modern research
bases. And there is plenty of time to enjoy the sheer beauty and the
breathtaking scenery of ice-choked waterways, blue and white icebergs,
impressive glaciers and rugged snow-capped mountains. Few
people have been fortunate and privileged enough to experience an Emperor
Penguin rookery. The largest of the penguins, Emperors are the only birds that
breed on the frozen sea. During this extraordinary voyage we will visit their
rookeries on endless expanses of pack ice, surrounded by stunningly sculpted
tabular icebergs. Our
visit is perfectly timed to coincide with large numbers of delightful penguin
chicks huddling together on the ice. From
our closest approach by ship, we walk over the ice to the rookeries or, taking
great care not to cause any disturbance, use the helicopter to land at a safe
distance nearby. Our “safari” is
an ideal opportunity for photographers and nature lovers to observe 4,000 pairs
of Emperor Penguins at a previously unknown site near Snow Hill Island early in
the breeding season. But
there is even more to this voyage than Emperor Penguins and, during the trip, we
hope to experience some other extraordinary penguin rookeries: Royal Penguins,
King Penguins and Adélie Penguins among them. We expect to see several
different Antarctic seal species, whales, and a wide variety of other wildlife
and some of the most spectacular scenery on Earth. This
is a sample itinerary only. Our exact route and program varies according to ice
and weather conditions – and the wildlife we encounter. Flexibility is the key
to the success of this expedition. Days
1 & 2.
Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina Arrive
in Ushuaia and transfer independently to our conveniently located hotel. The
next morning, explore Tierra del Fuego National Park with a local guide, keeping
an eye out for Caracaras, Ringed Kingfishers and other wildlife. Then join your
fellow travelers for a traditional asado barbecue lunch before boarding
the Kapitan Khlebnikov to start your adventure. Days
3 & 4.
Crossing the Drake Passage We
sail across the Drake Passage and into the Southern Ocean under austral spring
skies tinged with pink by late sunsets. Our ornithologists fill in the details
on the Emperor Penguins’ biology, unique habitat and adaptive behavior, while
our photography experts lead practical onboard workshops. Up on deck, look for
Wandering Albatross, shearwaters, whales and dolphins. And, if the skies are
clear, watch the horizon for Elephant Island, where Sir Ernest Shackleton left
the stranded Endurance crew while he and five men sailed a lifeboat 800
miles to South Georgia to secure their rescue. Day
5.
Through Iceberg Alley to the Weddell Sea As
the Kapitan Khlebnikov carries on across the Antarctic Sound, you’ll
see massive tabular icebergs, some extending dozens of square kilometers that
have broken away from the ice shelf. En route, our historian chronicles the
exploits of Shackleton and other explorers of the Heroic Age, along with
pioneers such as Otto Nordenskjöld, whose arduous 1902 expedition (the first to
winter on the Antarctic Peninsula) was based on Snow Hill Island – and, of
course, James Weddell, as we sail into the sea that bears his name. Days
6, 7, 8 & 9.
Walking among the Emperors As
on any Antarctic expedition, but particularly on this voyage, our itinerary may
have to be modified in response to changing weather and ice conditions;
naturally our objective is to visit the Emperor Penguin colony in the best
possible weather. On the approach to Snow Hill Island, the Captain and
Expedition Leader use air reconnaissance data to choose the best place to
position the icebreaker. As we draw near, a few curious penguins may be
attracted to the open water by the ship, so keep a look out. After flying by
helicopter to a site that is safely away from the rookery, we walk across the
meters-thick sea ice and pause a short distance from the penguins so they are
able to adjust to our presence and we can attune ourselves to their relatively
quiet ways. When we visit early in the breeding season, the Emperor chicks are
still young, so you will possibly see them brooding on their parents’ feet or
huddling together in large, communal crèches. (As adults they will use the
huddle to survive the bitter cold of the austral winter; forming dense groups
and keeping their backs to the wind, each bird gradually moves inward to benefit
from the warmth at the center then returns to the edge again so that others may
take a turn.) You also witness the Emperors’ characteristic displays and can
listen for noisy “feeding exchanges.” And of course nothing can match the
sight of these remarkable creatures tobogganing, with surprising speed, across
the ice – or shooting out of the sea and onto shore. Best of all, this
exclusive Quark Expeditions adventure offers photographers and nature lovers
extended time in the rookery, so you have plenty of chances to observe and
record the Emperor Penguin’s life in its natural environment. No other
Antarctic travel company comes here, because only a purpose-built polar
icebreaker can penetrate the Weddell Sea this early in the season. Days
10 & 11.
Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetlands As
we resume our journey back through the Antarctic Sound, our exact route and the
number of possible Zodiac landings will depend on the variable conditions
encountered throughout the voyage up to this point. Our plan is to land at Brown
Bluff on the Trinity Peninsula – the northern end of the Antarctic Peninsula
– joining the select few who have actually set foot on the White Continent.
Although the focus of our expedition is mainly on the Emperor Penguin, we also
hope to visit colonies of Adélie, Chinstrap and Gentoo Penguins as they return
with the Antarctic summer to breed on the Peninsula. Further on, we sail past
the remote South Shetland Islands, a chain that boasts a profusion of wildlife
and is home to 12 research stations operated by various countries. (Under the
Antarctic Treaty, which suspends all territorial claims, the islands are not
controlled by any one nation.) Time and weather conditions permitting, you can
look forward to further sightings of penguins, seabirds and seals along the way. Days
12, 13 & 14.
Sailing back to Ushuaia While
every expedition has its own special character, all conclude on a familiar note
– a lively debate over how best to safeguard the future of Antarctica and
protect extraordinary species like the Emperor Penguin. Your Expedition Team
specialists, in their engaging recap sessions, challenge all of us to become
ambassadors for Antarctic conservation. Meanwhile, the ship makes its way across
the Drake Passage and through the Beagle Channel to Ushuaia. After a last superb
meal on board the Kapitan Khlebnikov, transfer to the airport for your
flight home. Please
note that the November 18 to December 1, 2007 expedition begins in Ushuaia,
Argentina and ends in Stanley Falkland Islands. To
simplify your departure, we suggest you reserve our optional package that
includes overnight hotel accommodation in Santiago, Chile, airport transfers in
the Falkland Islands, and a one-way flight from Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
to Santiago, Chile. Call or e-mail us for details. Price
per person based on twin occupancy: US$940 Single
occupancy: US$1,080 Please
note: Depending
on weather and ice conditions the Expedition Leader may choose to modify the
itinerary. Our goal will be to approach the emperor penguin colony with the best
weather conditions possible. SUMMARY
Inclusions: ·
Voyage aboard the
‘Kapitan Khlebnikov’ as indicated in the itinerary; ·
Pre-cruise hotel
accommodations in a shared twin room with breakfast as indicated in the
itinerary; ·
All meals throughout
the voyage aboard the ship; ·
A glass of house wine
with every dinner on board; ·
All shore excursions
and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac and helicopter (as included in
group excursions with no specific amount of helicopter time guaranteed); ·
Program of lectures
by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff; ·
Group transfer
between the hotel and ship and between the ship and airport as indicated in the
itinerary; ·
All miscellaneous
service taxes and port charges throughout the program; ·
Comprehensive
pre-departure materials and Antarctic handbook; ·
Complimentary
expedition parka; ·
Rubber boots service;
·
Detailed
post-expedition log. Trip grade:
Easy Cost:
Triple
cabin
US$ 9,995
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