Antarctica Penguins in Photos

As I sit here freezing through Germany’s winter, knowing spring is still months away, I was trying to think happy thoughts to warm myself up. There are very few situations where I can tolerate cold weather, and my trip to Antarctica was one of them. Aside from the serene atmosphere, the icebergs that were so large my mind had trouble processing them, and our close encounter with a minke whale, I was overjoyed to be inches away from penguins. Really, is anything cuter than a penguin?

Here’s a chinstrap penguin swimming in the ocean. I never would’ve thought this is what they looked like swimming, but then normally you just see photos of penguins walking around on land. (Sorry it’s almost cut off at the bottom, I was on a moving boat.)

Antarctica penguins

Gentoo penguins were the ones we saw the most of when we got off the ship. We weren’t supposed to approach them, but it was ok if they approached us. And they did!

Antarctica penguins

Antarctica penguins

Sometimes I swear they were posing for me. Aren’t they just gorgeous?

Antarctica penguins

Antarctica penguins

Antarctica penguins

Antarctica penguins

One of the things that surprised me was how many penguins there were. Hundreds of them waddled around us for the one precious hour we had on land the day I took these photos. They smelled horrible, but I couldn’t stop smiling because they were just so fun to watch.

Antarctica penguins

Antarctica penguins

Antarctica penguins

That trip to Antarctica gave me so many amazing memories, but one of my favorites was being able to see and be so close to the penguins. It’s not a cheap trip to go on, but if you think Antarctica is somewhere you’d like to see someday, maybe the idea of seeing the penguins will make the decision to spend the money a little bit easier. They’re such interesting creatures to see up close and in their natural habitat, and I’m so happy I was able to have that experience.

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