Antarctica’s winter months are during the northern hemisphere’s summer months. During this time (roughly May through September) there is no travel to Antarctica. Ship traffic is blocked by polar ice and the temperatures rarely ever reach above zero. Most travelers visit Antarctica from the months of November through March.
November: This is surely the most adventurous month to plan an Antarctic voyage. It is colder than later months, and access to some of the Peninsula may be compromised due to breaking polar ice.
As the world's southern-most continent, Antarctica has unique weather conditions and climate. There are a number of factors that provide it with such a cold and extreme environment. Antarctica has a higher average elevation than the rest of the continents on Earth. Almost completely covered by ice and snow, its surface reflects the sun's solar energy back into the atmosphere, rather than absorbing it. Heat is also lost due to the lack of precipitation. With limited water vapor in the air, there is little to capture the sun's warmth. Antarctica's weather also contributes to its unparalleled beauty. In Antarctica’s winter months the Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) appear dancing along the horizon in glowing greens and pinks as the solar winds meet with atmospheric gases.
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
1 day ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.