Elephant Island | What to Expect When Visiting This Antarctic Island

While Antarctica remains the remotest destination on the planet, some spots on the continent have some fascinating human stories to tell. Elephant Island, a lonesome mass of rock and ice rising from the ocean, has links to one of the most incredible tales of human endurance amidst unfavourable circumstances. 

We are talking about the phenomenal survival tale of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew of the Endurance. It is Shackleton’s legacy that makes the inhospitable terrain of Elephant Island a special Antarctic destination.

Where is Elephant Island located?

Elephant Island is a part of the South Shetland Islands and is located in the Southern Ocean around 245 kilometres from the tip of the Antarctic peninsula. The rocky edges of the island are covered in ice and tower above the waters of the ocean creating a majestic view. 

Elephant Island has an east-west orientation. The barren island is made of rocks that offer very few landing points, and the highest point, Mount Pendragon, rises to 973 metres. The island is exposed to the brutal action of wind and water from the dreaded Drake Passage and is constantly battered by waves. 

One fact about Antarctica is the extremely high wind speeds in the continent and Elephant Island is no exception. The wind speeds around it can reach as high as 160 km/h.

Why is it called Elephant Island?

The island was discovered by the first Russian Antarctica Expedition of 1821 and was named Mordvinov Island to honour Admiral Mordvinov. But the name‘ Elephant’ got stuck and there are two reasons behind the nomenclature.

The subsequent expeditions spotted elephant seals along the island’s coast, which resulted in the name. At the same time, for some sailors, the island's east coast resembles the shape of an elephant’s trunk.

Why visit Elephant Island?

While the snow-covered island presents an imposing sight, the barren terrain is nothing but unfriendly to explorers. The sea around the island remains mostly rough - two to three-metre swells are common - making landing on it an extremely challenging and rarely accomplished task. The difficult terrain makes it one of the most understudied islands near the Antarctic coast.

Even so, the island is a great spot for watching whales and observing gentoo or chinstrap penguin colonies. Elephant and fur seals can also be observed here. However, the primary reason that attracts guests to Elephant Island is its link to the legendary exploits of Sir Ernest Shackleton.

History of Elephant Island

The story of Shackleton’s gruelling expedition is hardly unknown to those interested in Antarctic history. Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition set sail in 1914, but the ship, HMS Endurance, got caught in ice in the Weddell Sea in 1915.

After Endurance Sank, the crew set out on the three lifeboats and set foot on Elephant Island in April 1916 after a nerve-wracking journey. With chances of rescue seeming remote and the long Antarctic winter approaching, Shackleton decided to sail for South Georgia which was around 1300 kilometres away. 

Shackleton left with five of his teammates while the rest remained behind on Elephant Island. After a perilous journey that has become a legendary tale of survival, he and his team arrived at Stromness Whaling Station in May. 

Almost immediately, Shackleton started on a ship to rescue his crew stuck on Elephant Island. After two rescue attempts were thwarted by pack ice, he was able to reach the island on a third ship on 30th August 1916. 

Thankfully everyone who had stayed back on Elephant Island was alive - even though some had given up hope of being rescued. Ultimately, after over four months of battling for survival, all 28 members of his crew were back in England after a miraculous adventure.

A memorial stands on Point Wild, located on the north coast of Elephant Island, commemorating Captain Luis Pardo of the rescuing Chilean vessel. This is the point where Shackleton’s crew had built a hut to protect themselves from the weather. You may find a colony of chinstrap penguins relaxing around the monolith. 

Worth mentioning that Elephant Island has another historical site at its southwestern end. Known as Hampson Cove, the area has the wreckage of a wooden boat.

Climate

The weather around Elephant Island is mostly rough and it can get foggy within a short period. Light snow and rain are common and in the summer you may find alternating periods of sunshine and cloud cover. The daily maximum temperature can vary between 2°C in summer to -6°C in mid-winter.

Wildlife to see in Elephant Island

The island has no native inhabitants and nothing grows on it. In the summer months, large colonies of chinstrap, gentoo, and macaroni penguins choose the island as a breeding site. Fur and elephant seals are also found here in this period. You will also spot seabirds like gulls, skuas, petrels, the Antarctic shag, and terns on the rocks.

The wildlife in Antarctica is not limited to the land. The waters around the island are great for whale watching, especially the fin and humpback whales. The good news is that fin whales, once considered on the verge of extinction, have made a comeback in the waters around the island. On some days, a large group of fin whales can be observed, engaged in a feeding frenzy in the waters.

Planning your trip to Elephant Island

If you are planning to visit Antarctica on a cruise ship, Elephant Island is worth visiting, especially if your interests include polar exploration history.  Note, the journey is an adventure in itself and the weather system can foil your plans on any day. There is never a guarantee you’ll be able to visit a certain island or landmark, Elephant Island included.

To visit Antarctica you need the support of experienced guides and an expedition vessel specially designed to handle conditions in the Southern Ocean. An Antarctic cruise with Secret Atlas allows you to enjoy the awe-inspiring setting.

Visit Elephant Island with Secret Atlas

A journey with the Secret Atlas team can allow you to enjoy the stark beauty of this haunting location while staying safe. The views of Antarctica will take your mind back to the incredible adventures of Shackleton and his crew giving you a deeper understanding of their indomitable spirit.

Our team guides you to Antarctica to offer the best views while adding their insights to enrich your experience. Each of our Antarctica journeys is crafted with the love and passion that we have for the polar regions and exploration. That allows us to balance the spirit of adventure with safety and comfort.

Get in touch or download our brochure to plan for an unforgettable Antarctic adventure.