Wildlife and nature micro guides
Guides and stories on the wildlife of the Arctic, Antarctica, and everything in-between.
A Guide to Arctic Wildlife Watching
The Secret Atlas guide to Arctic wildlife observation.
Polar Bears in Svalbard
Polar Bears in Svalbard
Our guide to seeing polar bears in Svalbard.
A Guide to Arctic Wildlife Watching
A Guide to Arctic Wildlife Watching
The Secret Atlas guide to Arctic wildlife observation.
21 Animals to See in Svalbard
21 Animals to See in Svalbard
A taste of the animals you can spot on an Expedition Micro Cruise to Svalbard.
Animals of Greenland
Animals of Greenland
There are plenty of animals to spot during your Expedition Micro Cruise to Greenland...
Birds of Svalbard
Birds of Svalbard
Svalbard is a wonderland for birders! Here are some of the birds you can see during your Expedition Micro Cruise.
Whales of the Arctic | A Guide to Viewing Giants Around Svalbard and Greenland
Whales of the Arctic | A Guide to Viewing Giants Around Svalbard and Greenland
Meet the whales of the Arctic, from narwhals to bowheads. Learn how to spot them and where you’re most likely to encounter each species.
The Gyrfalcon | The Arctic's Premier Hunter
The Gyrfalcon | The Arctic's Premier Hunter
The gyrfalcon stands as the world's largest falcon species, commanding respect in the harsh Arctic environments it calls home.
Purple Sandpipers | Where You Can Find Them in the Arctic Tundra
Purple Sandpipers | Where You Can Find Them in the Arctic Tundra
The Harlequin Duck | Greenland's White-Water Daredevil
The Harlequin Duck | Greenland's White-Water Daredevil
In Greenland’s icy rivers, a bold little duck dives into white-water rapids with fearless flair. Meet the harlequin duck—colourful, elusive, and tougher than it looks. Discover the 'sea mouse' of the Arctic.
Walruses in the Arctic | Life, behaviour, and conservation challenges
Walruses in the Arctic | Life, behaviour, and conservation challenges
With their immense blubbery forms and iconic ivory tusks, walruses seem like echoes from another era gathered tightly on rocky shores.
Arctic Fox | Life on the Edge
Arctic Fox | Life on the Edge
Small, elusive and perfectly adapted, the Arctic fox lives across one of the most unforgiving environments on Earth - the Arctic tundra.
Narwhals in the Arctic | Facts, Myths and Where to Spot Them
Narwhals in the Arctic | Facts, Myths and Where to Spot Them
Often called the 'unicorn of the sea,' the narwhal is one of the Arctic’s most mysterious creatures.
Greenland Plants | Discover the Arctic’s Toughest Plant Life
Greenland Plants | Discover the Arctic’s Toughest Plant Life
The irony of Greenland’s name is apparent to all visitors who set foot on the island. You hardly find much green on this barren land.
Brünnich’s Guillemot | Life on the Cliffs of the High Arctic
Brünnich’s Guillemot | Life on the Cliffs of the High Arctic
From undertaking death-defying leaps as chicks to being one of the world’s finest divers, the Brünnich's guillemot is a fascinating bird of the world's northernmost seas.
Caribou in Greenland | A Guide to Seeing the Arctic’s Great Wanderers
Caribou in Greenland | A Guide to Seeing the Arctic’s Great Wanderers
The caribou or the reindeer is a cultural keystone for the indigenous population of Greenland.
Musk Ox | The Arctic’s Ice Age Survivor
Musk Ox | The Arctic’s Ice Age Survivor
Musk oxen are Ice Age survivors, still roaming the Arctic wilderness as they did thousands of years ago.
Penguins of Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands | Complete Guide
Penguins of Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands | Complete Guide
Few wildlife experiences rival the sight of hundreds of thousands of penguins gathered together on remote icy shores.
King Penguin | Facts, Habitat and Where to See Them in the Wild
King Penguin | Facts, Habitat and Where to See Them in the Wild
With their vivid orange markings and regal stance, king penguins gather in vast, bustling colonies on remote sub-Antarctic shores. Discover their remarkable life at sea and the best places to see them up close.
Rockhopper Penguins | Where to See Them in the Wild
Rockhopper Penguins | Where to See Them in the Wild
With their spiky yellow crests and bold personalities, rockhopper penguins are among the Falklands’ most charming residents. Discover where to see them, how they live, and what makes these cliff-hopping birds so captivating.
Gentoo Penguins in the Wild | See Them For Yourself
Gentoo Penguins in the Wild | See Them For Yourself
Gentoo penguins, with their vibrant beaks and playful pebble rituals, are among Antarctica’s most charming seabirds. Discover where to see them, how they behave, and what makes these speedy swimmers so unforgettable.
Animals in Antarctica | What Animals Call the Antarctic Home?
Animals in Antarctica | What Animals Call the Antarctic Home?
What animals can you spot during an Expedition Micro Cruise to Antarctica?
Animals of South Georgia
Animals of South Georgia
What animals can you see on an Expedition Micro Cruise to South Georgia?
Flowers in Antarctica | How Climate Change Is Changing Antarctica’s Ecosystem
Flowers in Antarctica | How Climate Change Is Changing Antarctica’s Ecosystem
Remarkably resilient, Antarctica’s tiny blossoms—like the hardy pearlwort and Antarctic hair grass—burst into life in summer’s fleeting warmth, painting ice‑scapes with subtle hues. Discover how these unlikely pioneers survive and thrive at Earth’s coldest edge.
Antarctic Plants | Finding Vegetation in Antarctica
Antarctic Plants | Finding Vegetation in Antarctica
Explore Antarctica’s surprising greenery—home to just two flowering species, Antarctic hair grass and pearlwort, alongside mosses and lichens that cling to life in the world’s coldest desert. This fragile flora hints at dramatic ecosystem changes unfolding in the polar wild.
Antarctica Wildlife Calendar | When to See Penguins, Whales, and Seals
Antarctica Wildlife Calendar | When to See Penguins, Whales, and Seals
Discover the best months to visit Antarctica for wildlife. See penguins nesting, whales feeding, and seals lounging on ice. Month-by-month insights for your expedition.
Antarctic Fur Seal | Do Seals Live in Antarctica and Where to See One
Antarctic Fur Seal | Do Seals Live in Antarctica and Where to See One
The Commerson’s Dolphin | What to Know About This Dolphin in the Falkland Islands
The Commerson’s Dolphin | What to Know About This Dolphin in the Falkland Islands
Snow Algae in Antarctica | Why Does the Snow Turn Red, Green, and Pink?
Snow Algae in Antarctica | Why Does the Snow Turn Red, Green, and Pink?
Amid Antarctica’s vast white landscape, snow algae bring surprising splashes of red, green, and orange. These hardy microorganisms thrive on snow and ice, playing a vital role in the polar ecosystem while hinting at the effects of climate change.
The Antarctic Tern | A Lesson in Resilience and Elegance
The Antarctic Tern | A Lesson in Resilience and Elegance
The Antarctic tern is a striking seabird, with its bright red beak and agile flight along icy shores. Discover how it nests, hunts, and thrives in Antarctica’s harsh coastal wilderness.
Brown Skuas | What to Know When Visiting Antarctica
Brown Skuas | What to Know When Visiting Antarctica
The Antarctic Petrel | The Distinctly Graceful Bird of Antarctica
The Antarctic Petrel | The Distinctly Graceful Bird of Antarctica
The Southern Giant Petrel | Vulture of the Southern Ocean
The Southern Giant Petrel | Vulture of the Southern Ocean
The Southern Giant Petrel, nicknamed the 'vulture of the Southern Ocean,' is a formidable seabird that scavenges, hunts, and cleans Antarctica’s shores. Discover its fascinating role as both predator and vital clean-up crew.
Crabeater Seals in Antarctica | Facts, Identification and Travel tips
Crabeater Seals in Antarctica | Facts, Identification and Travel tips
Meet the world’s most abundant — yet misunderstood — seal of Antarctica. Discover why crabeater seals don’t eat crabs, how they thrive on ice, and where to spot these agile, social creatures on your Antarctic adventure.
Grey-Headed Albatross | The Fastest Albatross of the Southern Ocean
Grey-Headed Albatross | The Fastest Albatross of the Southern Ocean
Meet the grey-headed albatross, the storm dancer of the Southern Ocean. Discover where to see this graceful seabird and what makes it so unforgettable.
Tussock Grass | South Georgia's Living Fortress
Tussock Grass | South Georgia's Living Fortress
Towering above your head, South Georgia’s tussock grass creates a golden maze teeming with seals, birds, and hidden life. Discover how this hardy grass shapes one of the planet’s most extraordinary ecosystems.
Leopard Seal | The Antarctic Apex Predator
Leopard Seal | The Antarctic Apex Predator
The leopard seal — Antarctica’s sleek apex predator — is as fascinating as it is fearsome, famed for its chilling smile and deadly reputation among penguins.
Weddell Seal | Meet Antarctica’s Southernmost Mammal
Weddell Seal | Meet Antarctica’s Southernmost Mammal
Weddell seals are the most southerly dwelling mammals on the planet—adapted to life deep within the frozen continent.
Wandering Albatross | Master of the Southern Ocean
Wandering Albatross | Master of the Southern Ocean
Inhabiting a large area between Antarctica and the Tropic of Capricorn, wandering albatrosses are incredibly fascinating seabirds.
Southern Elephant Seal | The World’s Largest Pinniped and Where to See Them
Southern Elephant Seal | The World’s Largest Pinniped and Where to See Them
The southern elephant seal is the largest pinniped in the world. Their name derives from their large size and the males’ large proboscis, which resembles an elephant’s trunk.
Birds of Antarctica and South Georgia
Birds of Antarctica and South Georgia
Explore the birds of Antarctica and South Georgia, from penguins and petrels to soaring albatrosses shaped by the winds of the Southern Ocean.
Chinstrap Penguin | Antarctica’s Feisty Adventurer
Chinstrap Penguin | Antarctica’s Feisty Adventurer
Renowned for their bold personalities and sense of adventure, chinstrap penguins are agile climbers, undeterred by steep terrain or harsh winds, often nesting at considerable heights - despite their modest size.
Emperor Penguins | Life at the Edge of the Frozen World
Emperor Penguins | Life at the Edge of the Frozen World
The emperor penguin is the largest and most graceful of all penguin species, standing over one meter tall making it the true icon of Antarctica.
Adélie Penguin | Life, Behaviour & Where to See Them
Adélie Penguin | Life, Behaviour & Where to See Them
Adélie penguins are true Antarctic specialists, breeding exclusively on the continent and its surrounding sea ice. Recognised by their bold behaviour and distinctive white eye rings, they are among Antarctica’s most studied and charismatic seabirds.
Macaroni Penguin | The Complete Guide to the Sub-Antarctic’s Golden-Crested Penguin
Macaroni Penguin | The Complete Guide to the Sub-Antarctic’s Golden-Crested Penguin
Macaroni penguins are the most widespread of the crested penguins; first described by German naturalist Johann Friedrich von Brandt in 1837 when visiting the Falkland Islands.
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