Where to encounter penguins

Penguins are some of the world’s most fascinating creatures. They are graceful and elegant, yet seemingly awkward as they waddle along on land. The flightless birds spend more than half of their lives in the water and are only ever airborne when they leap onto land. Having no natural fear of humans, these curious birds sometimes come quite close to their observers. For this reason, many animal-lovers travel far and wide to have an experience with their favourite birds.

Emperor Penguins, Photo: Martha de Jong-Lantink on Flickr

If you want to encounter penguins on your next adventure, there are several places you can find them. Most penguin species reside in the Antarctic and temperate regions of the Southern Hemisphere. Different species of penguin thrive in different climates. The tropical Galapagos Islands are home to the world’s smallest penguin: the Galapagos Penguin. Emperor penguins live in the vast, icy wilderness of Antarctica. The Galapagos and Antarctica are typically the most popular destinations to view penguins, however, they can also be found in South Africa, New Zealand and various regions in the south of South America.