Penguins are one of the crucial common animals on the planet, and have been ever since films like March of the Penguins and Happy Feet got here out in 2005-2006.
However how a lot have you learnt about these beloved flightless birds? Have you learnt the place penguins stay, what they eat, how briskly they’ll swim, or that they date again greater than 60 million years?!
The 17 completely different species of penguins could be discovered on each continent within the Southern Hemisphere– Africa, Antarctica, Australia and South America.
Whereas most individuals affiliate these humorous flightless waterfowl with the chilly local weather of Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands, they’re additionally seen as far north because the coasts of Namibia, Brazil, and the Galapagos Islands.
Learn on for a take a look at the broad number of locations world wide the place penguins stay, in addition to the very best occasions of 12 months to see them there…
READ MORE: 30 Cool & Weird Ocean Animals Around the World
The place Do Penguins Stay Information
- Antarctica & The Antarctic Islands
- Australia/New Zealand
- Argentina/Chile
- Galapagos Islands
- South Africa
READ MORE: 70 Cool & Weird Animals Around the World (An Epic Guide)
1. ANTARCTICA & THE ANTARCTIC ISLANDS
When you’ve ever seen March of the Penguins, you in all probability think about the penguins of Antarctica all huddled collectively is huge colonies to protect their eggs from a blinding blizzard.
Whereas that’s definitely a actuality of life for some penguin species, it’s a lot simpler for vacationers to go to them in the course of the Antarctic summer time, when daytime temperatures usually get into the 40s.
Antarctica is dwelling to 4 completely different species of Penguin, every of which has their very own most well-liked habitat.
Emperor Penguins sometimes breed on pack ice and shelf ice (normally between the 66° and 77° south latitudes). However a number of breeding colonies have been discovered on land in recent times, together with one at Amundsen Bay and one other at Taylor Glacier in Victoria Land.
Chinstrap Penguins, Gentoo Penguins, and Adelie Penguins are all intently associated and generally seen.
Search for them nesting on rocks comparatively near shore on each the mainland and quite a few Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands, together with the Hazard Islands, the Falklands, and South Georgia Islands.
The King Penguin is second solely to the Emperor Penguin among the many world’s largest penguins. They’re additionally one of the crucial plentiful penguin species, with an estimated 2.3 million breeding pairs.
Although you gained’t see them on the mainland, they are often discovered on sub-Antarctic islands resembling South Georgia, the Kerguelen Islands, Crozet Island, Prince Edward Islands, and extra.
READ MORE: PHOTO GALLERY: Penguins of Antarctica
WHEN TO SEE PENGUINS IN ANTARCTICA
Due to their location within the excessive southern a part of the planet, the local weather of Antarctica and the Antarctic Islands are comparatively inhospitable to people for the overwhelming majority of the 12 months.
However summer time within the Southern Hemisphere, which lasts from December by March, finds day by day excessive temperatures hovering into the 40s (and sometimes even the 50s).
The area will get nearly 24 steady hours of daylight throughout this time, permitting loads of time to discover the highlights of Antarctica.
The melting away of coastal ice makes shore landings significantly simpler. It’s additionally a good time to see child penguin chicks at their fuzziest, snuggling towards their mother to sleep or feasting on regurgitated tidbits from her gullet.
Cruising Antarctica, South Georgia & the Falkland Islands permits you to see Gentoo, Magellanic, and Rockhopper Penguins within the Falklands; King and Macaroni Penguins in South Georgia; a large Chinstrap Penguin colony on Elephant Island; and Adelie, Chinstrap, and Gentoo Penguins on the Antarctic Peninsula.
In fact, there will even be loads of different Antarctic wildlife alongside the way in which, from Humpback Whales and Orcas and quite a few species of seals to seabirds resembling albatross, kelp gulls, big petrels, skuas, and extra.
READ MORE: 30 Antarctic Animals You Can See on an Antarctica Cruise
2. AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND
When you get away from Antarctica, many of the locations the place penguins stay are rocky islands and dry, desert-like environments the place their lack of ability to fly doesn’t make them susceptible to land-based predators.
Although most individuals consider Australia as dry and dusty, it’s additionally dwelling to the Little Penguin, which is affectionately recognized domestically because the Fairy Penguin as a consequence of its diminutive measurement.
These lovely beauties could be discovered throughout the continent’s southern coast, together with Sydney’s North Harbour, Tasmania, Victoria, and numerous close by islands (together with, naturally, Penguin Island).
In New Zealand, they’re referred to as Little Blue Penguins (or kororā among the many Māori people).
New Zealand can be dwelling to the Yellow-Eyed Penguin (mainland, Auckland, Campbell, and Stewart Islands); Fiordland Penguin (Open Bay, South, and Stewart Islands); and Snares Penguin (a crested species discovered solely within the Snares Islands).
Royal Penguins– which have the colourful crest of a Macaroni Penguin, however a white face and chin– inhabit the waters throughout Antarctica.
However they often solely breed on New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island, the place you’ll discover a number of hundred thousand mating pairs.
READ MORE: 20 Weird & Cute Australian Animals
WHEN TO SEE PENGUINS IN NEW ZEALAND
The southern coast of New Zealand’s South Island might not be as chilly as Antarctica, however temperatures can get as little as 14º Fahrenheit in winter (July is the coldest month).
So it’s finest in case you can plan your go to in January or February, the warmest months within the southern hemisphere. The common temperature then is round 48º, with highs usually reaching into the 60s.
Once you’re packing, bear in mind New Zealand can have 4 seasons in sooner or later. Although temperature variations in the course of the day aren’t sometimes excessive, the climate can change rapidly with chilly fronts or excessive winds blowing in.
Expeditions to the Sub-Antarctic Islands of New Zealand usually discover South Island highlights resembling Fiordland Nationwide Park in addition to the Aucklands, Campbell, Macquarie, the Snares, Stewart, and extra.
Vacationers can hope to see colonies of Gengtoo, King, Rockhopper, and Royal Penguins, in addition to endemic species resembling Snares and Yellow-eyed Penguins.
READ MORE: 10 Awesome Australian Road Trips (For Your World Travel Bucket List)
3. ARGENTINA/CHILE
The southernmost international locations in South America– a.okay.a. Patagonia– are dwelling to 4 completely different penguin species.
Humboldt Penguins (a.okay.a. Peruvian Penguins) are discovered on the continent’s west aspect, from Chile all the way in which as much as the coast of Peru. They’re named after the chilly water present wherein they swim (which was named for explorer Alexander von Humboldt).
You possibly can determine them by the white border that runs from behind their eyes and round their ear-coverts, becoming a member of on the throat. They’re intently associated to Magellanic Penguins, with whom they share some vary.
Named after the well-known Portuguese explorer, Magellanic Penguins have a large vary that extends from southern Chile and Argentina to the Falkland Islands and as far north as Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
You could spot them swimming in giant flocks, diving as much as 50 meters to feed on cuttlefish, squid, krill, and different crustaceans. You’ll additionally like see huge breeding colonies, with nests about 5 meters aside below bushes or in burrows.
The Southern Rockhopper Penguin, one in every of two Rockhopper subspecies, is the smallest of the crested penguins. They’re sometimes discovered on the islands off the coasts of Argentina and Chile in addition to the Falklands.
(Their Jap Rockhopper cousins are discovered on the subantarctic islands, together with the Aucklands, Campbells, Crozets, Prince Edward, and Macquarie.)
The King Penguin is mostly related to the sub-Antarctic islands. However there’s additionally a formidable colony in Tierra del Fuego, the place they’ve their very own protected sanctuary (Pingüino Rey Park).
READ MORE: The 20 Best Things to Do in Patagonia (South America)
WHEN TO SEE PENGUINS IN PATAGONIA
As with Antarctica and Australia, summer time (December by March) is arguably the very best time to go to Argentina and Chile.
It may nonetheless get right down to freezing temperatures at night time, however days are largely sunny with occasional gusts of sturdy wind. The additional north you go into Patagonia, the hotter it normally is within the spring and autumn months.
Some eco-tour corporations provide Patagonia expeditions that go to Torres del Paine National Park, Tierra del Fuego, and cross the Strait of Magellan. You’ll doubtless see a King Penguin colony, a Magellanic Penguin colony, and numerous different bird species alongside the way in which.
Immersive Patagonia overlanding experiences can also embrace visits to the accessible King Penguin colony at Parque Pinguino Rey, in addition to a ship trip to the well-known Magellanic Penguin rookery on Magdalena Island.
READ MORE: The 20 Best Places to Visit in South America
4. GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
Situated some 850 miles from mainland Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands is likely one of the solely locations on the planet the place vacationers have a reasonably first rate probability to swim with penguins.
Although they’re essentially the most uncommon and endangered penguin species on the planet, you’re just about assured to see Galapagos Penguins on the western islands of Fernandina and Isabela (particularly round Tagus Cove).
However you may additionally see small populations on Floreana, northern Santa Cruz, and Santiago Island. You’ll normally see them sunning themselves on the shore, or capturing like rockets underwater in the hunt for a snack.
My favourite encounter got here throughout a cruise off the coast of Bartolome, which is dwelling to Pinnacle Rock. A pair of curious penguins hopped into the water beside our group of snorkelers, and swam with us for 20+ minutes!
When you do get a chance to go swimming with Galapagos Penguins throughout your go to to the islands, you’re VERY fortunate: Our native information stated it had solely occurred to her as soon as in 17 years of working within the archipelago!
READ MORE: 30 Amazing Galapagos Islands Animals
WHEN TO SEE PENGUINS IN THE GALAPAGOS
Of all of the locations on the planet the place vacationers can hope to see penguins within the wild, the Galapagos Islands is the one the place climate concerns usually are not a significant component.
On account of its location on the Equator, the archipelago is pretty heat all 12 months spherical, with excessive temperatures within the 70s to 80s and lows not often dipping under 65º.
However if you wish to swim with Galapagos Penguins, contemplate the water temperatures. They’re at their lowest– averaging 70-71º– from July by September, with a median of 76 to 77º from January by April.
However even when the water is cool, most snorkeling excursions include insulated wetsuits to make sure your consolation.
Many excursions of the archipelago Darwin made well-known embrace day by day snorkeling alternatives. And with stops at Isabela, Fernandina, and Bartolome, you’re just about assured to see the world’s rarest penguins!
READ MORE: Galapagos Birds: 25 Spectacular Species You Can See on a Galapagos Cruise
5. SOUTH AFRICA
When most individuals consider South Africa, they have an inclination to think about Nelson Mandela, Big 5 wildlife safaris, and the scenic wine nation round Cape City.
However the nation’s coastlines are additionally dwelling to the African Penguin, which has change into more and more common with vacationers in recent times.
Their habitat spreads all the way in which across the southern coast from Algoa Bay, close to Port Elizabeth, as much as northern Namibia, with colonies on each the mainland and 24 completely different islands (together with the Penguin Islands).
Boulders Seashore, close to Simon City, is likely one of the finest locations to see them. And since the colony is habituated to human presence, it is usually potential to swim with penguins there.
Sadly, like its Galapagos cousin, the African Penguin is presently endangered as a consequence of exploitation, oil spills, and depletion of their favourite prey, anchovy and sardines.
Their whole inhabitants is down from 1.5 million within the early twentieth century to only over 50,000 at this time. So, in case you do see these penguins within the wild, please be respectful and hold your distance from their nests.
READ MORE: The 20 Safest Countries in Africa to Visit
WHEN TO SEE PENGUINS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Very similar to the Galapagos, South Africa’s climate is usually good it doesn’t matter what time of 12 months you select to go to.
Temperatures in Kruger National Park in the course of the dry season (April to September) vary from the excessive 40s at night time to the mid-80s in the course of the day. However June is the coldest month in Cape City, with common temperatures of 55º.
If you would like an opportunity of swimming with African Penguins on the nation’s southwest coast, go to in February (the most well liked month, with a median temperature of 73°) or late August/September, when highs are within the low 70s.
Some South African eco-tours take guests all throughout the continent’s southernmost nation, from Cape City east to Tswalu Kalahari Sport Reserve and the normal safari expertise of Timbavati Game Reserve.
Search for one that features a go to to the African Penguin colony at Stoney Level, in addition to the “oceanic Huge 5” at Walker Bay in Gansbaai. –Bret Love
