The Culinary Comforts of Cape Town

Warm up for our Antarctic expedition with three nights at Cape Town’s Cape Grace Hotel. Sample the wines of the Western Cape Province during a tour of Franschhoek. Explore Cape Town’s sprawling city on foot, admiring the colossal backdrop of Table Mountain. And enjoy the indulgent offerings of our hotel’s Heirloom Restaurant and Bascule Bar. Before leaving Cape Town, we will meet with our expedition leader and expert guides. At this time, a briefing will outline all relevant biosecurity protocols, as well as guidelines relating to wildlife viewing. You will then be issued with a range of polar clothing. Following our Antarctic experience, we will return to Cape Town and enjoy an additional night at the Cape Grace Hotel.

We fly from Cape Town to Antarctica’s Novo Runway aboard a large, specially equipped cargo plane. This flight will take approximately five and a half hours. One hour before the plane reaches Antarctica, we will change into our polar clothing. Our flight is scheduled to arrive in Antarctica by mid-afternoon. After stepping off the aircraft, we board a custom-designed truck for the seven-kilometre drive to our accommodation, Oasis Guest House set in the Schirmacher Oasis. Should the weather conditions prove favourable, we may immediately commence sightseeing. Within Antarctica, we travel to our key destinations aboard a ski-equipped 8-seater Twin Otter aircraft, accompanied by a pilot and co-pilot, and two experienced guides. Everyone will enjoy a window seat on these flights, which will generally take around an hour for each leg.

We journey to the Astrid and Lazarev emperor penguin colonies, accompanied by expert ornithologist Peter Ryan. Our Twin Otter aircraft will touch down on the sea ice away from the colony to avoid disturbance. We will alight at least one kilometre from the colonies from where we will slowly walk across the sea ice to arrive at the edge of the colony. Keeping a respectful distance, we’re able to observe these exquisite creatures going about their daily activity in their natural habitat. Peter Ryan will provide expert presentations on the emperor penguins and other Antarctic avifauna. We will be keeping an eye out for Antarctic skuas, Snow petrels, Wilson’s storm petrel, and Adélie penguins on our journey.

Admire the soaring Drygalski Mountains, an impressive range within Queen Maud Land, punctuated by towering peaks and an assemblage of rocky ridges. Discovered in the 1930s, by German expeditioners, the Drygalski’s feature the towering forms of Ulvetanna and Holtanna, which border the expansive Fenristunga, also known as ‘Wolf’s Tongue Glacier’. The convenience of our Twin Otter aircraft means we are able to land close to the base of these geological wonders.

Where the Ice Shelf meets the Schirmacher Oasis, we explore the surreal, blue interiors of the Ice Tunnel. Navigate your way along the 150-metre-long tunnel, rendered spellbound by its curved and patterned walls, intricate ice formations, and intensely luminous quality.

A 45-minute drive across the ice cap to the east of the Schirmacher Oasis, we will explore the colossal Ice Wall and surrounds.

Little-known Omega Lake is a short half hour hike from Oasis Guest House and presents awe-inspiring views over the Ice Shelf. There are myriad other geological and icy features to explore on short, guided walks close to Oasis Guest House.

During our stay on the White Continent, we base ourselves at Oasis Guest House, at the eastern end of the largely ice-free Schirmacher Oasis. Guests will enjoy the privacy of their own room, while the comfortable, lodge-style accommodation also includes a traditional sauna and Starlink internet. Enjoy a drink, accompanied by delicious cuisine, while looking out to vast, white landscapes, courtesy of the dining room’s large windows. Meals are comparable to what you might expect in one of Cape Town’s lodges, while a fine selection of South African wines on hand. Afterwards, relax in the comfortable lounge, where well-positioned chairs and sofas look directly onto the serene, white landscapes beyond. The immediate surrounds of our accommodation also offer additional, fascinating sightseeing, which our guides will be happy to help you discover. You may like to take a short, easy ride on fat bikes (these are similar to a regular mountain bike, but with larger tyres). Obtained from Oasis Guest House, these make for a fun alternative to hiking. In the interests of keeping the continent in its pristine condition, bathroom facilities are shared. The necessity to manage water use means that showering should be kept to a minimum. While a special pedal-operated toilet sees that all waste is removed from Antarctica. The staff at Oasis Guest House provide exceptional service and will ensure your stay is a comfortable one. A dedicated medical facility at the nearby Ultima airbase is staffed by an on-call doctor. The Doctor is on call to attend Oasis Guest House if required.