Inspiration
Written by Lindsay Krause
A remote land of elemental forces – snow, ice, water and rock make up the otherworldly landscape of Antarctica. The seventh continent’s barren terrain remains untouched by humans, belonging only to the penguins colonizing the white wilderness and the pods of killer and humpback whales in the waters. A bucket list destination for most and final frontier of adventure travel, Antarctica is so remote that few will ever experience its coastline, let alone its interiors. But Ker & Downey® Africa, in collaboration with our expert on the ground team, now offer an exclusive day trip from Cape Town to Antarctica.
Time restricted travelers can now experience the thrill of Earth’s southernmost continent within a 24 hour day trip from South Africa to Antarctica. Soak up endless uninhabited horizons on the white continent, previously only accessible by a 10-21 day boat cruise from Argentina or New Zealand, you can now board a private Gulfstream jet in Cape Town and reach Antarctica a mere five hours later.
Covering approximately 540,000 square miles, 98% of Antarctica is covered by a 40 million-year-old ice sheet, roughly the same size as the USA. The isolated continent remains uninhabited by humans and instead, the frozen landscape is home to million-strong Emperor Penguin colonies, the colossal albatross, 6 different species of seal and whales that migrate through the iceberg flanked channels each year. Visiting this immense, untouched landscape can be dwarfing. From enormous ice shelves, jarring mountain peaks, and tremendous glaciers, Antarctica gives everyone who discovers its remote interiors a newfound perspective on man vs. nature.
Starting in the City of Cape Town, your day trip to Antarctica begins with a safety briefing and a weather forecast to ensure you are properly kitted out for the icy landscapes down south. A mere 24 hours later, board a private 12 seater jet and fly 2,400 miles from the southernmost tip of Africa to the icy wonderland of Antarctica. The 5-hour flight takes you through the dark African night into 24 hours of continuous daylight while soaring over thousands of icebergs floating in the Southern Ocean. Touch down on the blue ice runway at Wolf Fang’s mountain range where you’ll be greeted by your expert guides. Surrounded by the white deserts of the interior of Antarctica, the runway sits beneath mile high monoliths of rock rising vertically from the ice. From here, you will be guided on a gentle hike to the base of the nearby Nunatak mountain and enjoy a champagne picnic at the summit with unrivalled views of the surrounding landscape. Who would guess that only 5 hours ago you were still in warm South Africa? Capture that photo for your bucket list album before being guided back to the jet for your return flight. End it all off with a drink chilled with 10,000-year-old Antarctic ice as you soar over the Southern Sea back to Cape Town.
With (sometimes) brutal katabatic winds reaching speeds of 198 mph, a trip to Antarctica is entirely weather dependent. Antarctica remains the coldest location on Earth and ‘Summer’, if you can call it that, in Antarctica falls over the months of December to March. Here the sun shines for over 24 hours a day and temperatures reach 34 degrees Fahrenheit / 1 degree Celsius. During the months of December to February, young penguin chicks start to hatch, pods of whales migrate to the icy waters and wildlife is plentiful. However, to catch the icescapes in their most undisturbed state, we suggest taking a trip to Antarctica during the month of November before the summer sun melts the colossal icebergs and glaciers. Before your Cape Town to Antarctica trip, your guide will monitor the latest weather forecasts.
One day not enough for your liking? Check out our 10 day South Africa to Antarctica Expedition. Catering to only 12 guests per expedition and professional polar explorers as your guides, the days’ itineraries are tailored to each individual. From gentle trekking through iridescent ice tunnels, traversing the snow in a 4×4 and hiking under gigantic ice shelves to more adrenaline-fueled activities, such as kite-skiing, ice climbing, zip lining and rappelling down mountainsides. And your shelter for the night? The uber-luxurious Whichaway Camp – a constellation of igloo-inspired sleeping pods complete with old-world style interiors and a private chef.
Planning to tick Antarctica off your adventure bucket list? Get in touch with one of our expert Ker & Downey® Africa Adventurists who can help you add this day trip to Antarctica to your next South Africa safari or extend your trip with our epic 10 day South Africa to Antarctica Expedition.
Before enjoying a Cape Town to Antarctica trip, many of our guests take the opportunity to explore Cape Town, considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world, or to enjoy a luxury safari experience in South Africa or one of the many other African countries that we operate in. Here are some of the best things to see and do in Cape Town before or after your Antarctica experience:
The distance from Cape Town to Antarctica depends on the specific destination you are traveling to in Antarctica. The Antarctic Peninsula is the closest to Cape Town, around 4,200-kms away. The distance to the South Pole is significantly further, around 6,200-kms.
The flight from Cape Town to Antarctica is around a five-hour flight across the mighty Southern Ocean.
The cost of a trip from Cape Town to Antarctica will depend on your desired destination within Antarctica, the length of your trip, and whether you are flying by private jet or by boat. We offer a selection of luxury trips to Antarctica from Cape Town via private jet. Contact our team to learn more.
Wolf’s Fang Runway is located in Queen Mary Land, Antarctica, near the spectacular Wolf’s Fang Peak, and is the only exclusively private jet runway in Antarctica. This runway is made entirely of ice and works as a gateway for expeditions and tours in the region. If you want to enjoy the stunning ocean vistas of Antarctica and its ice-filled landscapes, contact Ker & Downey Africa.
Yes, you can travel from Cape Town to the South Pole, but it requires meticulous planning and is typically organized by specialized tour operators or research expeditions due to the extreme conditions and logistical challenges involved.
Even in the summer with continuous sunshine, you’ll need warm clothing, including a waterproof jacket, trousers, sturdy walking boots, base layer tops and leggings, along with hats, gloves, and sunglasses. Based on your Antarctica trip, the team at Ker & Downey Africa will advise you on what you need to bring as well as any last minute preparations you may need to make.
You can enjoy a wonderful selection of once-in-a-lifetime experiences while on a trip to Antarctica, including:
You can expect to see spectacular wildlife in Antarctica, especially on an extended Cape Town to Antarctica trip. Expect to see:
Yes, it’s possible to visit the South Shetland Islands while on an extended trip to Antarctica. Contact the team at Ker & Downey Africa to learn more.
Ker & Downey® Africa is compliant with COVID-19 Industry Protocols.
Head office: 7 Bree Street, 6th Floor, Touchstone House, Cape Town, South Africa
+27 (0)21 201 2484
[email protected]
United Kingdom: Sportsman Farm, St Michaels, Tenterden, Kent
Ker & Downey® Africa is compliant with COVID-19 Industry Protocols.
