Ah, penguins. Their cute waddles and belly dives often inspire trips to remote parts of the wild in hopes of catching a glimpse of these flightless birds. Here are six places where you can see these black and white cuties in the wild.
The Catlins, New Zealand
The Catlins is an area of forest and coastline in southeast New Zealand, and it’s also one of the best spots in the country for penguin-spotting. In particular, Curio Bay is a popular area to see the rare yellow-eyed penguin, whose population is estimated at around 4,000.
Antarctica
If you want to see Emperor penguins in the wild, your best bet is to head to Antarctica. You can book a ship tour with shore excursions for a chance to see the largest species of penguin in its natural habitat.
Phillip Island, Australia
Fairy penguins, the smallest species of these adorable birds, call Phillip Island home. In the evening, tourists can watch the so-called “penguin parade” from elevated boardwalks and platforms as flocks of these tiny birds emerge from the ocean to return to their homes in the sand dunes.
Chile, South America
You’ll find two types of penguins along the Chilean coast: Humboldt and Magellanic. On Isla Magdalena, visitors can see more than 50,000 pairs of Magellanic penguins. On Isla Choros, you can see Humboldt penguins at a Chilean penguin preserve.
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are home to the largest population of Rockhopper penguins. Visitors are also likely to catch a glimpse of Macaroni, Gentoos, King and Magellanic penguins.
Cape Town, South Africa
Just outside of Cape Town, you’ll find Boulders Beach, home to the jackass penguin. Their colorful name comes from their donkey-like braying sounds. There are viewing platforms available to help you snap a few photos without disturbing the habitat of these endangered penguins.
(Main image: eliduke used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license)
