The two polar regions hold almost no species in common. The Arctic has polar bear, walrus and vast seabird cliffs; the Antarctic has penguins in enormous colonies, six seal species and some of the best whale watching on earth. Timing matters more than luck: penguin chicks hatch around December, whale numbers peak in February and March, and Arctic bear sightings are best on early-season sea ice.
Polar wildlife viewing is unlike a safari in one important respect: the animals are not habituated to being watched, and both regions now enforce minimum approach distances. What you actually see is a product of season, ice and patience rather than a guaranteed list.
The upside is that in the Antarctic the odds are extraordinarily good. In the Arctic they are lower per species but the variety is greater.
Arctic species
Polar bear. The animal most people book for. Best odds are on sea ice rather than land, which is why early-season Svalbard voyages in May and June often out-perform August ones. Sightings are frequently distant. Svalbard now enforces a minimum approach of 500 metres from 1 March to 30 June and 300 metres from 1 July to the end of February, and vessels must withdraw if a bear changes its behaviour at all, standing up, stopping feeding, or swimming on rather than coming ashore. Bring binoculars and adjust your expectations towards “a bear on ice at distance” rather than a close portrait.
Walrus. Reliable at known haul-outs in Svalbard and the Russian and Canadian Arctic, usually in snoring, shuffling heaps. A minimum distance of 300 metres applies at sea.
Whales. Beluga, narwhal, bowhead, minke, humpback and blue whales all occur. Narwhal are genuinely hard to see and mostly a matter of luck in the Canadian Arctic and north-east Greenland.
Seals. Ringed, bearded, harp and hooded. Ringed seals are the polar bear’s staple, which is why bears are found where the seals are.
Land mammals. Arctic fox, Svalbard reindeer, and in Greenland and the Canadian Arctic, muskox. Arctic hare and lemming if you are looking closely.
Antarctic species
Penguins are the headline and there are more of them than the photographs suggest.
- Gentoo, chinstrap and Adélie dominate the Peninsula. Adélie are the true ice specialists and are found further south
- King penguins on South Georgia form colonies in the hundreds of thousands, the single most staggering wildlife sight in either region
- Emperor penguins are the hardest. They breed on fast ice far south, and seeing them means a specialist voyage, usually a Weddell Sea itinerary with helicopters, at a substantial premium
- Macaroni and rockhopper appear on South Georgia and the Falklands
Seals. Weddell, crabeater, leopard, fur, southern elephant and Ross. Leopard seals are the predator of interest and are often seen patrolling penguin colonies from the water. Elephant seal beachmasters on South Georgia are the largest carnivores on land anywhere.
Whales. Humpback and minke throughout, with orca reasonably common and fin and blue whales possible. Numbers build sharply through the season as krill concentrate.
There are no land predators in Antarctica and no terrestrial mammals at all, which is why the penguins ignore you, and why the approach rules exist to stop that being abused.
Seabirds
Easy to overlook and, for many passengers, the surprise of the trip.
In the Arctic, the bird cliffs are the spectacle: Brünnich’s and common guillemot, little auk in colonies of hundreds of thousands, puffin, kittiwake, fulmar, glaucous gull, Arctic tern and Arctic skua. Alkefjellet in Svalbard is the classic site.
In the Southern Ocean, the Drake Passage is a birding destination in its own right, this is where albatrosses live. Wandering albatross with a three-and-a-half-metre wingspan, black-browed and grey-headed albatross, giant petrels, cape petrels, prions and storm petrels follow the ship for hours. South Georgia holds breeding wandering albatross at Prion Island.
Skuas and sheathbills work the penguin colonies, and snow petrels, pure white against black rock, are the ones photographers chase.
What lives under the ice
Most of the biomass in both regions is below the waterline and invisible from a Zodiac, but it explains everything you see above it.
Krill underpins the Antarctic food web. Swarms feed the whales, seals and penguins, and the seasonal krill bloom is why whale numbers climb through February and March.
Under the sea ice itself, ice algae grow on the underside of the floes and start the whole chain. In the Arctic, Arctic cod shelter under ice and feed the seals that feed the bears.
A few ships offer dry-suit diving for qualified divers, and some carry underwater cameras or ROVs whose footage is shown at recap. If the biology interests you, that footage is often the most memorable science on board.
Watching from the deck
You will see a great deal without leaving the ship, and deck time is underrated.
Position yourself high and forward for whales, or on the bridge wing if your ship allows bridge access, many expedition ships operate an open-bridge policy, which is the best wildlife-spotting seat available. Cetaceans are usually spotted by blow rather than body, so scan the horizon for vertical mist rather than looking for a whale shape.
Bring binoculars, 8×42 is the practical compromise between magnification and stability on a moving deck. Dress for standing still in wind, which is much colder than walking around ashore. And listen to the PA: sightings are announced ship-wide and the good ones are often brief.
Sea days across the Drake Passage are prime albatross time, not dead time.
Wildlife by month
| Month | Antarctic | Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| May-June | Sea ice present, best bear odds, seabird colonies filling | |
| July-August | Peak access, walrus haul-outs, tundra flowering, cubs and chicks | |
| September | Greenland and Northwest Passage, whales, first aurora | |
| November | Courtship, nest building, pristine ice | |
| December-January | Chicks hatching, peak activity, longest daylight | |
| February-March | Best whale watching, chicks fledging, colonies at their busiest |
Common questions
Am I guaranteed to see a polar bear?
No. Most Svalbard voyages record sightings, but often at distance. Nothing is promised.
How close can we get?
In Svalbard, 500 metres from a polar bear between 1 March and 30 June, 300 metres for the rest of the year, and 300 metres from walrus at sea. In Antarctica, guidance keeps visitors well back from wildlife and requires you to give way to any animal that approaches.
When are the penguin chicks?
Hatching from around December, fledging by late February and March.
When is the best whale watching?
February and March in Antarctica, as krill concentrations peak.
Will I see emperor penguins?
Only on a specialist voyage, typically to the Weddell Sea with helicopter support, at a significant premium.
Do I need a long lens?
It helps, but a 100-400mm covers most situations. Binoculars are more consistently useful than a big lens.
Related guides
For voyage types, seasons, ships and costs, see the complete guide to Arctic and Antarctic expedition cruises. For clothing, camera kit and fitness, read the polar cruise preparation guide. For the approach rules and the reasoning behind them, see the polar cruise responsible travel guide.
Wildlife regulations last verified August 2026 and are tightened periodically, your expedition team will brief the current rules on board.