Ice, Emperor Penguins & the Cape Peninsula

On arrival at Cape Town, you will be met airside by a Jacada representative, as you enter the terminal building. You will be fast-tracked through immigration, assisted with baggage collection and assisted to your onward arrangements.

Spend your time relaxing and exploring this wonderful city. You have our top recommendations for activities, restaurants and shopping so that you can make the most of your time here.

You’ll get to experience the best of the Cape Peninsula on this full-day excursion. Visit Cape Point Nature Reserve, stroll along the raised walkways at the Boulders African Penguin Colony in Simonstown, and breathe in the fragrant air as you wander through the beautiful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

It’s the perfect way to explore the majestic coastline that early seafarers once called the Cape of Storms. Follow the winding coastal road along the slopes of the towering Twelve Apostles mountains with breathtaking views of the sheltered coves and ocean below you. You’ll pass through the historic fishing village of Hout Bay before making your way over Chapman’s Peak towards Cape Point Nature Reserve. Here you’ll head out to the lighthouse which overlooks the southwestern most point of Africa. Not only is the marine life in the colliding currents below you rich and varied, but the reserve is full of incredible flora and fauna as well.

From there you’ll continue along the False Bay coastline through Simon’s Town, Kalk Bay and Muizenberg, before heading into the lush and fruitful Constantia region where the South African wine industry had its beginnings. From there it’s on to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens where you’ll have the chance to marvel at the plants and flowers that make this part of the world so special.

If you'd prefer to keep your Cape Town activities more central ahead of your Antarctica visit, you might choose to take a half day tour of the city and Table Mountain, instead of taking in the whole peninsula. On this half day tour you’ll get to see some of Cape Town’s best highlights. Your experience will start with a drive to the Castle of Good Hope, the oldest building in South Africa, and take in the Grand Parade where Nelson Mandela addressed the nation when he was released from prison in 1990. From there, take a stroll through the Company’s Garden which was once the fresh produce garden for passing ships in the 17th Century. Nearby, you’ll discover the Iziko South African Museum.

Heading back towards the city centre you’ll pass the Iziko National Gallery, the Houses of Parliament and St George’s Cathedral. Just a short distance away you’ll find yourself in the bustling Greenmarket Square where you can browse for curios at the various stalls.

Your next stop will be the District Six Museum where you can spend time looking at a collection of pictures and memorabilia highlighting the colourful life of the now-demolished suburb. If the museum is open and available to visit, entry is for your own account.

Either in the morning or afternoon, you’ll take a trip up to the top of Table Mountain on the aerial cableway.

During a safety briefing, your camp's representatives will be on hand to offer advice and answer questions about any element of the journey. They will be with you every step of the way, from explaining how the clothing systems work to what you can expect once actually in Antarctica. During this briefing, they will also confirm the exact time of departure for the flight according to the latest weather analysis. Weather can mean that schedules change.

Usually your stay here kicks off with you getting settled into your sleeping pod before an introductory afternoon trek and evening presentation. With only 12 clients on each adventure and professional polar explorers as your guides, the day to day itineraries are tailored to each individual. They can be as relaxed or adventurous as you want. You don’t need to be an athlete to come with us, only in normal physical condition. With gentle treks and picnics overlooking the ice waves, you will have all the time in the world to truly explore this great wilderness.

Then, for those searching for more adrenaline, your guides can push you as far as you want to go; from kite-skiing around camp to ice climbing up virgin peaks. Put simply: the landscape is as big as your imagination.

Head out across the ice in the footsteps of some of the early explorers.

Spend some time getting to know some of the scientists and researchers who call the Antarctica home, and find out about what they're working on.

A two hour flight from camp you'll find yourself at a site of more than 14,000 penguins and their young chicks. Both are totally unafraid of humans and will come within a few meters of your group, immersing you in the noise, commotion and the sheer beauty of it all. This is one of the greatest – and yet least observed – wildlife events on the planet.

Explore a series of ice tunnels and caves that have been sculpted by seasonal melt water.

Experience an exhilarating decent from the summit of a 100m high cliff surrounded by an amphitheatre of glimmering blue ice.

You will drive to an area named “Neverland” and, using ropes, walk on the edge of a 200ft cliff overlooking the magnificent ice waves.