20100108 Winter Safaris (1)

Winter Safaris

Safaris arent't just a summer activity

When the snow covers the ground outside and the cold wind blows, not everyone chooses to lounge around inside. Nature enthusiasts have discovered that wintertime can be ideal for viewing animals they usually only see on Animal Planet shows. California-based company KarmaQuest Ecotourism and Adventure Travel offers an opportunity to track snow leopards on the company's "Wintertime Quest for the Snow Leopard: trip. The 16-day adventure takes travelers high into the Himalayas in Ladakh, India, in search of the elusive cats. The trip coincides with the leopards' mating season and the time they descend from the high snowy mountains in search of food.

This is one of the best times to spot the animals. Trip participants should not be afraid of high elevations as part of the trip involves camping at altitudes of 3,780 m. Another company, Southern Explorations, organizes expeditions from November to March. These give travelers a change to view the wonders of Antarctica and some South Atlantic islands in the area's summer months. At that time, hundreds of seals congregate in South Georgia along with millions of penguins and other marine birds. People on some trips have the opportunity to camp within sight of thousands of emperor penguins.



//== More Information ==//
There are no campgrounds in Antarctica, only ice. Campers are allowed to stay on the ice between 8 and 11 hours. They can't bring any food an aren't even allowed to go to the bathroom. Campers must leave nothing behind when they leave. Even so the vast continent of Antarctica is still worth visiting. The stars seem close enough to touch and, during the night campers may receive visits from curious wildlife.