Antarctica is home to the world’s largest concentration of wildlife in the coldest, windiest and driest place on earth. Cruise the Southern Ocean for a wandering albatross, land on continental beaches to sit with thousands of penguins, keep a sharp eye open for humpback whales against a backdrop of snow-covered mountains soaring upwards from the sea, marvel at orcas harrying Weddell seals off ice floes, or gawp at a leopard seal as it grabs and flays a penguin. Visiting Antarctica means being in your very own natural-history documentary.

Conditions may be extreme, but wildlife thrives in superb scenery. Bradt’s Antarctica: A Guide to the Wildlife brings to life the history of exploration (and exploitation) in this vast polar desert, where two-thirds of the world’s fresh water is locked up as ice on a continent twice the size of Australia. This readable introduction to mammals, birds, fish, invertebrates and plants is ideal for those ‘going south’ to the world’s highest continent, where more than half the land exceeds 6,560 feet above sea level.

Celebrating the amazing species of this spectacular environment, the guide features chapters on the region’s famous whales and penguins alongside entries on lesser-known species like skuas and sheathbills. Each species account blends extensive insights into natural history with identification tips and stunning artwork. Although focusing on wildlife on the Antarctic Peninsula, an appendix on South Georgia’s wildlife briefs those whose itinerary extends to that island.

Updated throughout to address the needs of a flourishing but environmentally conscious tourism industry, this eighth edition takes account of evolving changes in population dynamics of Antarctic creatures, and reflects profound changes ice-shelf extent, which have made it easier for expedition vessels to contemplate visiting emperor penguin colonies.

Written by renowned expedition leader and former natural-history broadcaster Tony Soper and illustrated with specially commissioned paintings by Dafila Scott (granddaughter of ‘Scott of the Antarctic’, no less), Bradt’s Antarctica: A Guide to the Wildlife is an informative, entertaining guidebook that will whet your appetite for this trip of a lifetime – and will always be within arm’s reach when you get there.