What penguins can teach us about travel

The penguin. Glorified through both paperbacks and chocolate, this highly-respected animal has much to teach us about many aspects of life. Its Buddha-like wisdom is so widely accepted, it is unsurprising that this noble bird is the subject of both an ad campaign and a children’s movie that are proving exceedingly popular this winter.

We could talk about the financial advice this unique bird advises, or perhaps some illuminating tips it can reveal about fashion, but not today. Here at Cheapflights, we’re humbled by what the penguins can teach us about the art of travel.

The 2014 John Lewis advert that claims penguins travel via post

Stock up on food

When incubating an egg between his feet, the male Emperor penguin will spend two months in the middle of winter without food. His fat reserves will slowly deplete until it’s the mother’s turn to watch the egg hatch as spring begins. This endurance fast is one of the reasons a female finds males attractive when they’re a bit on the flabby side.

Not only does this teach us about the shared duties of parenthood, but also the importance of stocking up on good food before a time-draining ordeal. Remember this the next time you book a long-haul flight. We’re not saying a 26-hour flight to New Zealand is exactly the same as incubating a penguin egg in -40 degrees, but it’s not far off.

Be well-fed. Be a penguin.

Dress warmly

Penguin feathers trap a thin layer of warm air that keeps them insulated as they dive deep into cold water. Physics can’t even explain how this works and scientists simply refer to it as “the magic of being an awesome penguin”. This penguin voodoo highlights how we too should do whatever it takes it dress warmly as we travel around during the winter months.   Be warm. Be a penguin.    

Find each other in a crowd

Baby penguins and small children have a lot in common – both are easily stepped on by accident, extremely noisy, and make delicious snacks for killer whales. Also, they can get lost in a crowd. Penguins like to congregate in groups of thousands, huddled miserably together with no way out, much like the scenes at the check-in desks at Gatwick airport.

Throughout this all, they’re totally capable of keeping exact tabs on where their family members are through their unique vocalisations made up of squawks and guttural whines. This doesn’t necessarily mean you should be screaming in the middle of busy areas on your holiday, but it certainly implies you should learn to do something to easily spot each other. We recommend kids should wear brightly-coloured clothes so that they stand out. Failing that, maybe get them to carry around a flag on a long stick they can wave, preferably with a penguin on it to remind you of that wise bird’s lessons. Whatever you do, stand out.

Be unique. Be a penguin.

Stay hydrated

Sure, you may associate penguins with that waddling walk they have on land, but these birds actually spend about three quarters of their lives in water. This isn’t simply because they realise they look a bit cooler when swimming than when walking, but because they know the importance of staying hydrated. They’re so evolved to stay hydrated that they can even drink sea water – a gland in their head filters out the salt before the water goes into their system. We’re not saying you should get new glands, but maybe keep a bottle of water handy on your trips.   Be hydrated. Be a penguin.    

Be fearless

Having evolved over millennia in the southern hemisphere with no natural predators on land, penguins waddle around thinking they’re lord of the manor. Whenever they come up against inquisitive wildlife photographers, they’re merely bemused and tell them to sling their hook when they get bored of them.

This is good advice for travellers exploring the world. You won’t see much if you’re too scared to try new things or go up to people or explore somewhere a little off the grid.

Be king of the county. Be a penguin.

They look out for each other

It turns out that when piercing icy winds are blasting against a colony, the Emperor penguins huddle together in a big group. Once the ones on the inside are warmed up, they move to the outside while those who had been shielding them from the cold on the periphery move inwards. It’s a proper egalitarian system where every individual looks out for each other. Genuinely, and literally, heart-warming.

We humans would do well to do the same on big family holidays where each generation can help each other out. Parents and grandparents, uncles and aunties, all sharing in the roles of responsibility towards the children, easing the burden from each other’s backs, and sharing a little bit of joy and camaraderie.

We suppose you could apply the same logic to student backpackers and hippy troupes, but those guys are selfish hedonists whose seemingly aspirational language masks an avoidant disconnect with societal and family structures.

Basically, they’re more like ostriches, and this article is about penguins.

Be a penguin, not an ostrich.

Trailer for the Penguins of Madagascar, a documentary about penguin travel habits

(Feature image: Antarctica Bound)