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Swimming with Penguins In The US: The Ultimate Guide

Have you ever dreamed of swimming with penguins? If so, you are not alone. People all over the world want to swim with these fantastic creatures. There are many places where you can do this (in their natural habitats or zoos), but you must know what is safe and what isn’t before proceeding. This blog will give some insight into where to swim with penguins around the world and in the US, as well as answer questions and give you faqs about swimming with penguins like “is it safe?” “where can I find them naturally?”.

 

Click here if you are ready to visit the only place you can swim with a penguin colony in the US! 

Types of Penguins you can find in the US

African Penguin

Although there are no wild penguins in the United States, you can find various species of them living in zoos and aquariums in cities throughout the country. 

 

There are seventeen different species of penguins living in the world, and all are natural to the southern hemisphere. 

 

The different types of penguins are:

  • Adelie, 
  • African, 
  • Chinstrap, 
  • Emperor, 
  • Erect-crested, 
  • Fiordland, 
  • Galapagos, 
  • Gentoo, 
  • Humboldt, 
  • King, 
  • Little, 
  • Macaroni, 
  • Magellanic, 
  • Rockhopper, 
  • Royal,
  • Snares and, 
  • Yellow-eyed.

 

The northernmost species is the Galapagos penguin that lives near the equator on the Galapagos Islands.

 

If you are planning to go swimming with penguins in their natural habitat, you will need to start planning a trip to one of these three places:

 

The Galapagos Islands, located off the coast of Ecuador. In this group of islands known as a natural wonder of the world, you will find the Galapagos penguin, one of the tiniest penguin species in the world and the only penguin that lives north of the equator in the wild.

 

South Africa Boulder Beach is another great place for swimming with these cute creatures. There you will find the African penguins, a small and charming species of penguin known as “jackass” penguin because of their loud braying voices.

 

Antarctica is home to seven different species of penguins, making it an ideal location for swimming with them. Here you will find Adélies, Kings, Chinstraps, Emperors, Gentoos, Macaroni, and Rockhoppers.

 

Where can I swim with Penguins in the US?

Dive with penguins at Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Kansas.

 

If you want to swim with them without traveling the world, there is only one place where you can actually swim with penguins in the US. Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Wichita, Kansas, is the only place where you can actually dive in a pool with penguins for 30 minutes and even touch them under the guidance of a trainer.

 

The type of penguin that you will find here is the African Penguin – a species that is declining in the wild due to various threats, including degradation of their nesting sites, oil spills, and depleted prey populations due to overfishing.

Petting an African penguin

 

Is it safe to swim with penguins?

 

Yes, swimming with penguins is safe. However, there are a few things that you need to know before going into the water with these creatures. Do not chase or disturb them and stay away from their young ones (they will defend themselves and the babies). When you Swim with penguins at Tanganyika,  you’ll get up close and personal with not any penguin but a colony of African Penguins! The penguins will dive around you, play with toys, and sometimes even float in your hands. And you will always be accompanied by a penguin keeper who will answer all your questions and give you some fantastic facts and insights about each penguin!

 

Overall, there are many types of penguins in the US, but you can only swim with them in one place – Tanganyika Wildlife Park. If you want to experience swimming with these aquatic birds, check out the TWP Penguin Swim – a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for visitors and locals alike! And when there, be sure to check their Ultimate Weekend, which includes two days of incredible animal experiences and interactive encounters with small wild cats and behind the scenes with giraffes, porcupines, otters, and sloths.

 

Pack your swimming suit and get ready for an unforgettable experience with penguins!

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