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Polar Pulse: Meet the Outstanding Women Leading Our Ultima Antarctic Expeditions
Tailored small group travel with Ultima Antarctic Expeditions. Photo Credit: Corrie Uys
Welcome to another edition of the Polar Pulse. We are excited as the Antarctic austral summer season fast approaches, and all your aspirations for a once-in-a-lifetime experience to this revered continent soon become a reality.
Ultima Antarctic Expeditions is making it easier than ever for travellers of all ages and fitness levels to experience Antarctica’s majestic beauty in a safe, modern, and ultra-exhilarating way.
Every August marks Women’s Month in South Africa, and as a proudly South African company, we are particularly proud to introduce you to several of our female team members.
Ultima Women Leading the Way
Guiding us through this otherworldly landscape are some of the most remarkable women you’ll have the pleasure of meeting.
Imke Meintjes, Ultima Oasis Camp Manager
Imke is your host at Ultima Oasis Camp, located in the Schirmacher Oasis. Oasis features two plush Scandi-style accommodation cabins, a beautiful dining facility with scenic views, and a sauna, ensuring utmost comfort amidst the Antarctic wilderness.
Imke has played a pivotal role in overseeing and setting up the refurbished Oasis camp throughout the 2023/24 Antarctic season. She brings a wealth of experience as she enters her fourth Antarctic summer season in 2024/2025.
With 16 years of experience in the hospitality and tourism industry, she sets the ultimate benchmark in managing remote luxury camp operations. She has honed her skills across all seven continents, mastering the art of delivering luxury in hard-to-reach destinations.
Imke’s expertise extends beyond her impressive operational and logistics skills. She holds a diploma from the prestigious Savoy Academy in London, certifying her proficiency in VIP butler service, wine, cocktails and housekeeping.
Her deep love for travel and exploration shines through in every aspect of the careful attention to detail that goes into hosting our explorers with elegance and charm.
Meet Imke, Ultima Oasis Camp Manager, with over 16 years of experience in luxury hospitality excellence.
Claire Wallace, Ultima Antarctic Expeditions guide
Claire, with her dual Canadian and Swiss heritage, embodies the spirit of a true explorer.
With nine years of Arctic and Antarctic experience as an expedition guide, lecturer of polar geopolitics and law, kayak guide, hiking guide, and helicopter deck assistant, Claire brings a depth of expedition expertise to the Ultima team.
Claire, a member of the Canadian Coast Guard, has formal training as an operational Arctic search and rescue officer. Her team specialises in mass rescue operations within the expedition cruise industry and works to improve the safety aspects of Arctic rescue operations.
This team excels in domestic and international training of agencies and partners on Arctic safety and survival. Claire has extensive, hands-on training with marine and air assets during tactical operations at the federal and international levels, often in complex polar environments. This equips her with many operational competencies that perfectly complement Ultima’s air-supported program.
Her passion for the continent is contagious, making every moment of our journey both safe and enlightening. Under her guidance, we tread lightly, leaving nothing but footprints and taking nothing but memories, preserving this pristine wilderness for future generations.
Meet Claire, our Ultima Antarctic Expeditions guide with over nine years of Antarctic Peninsula guiding experience.
Juanita Volkner, Ultima Antarctic Logistics Manager
Juani brings a warm South African adventurous spirit to our team. This will be her second season with Ultima in Antarctica after completing a shorter stint last season. She has honed her 13 years of Antarctic logistical skills managing operations in challenging polar environments.
Juani’s extensive polar experience includes guiding expeditions in Svalbard, Greenland, and the Russian Arctic, serving as an expedition guide, kayak safety driver, and logistics manager.
She has worked on both east and west Antarctic Peninsula landings and overseen excursions to sub-Antarctic islands, including South Georgia, Orkney, and Bouvet Island.
Her deep knowledge of complex expedition logistics, including helicopter operations in polar regions, and her background as a South African qualified field guide make her an invaluable asset to any polar adventure.
Juani’s experience aligns well with the demands of a dynamic, ever-evolving environment. She thrives in such high-pressure situations, whether it involves task prioritisation, managing time constraints, or handling unforeseen challenges.
Meet Juani, our Ultima Antarctica Expeditions Logistics Manager with over 13 years of guiding experience.
Jesse Wollenschlaeger, Head Chef at Oasis Camp
Jesse is our South African culinary magician. She has spent 16 years perfecting her craft in some of the world’s most extraordinary destinations. This Antarctic Summer season marks her fourth season as a Chef in Antarctica, or as we call it, Chef on Ice!
She has had the privilege of cooking for a diverse array of guests, including high-profile names, at incredible locations around the world, whether at high-end safari lodges or in the Nevada desert or as a first-class in-flight chef at 40.000 feet.
Jesse loves travelling, whether to Mexico, where she has savoured authentic cuisine at small, local restaurants that left a lasting impression or walking along Bondi Beach in Australia, swimming in its waters, and exploring vibrant food markets. And in Korea, visiting serene temples followed by indulging in traditional Korean dishes.
In Antarctica, she creates culinary masterpieces that are as unexpected as they are delicious. Each meal is a celebration, a fusion of flavours that tell stories of her global adventures, enhancing your experience in the most delightful way.
Meet Jesse, our talented Head Chef at Ultima Antarctic Expeditions Oasis Camp.
Donna McTaggart, Medical Doctor
Donna, known affectionately as “Doc,” is the Medical Doctor for Ultima Antarctic Expeditions. This would be her 4th season in Antarctica. She leverages her extensive experience from various expeditions, including the Arctic Circle, Central America, remote Southern and Atlantic Oceans and trekking in the Himalayas.
Working and traveling has taken Donna to six continents, where her adaptability and teamwork have ensured great adventures.
With a background in high-altitude, medical evacuations and remote medicine, Donna ensures the health and safety of all expedition members and provides a welcomed level of medical assurance and expertise in Antarctica’s challenging environments.
Currently Donna is pursuing Sports Medicine with an emphasis on extreme sports and recently supported and accompanied an athlete running from Cape to Cairo for a Guinness World Record.
Back home Donna has various interests, including the exhilarating sport of underwater hockey.
Meet Donna, Ultima Antarctic Expeditions’ Medical Doctor
Safe Polar Travel for Women
At Ultima Antarctic Expeditions, our dedicated team of polar travel experts recognize the unique challenges women face when travelling. Our expeditions are specifically designed for safe, secure and unforgettable small group adventures, including for women travellers.
Ultima Antarctic Expeditions’ meticulously designed tours are ideal for women who want to experience a safe, thrilling, and indulgent destination.
WHY CHOOSE ANTARCTICA FOR YOUR NEXT WOMEN’S ADVENTURE?
We believe that age, let alone gender, should never be a barrier to adventure. Our expeditions are designed for travellers of all ages, with activities and services that suit different interests and physical abilities. From leisurely scenic walks to more challenging hikes, there’s an itinerary for everyone.
Ready to start your journey unlike anything you’ve done before? Our dedicated hospitality team is here to ensure your trip is seamless, safe, and filled with priceless, awe-inspiring moments to last a lifetime.
We have limited availability for the Ultima Antarctic Expeditions summer season in Antarctica between November 2024 and February 2025. Book today and discover the unparalleled beauty and serenity of Antarctica.